Chapter 10
A/N thanks for the reviews everyone.
(MAGIC BOX)
Anya, Giles, Dawn and Xander assembled themselves at the magic box. Anya and Dawn both had phoned Giles telling him what happened to them both. The alarm only grew when the slayer nor Tara could be reached. "We've got to do a locator spell and fast," Dawn said offering up her services.
"I'm gonna try to find Faith," Xander said rising.
"Very bad idea, we've got two missing already and we know glory is on the loose." Anya interjected.
"Do be quiet so I can think," Giles said feeling more at a loss than ever before. "Anya what did Faith say when she left here?"
"She said fuck and was out the door." Anya shook her head wishing she had more to offer in way of helping them locate the emotional slayer. One thing she figured out was, when emotionally charged as Faith was, she was a ticking time bomb and just maybe more than Glory hoped for.
Just then Faith burst back through the door with Spike rolling in covered with a blanket. "I needed muscle." She said flatly staring tentatively at the scoobies.
"Faith we will all get through how Willow was taken from us but right now," Giles was quickly cut off...
"Yeah I know the drill. Hell Goddess, killed B, probably wants D, which is why he is here." She points to Spike who stands quietly. "Anyway," she scans the room knowing their should be a sad blonde witch around. "Where's Tara?"
The gang exchange looks then Giles decides there is nothing stronger nor more reckless than a psycho-Faith which may be just what the doctor ordered in this case. "We were unable to locate Tara. I fear Glory has found her. You see she tried to make Tara tell who the key was and when Tara wouldn't do so, well," he trailed off.
"She sucked her mind and made her go nutso," Xander added hoping he was following the correct lead from Giles.
"Spike, look after D, you all find out why Glory is back. I gotta find Tara." She takes off out the door with a stone look on her face.
"I must say, no offense to Buffy in the least, she makes a much better leader with much better plans." Spike added pulling off his coat.
(AN OLD WAREHOUSE)
"This is perfect," Glory said clicking her nails together. "I've given a similar speech before to a certain unfortunate monk but once again You know, when you think about it, I'm the victim here. First off, I never wanted to come back here but you see when that heroic slayer got in the way and dove to her death to save that sniveling Key, the God's insisted I be trapped then this stupid witchie lover of yours selfishly brings back her royal slayerness and poof here I am! Now I will make it back to my home no matter the consequences."
Glory backhands Tara to the floor. Tara is unable to move or speak, in part, because of the slap but mostly due to her past fears of having her mind sucked. "Do you realize I could get your Willow back for you? If you would just help me get home, I know who the Key is mind you but if you could help me make it easier I could do you this little favor."
"Willow never loved me, she wanted Buffy." Tara murmured in a soft stutter.
"Come now, she loved you, isn't it true she risked her life for you? Isn't it true how she treated you like a child to strengthen your mind?" Glory spoke softly as Faith came busting through the door. "Oh lookie here another slayer." Glory laughed slapping Faith quickly against a wall cracking it with the impact.
"So your the whimp who caused Buffy to die," Faith said laughing rising to her feet kicking Glory in the gut.
"Faith, don't that won't hurt her." Tara said.
"Listen to your soon to be deceased witch unless she helps me." Glory says laughing slapping Faith hard again who gets in another kick, this time to the face, as she goes flying through the air. "Pesky slayer aren't you bitch!" Glory hisses. "Now you've angered me, how dare you slap my face!"
"Tara get up and run!" Faith shouts jumping to her feet and pummeling Glory with boxing like punches.
Tara makes it to her feet with terror in her eyes as Glory is momentarily stunned by the slayer. She runs as fast as she can towards the magic box; hot tears now streaming down her face.
(MAGIC BOX)
Several of Glory's minions storm the magic box going after Dawn. Spike beheads one instantly as Giles and the crew battle to keep more from getting in. "Bit, go, run!" Spike yells spinning an ax around to behead another as he kicks yet another with the heel of his boot.
"No! Glory is my destiny, what I was created for, I won't run!" Dawn yells determined to fight this out. She surprises them all nabbing a minion that was coming up behind Xander in the back, a direct hit through the heart.
This slowed the front the gang put up at the door however and several minions got through. Three grabbed hold of Dawn as several fought with Spike. Giles did notice things seemed suddenly quiet outside, then he saw why.
Tara was standing in the midst of the minions who were now frozen like stones. She moved to the door, waved her hands in the air and muttered under her breath. The minions inside stopped dead in their tracks. "Spike, you and Xander should have time to kill them all. Giles go help Faith, Dawn and I will go to my apartment with Anya to research."
Giles was taken aback for a moment, he could see the aura of Ms. Maclay, it was pure white and bright as could be. He indeed realized they had one powerful witch amongst them and was saddened they'd overlooked her gift for so long.
"Right you are Glynda," Spike said beginning to pick off the minions that stood frozen inside the magic box.
(THE WAREHOUSE)
Giles is walking towards a smoke filled street when he sees Faith stumble out of a burning warehouse. She certainly looks as though she'd seen better days but she was moving which was a plus. "Faith," he spoke quietly as she made her way to him.
"That's one powerful hellion," Faith spat in between coughs. "She thought she could kill me. I told her worse women have tried." She blinks her big brown eyes at him.
"Yes well perhaps you need medical attention." He says looking her over knowing she'd probably inhaled a great deal of smoke. "She started some fire didn't she."
"Hell I did that G-man," Faith says leaning on his outstretched arm for support. "Had to show the bitch what a psycho I really am. It got her away from me and she left this behind in her hurry to look after that not so gorgeous face she has."
She hands Giles a small box and he pockets it quickly. "Yes well they're after Dawn majorly so we need to regroup after some rest." He takes a look at a shiny object that looks like the sphere in color but is flat.
"She wanted some sorta help from Tara too." Faith says as they round the corner to his apartment.
"Tara is your weakness she believes, Faith," he looks at her questioningly.
"Yeah I know. Showing weaknesses such as Dawn was B's problem, she won't see it from me." Faith looks at the ground as she speaks wishing she had not had to kill Willow; wishing she could hold Tara in her arms and comfort the woman in her time of need.
"Faith, you and I are of the same mold. I murdered a human, for a good cause but I did it. Don't beat yourself up over this. Time heals all wounds and Tara does care for you. I saw it in her eyes long before Willow was gone." He tightens his arm around the slayer for a bit of comfort for just the briefest of moments as neither of them was to fond of this sort of thing, it after all, showed weakness.
"Yeah I hope your right G. Can't worry about that now though, we've got a Hellion to get rid of."
TBC.
