Boiling Point
Sanctuary at dawn…She knew it was dawn, but she didn't want to wake up. No, she would've been just content to stay there for the entire day. Her eyes had been sore from crying all night and she wasn't in the greatest of moods. Glancing at the door of her room, she just yawned and turned over to fall back asleep. She knew though, if Shalimar even remembered, that she was gonna come pouncing onto her bed at anytime. If she wasn't too busy this time…
Sleep was not gonna happen and she sighed, why do I even bother, as she forced herself out of bed.
Kitchen…"Ya know, if someone doesn't go and wake her up, she'll sleep all day," Shalimar said rather impatiently. She was anxious to go and yank Willow out of bed and make this day special for her. Her behavior had been pretty non-Willow like the past few days and she was going to make a point of having a long big sister talk with her today.
"Aw come on Shal, give her a few more minutes, it's her birthday," Jesse smiled, understanding Shalimar's lack of patience.
Just then the room filled with silence as a very tired looking Willow strolled into the kitchen. Shalimar noted the sad, exhausted expression on her face. She was starting to become concerned that this was more than what it seemed.
Not making eye contact with any of them, she sat down at the table with a glass of milk. Then she looked up and saw everyone staring at her. She mustered a small smile and did her best to seem a little happier, "Morning."
"How are you doing this morning?" Emma asked.
"I've got a wicked headache," Willow sighed, as she ran her hands through her head. "Why do you ask?"
"You just seem kind of down and we're a little worried," Jesse added.
Willow shook her head and reassured, "I'm fine, my head's just pounding. But really I'm okay."
Shalimar wasn't buying it for one second. She sat there staring at Willow, sad at the idea that she didn't even acknowledge her. She knew that she had broken several promises she made to her, but she didn't think Willow would take it that much to heart. Forcing her thoughts downward, she got up and extend her hand towards Willow, "Come with me."
Willow looked up at Shalimar and saw the glow on her face. Instantly she knew something was going on and she had a suspicion that she was the only one who was in the dark. Eyeing Shalimar, she took her hand, "Okay."
They left the kitchen, with the others not too far behind.
"Where are we going, Shal?" Willow asked.
"Close your eyes," Shalimar said smiling at her.
"What?! What for," Willow gave her a weird look.
"Please just close them, trust me," Shalimar pleaded with her.
Willow complied with Shalimar's request, blindly being led through the halls of Sanctuary. They came to a stop in the garden and Shalimar started to grin from ear to ear, "Okay you can open them."
On cue, Willow opened her eyes. Her jaw dropped to the floor as she stood in utter shock. Standing before was a motorcycle, an RC51 model to be exact. Willow, somewhat speechless, squeezed Shalimar's hand and slowly walked towards it.
"Oh Wow! An RC51! It's incredible," a single tear ran down her face as she circled the bike, quoting the specifications she noted, just by looking over it, "999cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V-twin, ignition computer-controlled digital with three-dimensional mapping, valve train has four valves per cylinder…I can't believe it. Looks like there where modifications done to it."
"Yeah I installed a tracking device. All I did was modify the mapping system. It now acts like a GPS," Jesse explained. He approached with a small device that looked like a flashlight. "Now this little guy is a bug. All you do is shoot at the subject, the bug sets in and immediately begins to track the subject, feeding information to the GPS, displaying the subject's exact location on the screen." He pointed the small screen near the handle bars. "Now besides being a tracking device, it can also be used as a map. What it does is it uses satellite technology to pinpoint your exact location. If you're lost, you just enter where you're trying to get to and it will display everything; how far it is, how long it'll take to get there and alternate routes. It's a handy little device."
"It's amazing…I," She looked at Shalimar and the others, truly touched by the gesture. "What's this for?"
"Happy birthday Willie," Shalimar smiled kissing her cheek.
Willow just looked completely dumbfounded, "It's my birthday?! How did…I mean I didn't even know when it was."
"Well I stumbled across it when I was going over your records," Adam smiled.
Willow turned to Shalimar, "This was you're idea wasn't it?"
