A/N: I am sorry this chap took so long! I know I usually have chaps in within days of each other but coursework seems to have taken over my life.A BIG BIG thanks to all of you who reviewed the last chap and all of you who have reviewed so far. So a big shout out goes to spikezbaybeegurl, M.Alicia Garcia, star 2421, xXxBaNdDoRkxXx, hell yeah, PadfootObsessed 329,Elizabeth,Lucky112,CraZy4SpikE09,pixiecorn,Angel16616 and Allangel2. A very big thank you to lizardwoman,loved it,and lilmisscookiemonster who have all reviewed more than once! For that I truly thank you!
And now I have to say perhaps the most special thank you to callingpiper and foxy. Foxy you are my own little pep rally! I love you so much, thanks for all the support! And callingpiper has done so much in the way of reviews that I have added a link to a photbucket of all her icons in my bio. If you are a Buffy fan then seriously CHECK IT OUT!!!
And by the way, with the last three chap titles I was taking the names of various Buffy episodes. (Prophecy girl season 1, Who are you season 4 and Bring on the night season 7) I stopped doing it now since nobody noticed.
Disclaimer: Joss is a god and we are but mere mortals
Chapter 5 – Unspoken words
A vampire is towering over a young woman next to a mausoleum. She is cowering looking frightened and lets out a little murmur.
VAMPIRE
That's right, you should be scared...
BUFFY
Really? Cause I'm really not scared, I don't know maybe it's me, maybe I'm doing something wrong
The vampire turns round to see Buffy a few yards behind him.
VAMPIRE
(Growls)
Slayer...
BUFFY
But if you ask me, your outfit? That's scary.
The vampire lunges at her. She ducks easily. She turns her head to the woman still whimpering but with a shocked look on her face.
BUFFY
You can run now, and next time try sticking to the less demony parts of town OK?
The woman gives Buffy a scared nod and then runs off.
The vampire tries to punch Buffy but she blocks him easily. She throws him backwards. He goes flying and lands at least 2 meters away. She runs over at lighting speed and stakes him just as he opens his eyes. A hand appears on her shoulder. She goes to punch but Spike leans back out of the way just in time.
SPIKE
Watch it! Nearly caught me there!
BUFFY
Sorry, although you really should know better than to sneak up on me like that.
SPIKE
Did you get anything?
BUFFY
One vamp but that was hardly a challenge. You?
SPIKE
Couple of vamps but nothing that even came close to a real fight. Although it was nice to see the look on their faces as I drove a piece of redwood through their chest before they could even blink. I like the feel of this new power. It feels strong you know? Like I could take on anyone or anything that shows up
BUFFY
Except there's a kind of a lack of things to beat up. This place is dead tonight, no pun intended.
SPIKE
Maybe we could try another graveyard? There's got to be something out there looking for a good smackdown.
They both walk through the cemetery side by side.
BUFFY
Maybe, although I doubt we'll find anything.
SPIKE
Always the optimist I see.
BUFFY
Oh yeah, like your so full of rainbows and sunshine all the time.
SPIKE
I don't know about the sunshine bit but I know I'm more positive than you, and I'm evil remember?
Buffy stops but Spike keeps on walking for a few paces then he turns to look at Buffy.
BUFFY
You're not evil
SPIKE
Look I'm not making a thing out of it. I know what I am. What's inside me
BUFFY
What's inside you is inside me remember? Does that mean I'm evil too?
SPIKE
No! You're different Buffy... I'm....
BUFFY
You're what?
SPIKE
You're the slayer. I'm a vampire. Good (he points to her) Evil (he points to him) .If anyone knows that it's you. Always were fond of reminding me.
BUFFY
Except your not the same person any more.
SPIKE
Oh don't bring the soul into this. I'm not like Peaches, I don't think that a soul somehow magically makes me a real boy, I'm a bit more clued up than that. I know what I've done. What I am. And there's no use telling me....
BUFFY
Telling you what, that your good? So what you've got a demon inside of you? I have too, but that doesn't make me evil you said so yourself.
