Buffy glanced inside Willow's room. She couldn't see anybody at first but as she walked in she stood in horror at the sight of Tara collapsed on the floor with a bullet hole in her stomach. "Oh, God." She clasped her hand over her mouth as she fell to her knees in sobbed Tara."
Spike rushed in behind her taking a look at the dead body on the floor. He could feel the pain in his stomach and he was forced to run over to the dead body as well. He held the bawling Buffy and stroked her hair.
She fell in a heap of sobs on Spike's shoulder. It was horrible. The whole thing made her want to barf but all she could think about was where Willow went. "I can't believe this is happening." She cried still in Spike's arms. "This is like one huge nightmare!"
Spike hushed her, "You shouldn't worry about that, pet. We should be worryin' about red. Where she went? What's she doing? How she's coping? Remember last time something happened to Tara? Willow got all hot for vengeance and the like. If you ask me, she'd probably be doing that right now."
Buffy sat up in shock, "Willow wouldn't do magic. She quit remember? She knew it was too dangerous to start up again so she quit." In her mind she knew Spike was probably right but she didn't want to believe that. She didn't want to believe anything that was happening.
Spike nodded, "True but the girl doesn't think straight when she's hurt. And since it's Tara…she'd most likely do anything to get her revenge."
Buffy nodded as she took in what he said. Maybe it was true. Willow could be looking for Warren right that minute. "Then we have to stop her. You know, try to explain to her about what she's dealing with."
Spike raised an eyebrow as he smirked, "Right, then we'll all have a nice little party and everyone will live happily ever after." He couldn't believe Buffy would actually try and do the little peace speech. It never worked, "We're not gonna get anywhere with you publicizing the Miss Beauty Pageant speech to her."
"I'm not saying…" She paused after realizing that her idea of peacemaking would be a little pointless. "I don't know what to do. This whole night has gone by way too slowly and dreadfully that I'm not even thinking right. It's just since Tara's dead; Willow will go straight for the attacker. She'll kill Warren."
"Good." A voice from behind them made them turn their heads. Dawn stood in the doorway her eyes drenched in tears, her arms folded weakly in front of her diaphragm. "He deserves to die." Her voice strained the gut-wrenching words out of her mouth.
Buffy looked at her in amazement, "Dawn. You don't mean that." She knew Dawn was mad about what happened but she never thought that she would want to kill someone for it, like Willow could be.
Dawn sniffled as she walked with her arms still folded, "You don't think he deserves it? He should die! He took an innocent life!" She screamed to her sister, begging for her to actually listen to her for once. It was all she wanted. She wanted to be heard. This time, her words meant a whole lot.
Buffy shook her head, "Warren's a human. She shouldn't kill him. We don't kill humans in this world. It's not right."
Dawn shot back, "And this is? Warren killed Tara! Is Tara not human?" She could feel her body getting hotter and hotter. Her face felt like an oven as the tears continued to cascade down her cheek. "She didn't deserve to die!" She shouted.
Buffy nodded, feeling her sister's pain. "I know Dawnie. But sometimes there are bad people in the world who alter the balance of good and evil and they pay the price sooner or later by going in jail. I would love to see him pay but not in that way." She stood up and walked over to her sister trying really hard to make her feel better, "Dawnie, if we send Warren to jail the police would have him in there for life or they would execute him. If we don't send Warren to jail and let Willow kill him…she'll have that burden for the rest of her life. Willow will wake up day realizing that she killed a man and she'll have to live with that for the rest of her life. I don't want to see her like that. And I'm sure you don't either." She explained.
Dawnie took a few deep breaths thinking over her sister's speech. It did make sense, "I just want him dead." She cried as the tears welled up on the bottom of her eyelid and burst out again.
Buffy held Dawn close to her, stroking the back of her hair. "I know Dawnie. I do too."
Spike stood up, "Well, not to break the hallmark moment but we should call the hospital. Have them take Tara away to the morgue." Spike suggested before picking up the telephone.
Buffy let go of Dawn and smiled at her before wiping away the tears on her sister's cheek. "I'll call Spike." She said before making her way to the phone and dialing the number.