Shalimar smiled and nodded. Willow approached her and embraced her tightly, "Thank you. I love you, Shal."
"Love ya too, Willie," Shalimar responded.
Upon releasing Shalimar, she went and hugged the others, forgetting for the moment what had transpired over the last few days. She was on cloud nine with her gift and was so grateful that they had taken the time to do something so special.
After several moments of dotting and complimenting Jesse on his work, she got the itch to go for a ride. "Hey Shal! Let's go for a spin, we can race and everything!"
The smile disappeared from Shalimar's face. "Honey, I can't right now. Brennen and I…"
She was about to finish her sentence and add that they would spend the entire afternoon together alone, but Willow's mind was fixed on the one answer, "No, that's right, I get it. You're too busy sucking face with lover boy over there! Excuse me."
She brushed past Shalimar and Brennen, storming off to her room. Incensed at Willow's remark Shalimar immediately pursued her.
Willow's room…Willow sat on her bed and stared into space. Several seconds later, an angry Shalimar burst into the room, looking like she was gonna kick some ass.
"Alright. No more games. What the hell was that all about? We go out of our way to give you something special and you throw it back in everyone's face by making some snide comment about Brennen and I! What is going on in your head?" Shalimar shouted.
"I'm surprised you even noticed," Willow remarked not even looking at her.
"Okay, Willow you're acting like a child. I've been more than patient with your little act, but this has gone on long enough!" Frustrated that Willow seemed to be off in another world, she grabbed her arm and forced her to stand up. "Dammit! You look at me while I'm speaking to you. I love Brennen!"
"Is that a fact? Well you fucked him, you might as well take the next logical step!"
She couldn't help it. It came like a crashing wave and before she could react, she had already done it. Shalimar's anger had reached a boiling point and before she could even think about it, she wound up and cracked Willow across the mouth, knocking her off balance.
For several moments, they just stood there, both in shock from just transpired. Willow held her jaw. It burned like hell. She just gave Shalimar a glare and flashed her eyes. At that moment, she thought about retaliating, but she just got up and stormed out of the room without another word.
Shalimar couldn't move, she just stood there in disbelief. She sat down on Willow's bed and began to sob uncontrollably. "I can't believe what I just did. Willow…"
Willow just kept walking. She brushed past Brennen on her way, with Brennen making a vain attempt to stop her. "Where are you going?"
"None of your business!" Willow barked. "Let me go!" She ripped her arm away from him and left.
About a mile away from Stormking…The scene kept playing over in her head. She wished she could've taken it back from the get go, but it had already escaped her by then. Can't blame her for hitting me, Willow thought to herself. They had hit each other many times in the dojo doing their exercises, but this was different, this was out of anger. And she knew it took everything in her power not to hit Shalimar back, but she was thankful she didn't. How can I ever go back there?
She sat there, not even turning around, she sensed an approaching subject and immediately recognized his scent. "You always stick your nose where it doesn't belong, Brennen?"
"What's with the attitude all of a sudden? Where's all this contempt for me coming from?" Brennen asked.
"What does it matter?" Willow said, tears running down her cheeks.
"It matters, Will. What goes on between you two, it effects all of us. We're all part of a team and everyone's gotta be on the same page," Brennen approached her slowly.
"Brave and fearless leader. What are you Mr. Fix-It now?" Willow asked sarcastically. "You think you can go around and solve everyone's problems? Alright, you wanna know what my problem is?" Willow turned to him. "You're taking her away from me! I've never had anyone before and she's all I got! The only tie I have to my past. Everytime she makes a promise to me she breaks it for you! It's your fault!"
"Willow…" Brennen approached and put his hands around her arms.
"Let go of me!" Willow shouted as she struggled to get away from him.
Just then without warning, the ground underneath shook and dropped. The two of them stopped and looked at each other. "What the hell?" Brennen looked around. Just then the ground moved again and they both panicked.
"Brennen! What's happening?" Willow holding onto him. Just then the ground gave way as they both fell down some kind of hole.
End of Chapter 4