She takes a step closer to him. She takes his hand and places it over her heart.
BUFFY
You see this? Just because this beats it doesn't mean you feel less than me, and just because you have darkness inside of you doesn't mean you cant make the choice to be good. You have made the choice to be good. I see it in you every time you help me train the girls or when you help with this mission. And I see it in you now (she looks at him) I just wish you could see it too.
Spike just looks at her slightly amazed but smiling at the same time. His hand is still on her chest; she reaches up and wraps her hand around his. Suddenly Spike is whacked over the head by a mysterious object. He falls forward on top of Buffy. The two land on the floor with Spike on top, they stare into each other's eyes and pause. All of a sudden we see a large axe come down next to their heads. Spike pushes himself up and holds out a hand to Buffy, she accepts it and kicks the demon as she stands up. The demon staggers back a few steps but doesn't fall back.
BUFFY
Guess we've found that challenge.
The demon swings his axe towards Buffy, but Buffy catches it and delivers a punch to the demon. It staggers back again but it is a little more unsteady this time. Spike comes up from behind and holds back both of its arms. Buffy does a spin kick into the chest of the demon; Spike lets go of it and it falls to the floor. Buffy picks up the axe and is next to the demon in a second, she slams the axe into its heart. It becomes limp as it dies.
SPIKE
Actually thought we were going to have to fight there. If you ask me that was just pathetic. It's an M'Fashnik demon as well; they're supposed to be strong.
BUFFY
I've met one of these guys, last year, tried to rob a bank, turns out it was working for Andrew and his geeky friends (pause) you don't think it's working for someone do you?
SPIKE
No, it's probably just out for a piece of meat, nothing special
BUFFY
(Thoughtfully)
Huh
SPIKE
What?
BUFFY
Nothing
SPIKE
(Rolls his eyes)
What?!
BUFFY
What if it's the First? Maybe it was like a test, to see what we could do, I mean like you said these things are supposed to be strong and they're usually working for something, or someone
SPIKE
Hiring demon muscle? Not exactly the First's style. Besides how would it even know about us? I mean about this whole superhero thing we got going on
BUFFY
It came to me
SPIKE
It what? (Spike steps forward looking concerned) Why didn't you tell me? (He puts his hand on her shoulder)
BUFFY
I didn't get a chance. It just got me so worked up about this whole prophecy thing that I was so angry I didn't really think of telling anyone what it had said. (She looks down at the floor)
SPIKE
That was probably what it was aiming for (he lifts her chin up and looks straight into her eyes) what did it say?
BUFFY
That I'm evil. And normally I would just shake it off as stupid shoptalk from the big bad but... this was different. She knew, she knew that I had this thing inside of me that was evil and disgusting.
SPIKE
She?
BUFFY
Mom. When it came to me it was....it was her. Everything about her, her smile, her face, the things she used to say to me...
SPIKE
You know it wasn't her pet. It was just our unfriendly ghost trying to get you spooked, hit you at a weak spot
BUFFY
But it did. I let it get to me, and it wasn't even just mom. It was Angel, it was you and Caleb and it was saying all these things, all the fears that I first had when I heard about this whole mess. It said that it wanted me to find the scythe, that now it has control over me because I am connected to this rising darkness. What if that's true? How am I supposed to lead these girls in to war if I'm part of the thing we're fighting against?
SPIKE
Hey! Stop it, I won't have you talking nonsense about yourself, you are not evil. For someone who can see the good in everyone else I have a damm hard job believing that you can't see it in yourself.
BUFFY
Looks like you're the only one
SPIKE
That's because the scoobies are to wrapped up in their own problems to see what a great leader they've got....
BUFFY
So that would be why they all kicked me out of my own house?
Buffy sits down on top of a gravestone.
SPIKE
Yeah well I can't say I agreed with that. Bloody stupid is what that was, if had been there I would have....
Buffy gives him a look. He silences and sits down beside her. There's a long pause.
BUFFY
What if we lose?
Spike looks at her
BUFFY
Nobody's actually said it, out loud, but what if we lose? All those girls, the world, it's all going to hell. Consumed. Swallowed up like a big piece of world pizza with extra slayer on top.
SPIKE
Nice picture their pet.
BUFFY
And if we do lose, it will be all my fault. I'm responsible for them. For every dead potential out there there's someone who can turn around and say it was my job to protect them and I failed.
SPIKE
You're being too hard on yourself luv, there were potentials getting killed all over the place before we even knew about any of this. You can't blame yourself for them.
BUFFY
Why not? Everyone else does! I see them all, the girls how they look at me. It's because they blame me for every girl that has died, and when Caleb...
Buffy bows her head down.
SPIKE
Hey...
Spike rubs the base of her back.
Buffy all of a sudden stands up.
BUFFY
OK enough with the reflecting. It's making me all mushy.
SPIKE
It's me you're talking to here pet. (He stands up) I'm here if you need to talk.
Buffy's eyes get a little watery and she looks as if she is going to cry for a moment. Spike steps closer to her. His face is inches from her's. They look into each other's eyes. Spike leans up and kisses Buffy on the forehead softly. She closes her eyes and lays her head on his shoulder. He wraps his arms around her as she does the same. Buffy grips tightly on to Spike, her face buried as far into his chest as it can go. Spike hold's her equally as tight, and he kisses her head and closes his eyes
SUMMERS HOUSE
Willow, Xander, Dawn and Gilles are all sitting around the dining table, various pieces of paper and books and doughnut cartons are scattered in front of them.
WILLOW
Ah hah! Here I've found something! Oh no wait no that's just about an axe...
XANDER
Is it just me or have we read everything on this table?
DAWN
I'm so tired I think I'm slowly dieing
XANDER
I see your tiredness and raise you blinding muscle cramps
WILLOW
We're going round in circles here guys, I feel like I'm reading the same thing over and over and over...
XANDER
And each time we come up with big piles of nothing
WILLOW
Giles have you got anything?
GILES
No (he takes of his glasses and begins to clean them) and I'm beginning to think that there is no new information whatsoever in any of these text's
XANDER
Ya think?
DAWN
What? All this reading and still nothing?
WILLOW
(Closes her book)
Not a syllable
XANDER
Great so we just spent the last five hours reading for nothing, as always another fun filled evening at the Summers house
DAWN
Hey!
WILLOW
(Looking at the empty doughnut pack on the table)
Hey, who ate the last jelly doughnut?
GILES
(He puts his glasses back on hurriedly)
Yes well, we should um get back to reading
DAWN
No new info, and all the jelly's are gone? I think I just lost the will to live...
WILLOW
Face it Giles we're not gonna find anything, none of these books tell us anything we don't already know
XANDER
Except how incredibly boring reading has become, do you know how hard it is to read quickly with one eye?
DAWN
Yeah? Well at least you only have one eye to keep open
Kennedy enters eating a tub of ice cream.
KENNEDY
Did you guys find anything yet?
GILES
Sadly, no
KENNEDY
Wow you guys have been out here for like five hours, and you've found nothing?
GILES
Did you have anything useful to say or did you just come to state the plainly obvious?
KENNEDY
Ooo Sorree
She continues eating her ice cream.
DAWN
Hey is that ice cream?
KENNEDY
Yeah
DAWN
I didn't know we had any ice cream... well apart from....
ANDREW
Kennedy!
Andrew enters clearly annoyed.
ANDREW
Ah hah! I caught you red-handed!
GILES
And now it appears this night is complete
ANDREW
You're a thief! That is MY ice cream; see it clearly has my name on it
He points to his name written in black letters with several exclamation marks. Kennedy holds up the tub to see the writing. Dawn drops her head on the table.
KENNEDY
Huh
She carries on eating. Andrew stamps his foot.
ANDREW
Giles! Tell her!
GILES
I am not getting involved
ANDREW
But she stole it!
Giles ignores him.
ANDREW
Fine, but I am not forgetting this, justice must be served!
He stomps out.
DAWN
Is that a drawing next to his name?
Kennedy holds up the tub again. Xander peers at it.
KENNEDY
It looks like Spiderman
XANDER
Nah, I think its batman
ANDREW
(Calls from the kitchen)
It Iceman!
He comes back in.
ANDREW
It's Iceman see because its ice cream and he is...(they all look at him) freezing it for me
KENNEDY
(Looks at him in disgust)
That is the saddest thing I have ever heard
XANDER
Yeah but Iceman...
They all stare at him.
XANDER
...Is something I have obviously never read before. (He goes quiet for a second) (To Andrew) Geek.
ANDREW
(Stomps his foot)
Giles!
GILES
I think we had all better get some sleep, it's late
DAWN
(Lifts her head out of her arms)
I'm not asleep already?
XANDER
Come on Dawnie; let's get you into bed
He goes over to Dawn and gently pulls her out of her chair.
DAWN
(A sort of glossy look on her face as she stands up)
Mmm bed...
Both Willow and Giles get up also, Kennedy hands the ice cream tub back to Andrew who disappears into the kitchen. Xander leads Dawn over to the stairs, and Willow, Giles and Kennedy follow.
GILES
Xander I must say what a remarkable job you have done on the stairs, and in such a short time to, it's truly a reflection of your talent
Xander stops with Dawn's arm drooped over his shoulder supportively.
XANDER
Well thanks G-man, you'd be amazed what many interruptions and a lot of pissed of teenage girls desperate for a bathroom can do for your work speed.
GILES
Yes, well it really is extremely good work
Dawn lets out a low moan.
XANDER
Think I'd better get the Dawnster upstairs.
GILES
Yes, well goodnight.
Kennedy goes upstairs, as do Xander and Dawn.
GILES
Oh, Willow did Buffy say when she and Spike would be back from patrol?
WILLOW
No, I think her and Spike were looking for a couple of nasty's to test their new strength on, but I'm sure they will be home soon, the sun's almost up. I know that Spike is all with the sun walking but he still isn't completely sun proof. They will be back soon.
GILES
Yes well I'm sure you're right
They both walk up the stairs; they reach Willow's room.
WILLOW
Night Giles.
GILES
Goodnight Willow
Willow opens the door.
GILES
Willow?
Willow turns around.
GILES
I want you to know that I'm proud of you, you've done very well, your control of your magic it's....
Willow smiles.
GILES
I am very proud of you.
WILLOW
Thanks Giles, that means a lot.
She smiles again at Giles, he smiles back, nods and leaves. Willow goes into her room and closes the door. She turns round to see Tara in front of her.
TARA
You know I'm proud of you too.
Willow looks completely shocked and the colour drains from her face. She grips so tightly to the handle of the door that her knuckles turn white. She is taking very deep breaths.
TARA
I know I didn't say it a lot when I was.... around but (pause) I am proud of you. Of the way you have controlled yourself with the magic and stuff it's... it's good (she smiles at her) it's really good.
WILLOW
You're not her.
TARA
Oh no see sweetie I am, I mean I know I'm not me, me but I'm still part of her.
She takes a step closer to her.
TARA
You're still my girl, you know. Even after I, I went away you were still my girl. I'd sit and I'd watch you talk and laugh and smile.
She gives her another warm smile.
Willow looks as if she is about to cry. She closes her eyes and tears fall down her face.
WILLOW
(Whispers)
Your not her, your not her, your not her, your not her
TARA
Shhhh, sweetie it's OK, I'm here now, don't cry.
Willow opens her eyes and she is still crying.
WILLOW
(Whispers)
Tara?
Tara smiles at her again.
TARA
I wish I could touch you but....
She reaches her hand up and acts as if she is stroking her face. Willow closes her eyes again.
TARA
Shhhhhh
Willow opens her eyes again and looks shocked, she steps away from the doors and looks furious. She has stopped crying.
WARREN
What no hug? No hey I'm sorry for flaying you alive? Somebody really needs to teach you some manners.
Willow takes deep breaths but if possible looks even more livid.
WARREN
Wow you look really shaken up, are you sure you don't want to sit down?
WILLOW
Get out.
Warren steps closer to Willow.
WARREN
Guess it must be your little girlfriends face that's got you all worked up. No you be careful now, don't want to go and lose control again like you did last time, almost destroyed the world all though I cant say I'm really against that, in fact it would have saved me a lot of time...
WILLOW
(Slightly raised voice)
I said Get. Out.
Warren takes a step closer to her.
WARREN
Or you'll do what? Come on; show me this Big Bad Willow all the little girls are so afraid of.
A chair slides across the room.
WARREN
Oh please is that the best you can do? I want to see some real power, that's nothing more than a party trick.
Willow looks panicked as the chest of drawers starts to shake.
WARREN
You know she misses you, she really misses you...
Warren morphs into Tara.
TARA
I really really do, sometimes I...
Tara morphs into Warren.
WARREN
Oops sorry, that's all the time you get.
All of the closet doors slam open. The chest of drawers shakes more violently throwing off any of the products on top of it.
Kennedy opens the door
KENNEDY
Willow...
Willow looks at her and she is pushed back and the door is slammed shut. Kennedy starts banging on the door.
KENNEDY
Willow! Open up! Are you OK in there? Willow!
WARREN
And then there's her
He walks over to the door.
WARREN
She's a special one isn't she? All chosen and stuff I bet you two must have really hit it off...
KENNEDY
(From behind the door)
Willow! Open up! Willow!
Warren morphs into Tara.
TARA
How could you do that? I thought we... us... we were meant to last forever Will, how could you just throw all that away? What did you do, did you forget about me? Did you just let me be dead so you could go and be with her?
Willows face melts and she looks as if she is going to cry again.
WILLOW
Tara no....
Tara morphs into Warren.
WARREN
But you know what the funny part is? You let her die, you have all this power and you watched...
Warren very slowly morphs into Tara. Tara is in the outfit she was in when she died, the blood is dripping from her clothes were she was shot.
TARA
(Crying)
You watched me die, you watched him put a bullet through my heart and you didn't do a thing to stop it.
Tara morphs into Warren. Warren steps closer to her.
WARREN
And do you know what I said? Do you know what I said when I found out that I had killed Tara, the only woman you have ever loved?
Willow looks livid again and slowly her eyes are starting to turn black. Warren steps closer again so that he is inches from her face. He stares straight into her eyes.
WARREN
Oops.
A sudden explosion of orange energy emits from Willow body. Warren disappears with a smile. Willows head tilts back and she screams. A pillar of bright yellow light is now surrounding her. Her hands are sparking with red electricity. Her eyes are completely black.
Kennedy is on the other side of the door still trying to open it. A group of potentials are surrounding Kennedy.
KENNEDY
Willow! Open this door right now!
A sudden explosion of green energy appears through the door and knocks Kennedy back. She sits up shocked. Giles appears.
GILES
What happened?
He goes over to Kennedy. He kneels down next to her.
KENNEDY
Willow...
Giles turns round to face the door; a lot of bright light can be seen coming from under the door.
GILES
Dear god...
He turns to Kennedy. He looks at her sternly and grips both of her shoulders.
GILES
What did you say to her?
KENNEDY
I didn't say anything! I just walked in from the bathroom and I saw Willow talking to this guy and the drawers were shaking and all the closet doors were open....
GILES
Kennedy listen this is very important, who was the man talking to Willow, did it look like...
KENNEDY
Warren
Giles looks shocked for a moment. He then gets up. He turns to the potentials.
GILES
Girls I want you all to go downstairs to the basement and stay there until I say so, Rhona get Xander and tell him to come here now. (He turns to Kennedy who has now stood up.) Kennedy I want you to take Andrew and go downstairs with the girls. Do not under any circumstances come out until you see me tell you otherwise. Make sure Andrew does the same, he will understand.
KENNEDY
But...
GILES
Kennedy you have never seen Willow in this state, if she see's either you or Andrew there is a chance you will make her worse then she already is.
Kennedy nods and leads all the girls who hurry downstairs. Xander comes running to Giles's side.
XANDER
What's going on? What happened?
GILES
Willow
XANDER
Willow? Is she...
He looks at Willow's door and sees the light coming from it.
XANDER
(Shaking his head)
Oh no no no, how did this happen?
GILES
We need to get in there to try and talk to her, the longer she's alone the worse she will get.
XANDER
How did she even get like this?
GILES
The First. Kennedy said she saw Warren in there
XANDER
Ohh no
Xander trails off as a look of shock creeps over his face. Another explosion comes from Willow's room.
XANDER
What do we do? We have to help her! I mean if she has seen Warren there is not a lot that we can say to...
GILES
We need to get in there first. Call Buffy and Spike, maybe they're combined strength can break through the barrier.
Xander nods and goes downstairs. Giles looks at the door and a look of pain come across his face.
GILES
Willow....
Xander gets to the bottom of the stairs and then the door opens. Buffy and Spike appear.
BUFFY
Hey look we have a door! And a staircase too, wow good work Xander....
XANDER
It's Willow.
BUFFY
Willow?
Buffy spots the look on Xander's face.
BUFFY
What happened?
XANDER
The first. Warren.
Buffy looks shocked. An explosion can be heard from upstairs. Buffy slams the door closed and her, Spike and Xander all rush up the stairs. They arrive at Willow's door.
BUFFY
How is she?
GILES
Kennedy walked in and saw her talking to Warren; she said things were flying around the room and Willow pushed her out using magic. She's slammed the door shut and there is a barrier around it, Buffy do you think you could break through it?
Buffy walks up to the barrier and kicks it. She staggers back a little.
SPIKE
Here, why don't we try it together?
He walks and stands next to her. They both face the door.
SPIKE
1,2...
They both kick the door. It goes flying open. Both Buffy and Spike rush in.
SPIKE
Wow
Xander and Giles rush in.
XANDER
Oh god
Willow is sitting cross-legged on the bed breathing very heavily. She is staring at her hands that are furiously sparking red electricity. A bright sphere of red energy is circling her. The roots of her hair are black.
Xander walks forward and tries to stand in front of her. He looks into her eyes.
XANDER
Will?
Willow looks up and her eyes are still completely black.
XANDER
Will it's me, it's Xander
GILES
Xander be careful, any wrong move and she could easily kill you. She is connected to a much stronger power then she was before, she is much more dangerous.
Xander is still looking into her eyes. He kneels down in front of her but he does not touch the energy that is around her. Willow follows him with her eyes, still breathing in very heavily.
XANDER
Will, what ever it is, it's OK no one is here. It's just us. Whatever the first said to you it's not true.
WILLOW
(Whispers)
Tara
Xander's face turns from one of shock to pity.
XANDER
Oh Will....
The energy around her glows an even darker red.
XANDER
Look I know your upset right now, and that's OK. But this... this isn't what Tara would have wanted you to do, and now matter what the First may have said, you know that's true.
She starts to cry, her eyes are slowly changing back. The flow of energy around her is waning.
XANDER
Will what ever it is; whatever it is that your feeling right now we can deal with it. You and me right here. You're not alone. I'm here for you and I always will be. (Pause) I love you.
Willow starts to cry heavily. Her eyes have changed back. The black roots have disappeared. Xander stands up and leans over to give her a hug. He goes through the last remaining flow of energy and it disappears completely. He sits down as he hugs her. Willow is now sobbing in his shoulder.
Buffy's eyes start to water, Spike's finger start to lace with hers and she tightly grips onto his hand. Giles looks at the sobbing Willow with a look of pain etched on his face.
A/N: Hope you liked it, Review please! I promise if I get ten reviews I will have the next two chapters in this week. Please!