Chapter 13

"Faith how could you!" Dawn screamed as she ducks away from two minions, Anya quickly decapitating one.

"She's a psycho-bitch is how!" Spike yells placating the pain on his face as he battled Faith.

"I may be a bitch but I'm a smart one!" Faith yells pulling out the Dagon Key waving it over Dawn who rises in the air towards a forming orb.

Tara, instantly recognizing the instrument, is realizing just what is really going on as Glory flashed back in the room. "Well well now the key is mine," Faith handed her the shining object.

Tara puts up her hands and the object begins to grow hot. "Now Spike!" Faith says turning on the minions she was just recently doing battle with.

The two wove through the minions like championship ice skaters with such elegance and style. One by one they fell as Glory held the still heating object in her hand. "Faith this better work!" Glory shouts rising next to Dawn's orb, not looking at the fight down below.

"Light up the night, bring us to our path," Tara says softly as Faith too rises towards the orb.

A minion who saw what was really going on hit a lucky shot by stabbing Tara in the stomach before Spike could intervene. She falls to the ground as Spike quickly pulled the dagger out. "Glinda, stay with us. You're the controller of that object damn it!" He shouted accidentally informing Glory.

"Smart move Spike!" Anya shouts dodging a minion's dagger.

Glory turns seeing Faith battle sword ready. "Sorry there G, I just couldn't do it." Faith said laughing in a mock tone.

"Damn you slayer!" Glory shouts trying to pull the orb to her but it continues gravitating downward towards Tara. "Kill her!" She screams at her minions who were being beaten back by Spike, Giles and Xander as Anya stood by Tara's side bravely trying to defend her friend.

"Key I beseech thee," Tara said in a quivering voice. "Grant the slayer her time needed to end the reign of terror spawned by Glory." A minion kicks her in the ribs hard as she finishes her chant then Giles decapitates the minion only to be downed by another.

"You, white witch have the power to do this," a strong voice said from inside the orb. "I am but the key, you are the power! Wish it and it shall be given you but for a short time. Do hurry or the world will be lost."

Tara manages to raise her hand once more and the end of Faith's sword lights up with a bright light. "Faith you have just thirty seconds," Xander shouted to repeat what Tara had mumbled in such a low voice the slayer couldn't even hear her.

Glory shrieks in pain as her body trembles. Her Godlike energy was leaving her and moving into the sword. She knew this much. She threw the Dagon Key down hoping to stop what was happening. She knew this wouldn't last long and all she had to do was stay away from the slayer for thirty seconds.

The orb that contained the key began to shimmer in a big beautiful white light as time stood still. "Now Faith," a voice sounding much like Dawn's but more forceful said. "Now before the energy fades away!"

Tara knew the key was holding everything still and her energy too would fade away thus leaving them without Dawn. She knew the Scoobies had always prevented such disasters but wondered how she would prevent this one. She fought to keep her eyes open knowing she was losing to much blood and her time was limited as well.

Glory darts away from Faith for the first few seconds as the slayer adapts herself to the sword and energy vibrating from it. She then tries something different, she uses her mind to connect with the energy of the sword moving it wherever Glory moved to. She then willed it to strike Glory in her weakness. Being the brain sucker that she was, this spot so happened to be the head. As the sword, full of Glory's own energy, moved into the head Glory began to fragment in pieces. This symbolized her soul fragmentation, her energy fragmentation, her godlike destruction was at hand as she let out one last shrill scream causing the earth to tremble.

Giles was now laying on the floor barely breathing, Faith dropped to the ground just in time to save him from a minion's grasp. Tara quickly threw the Dagon key at the orb containing Dawn as it began to dissipate. "Separate!" She commanded as she closed her eyes and slumped back against the wall.

Faith and Spike finished off the last of the minions outside the apartment as Xander tended to Giles who was the least hurt and Anya was checking Tara over with a grim look on her face.

Dawn is standing before a near lifeless Tara as Faith comes up beside her. "She saved us all." Dawn said softly.

"Spike, you gotta do it," Faith said looking at the vampire. "Don't let her die." She spoke softly with no roughness in her voice for the first time that Spike could remember.

"Faith, do you really think Glinda would want to live as a vampire?" He asked already knowing the answer to that.

"Damn it man!" Faith yelled as tears began to fall from Anya's eyes. "She can't die now!"

"We need to get them to the hospital." Xander said in a hoarse voice knowing they wouldn't have time for Tara to make it there.

Tara could feel herself leaving her body. She moved slowly at first then more quickly. She was standing in a grassy meadow that felt so peaceful and loving. "At least I helped rid the world of Glory," she said. "I overcame my fears and did my job."

She could feel a presence near her, one that used to rapture her mind totally. "Tara," Willow spoke softly. "I did love you, more than life itself. Bambi was my past that refused to let go, it was she who loved Buffy in that way. Yes I did love Buffy but you were my love, the one who made my short life complete. I'm so sorry I couldn't stop her and she made me say mean things to you. I'm sorry that I wouldn't let your love save me."

Tears filled Tara's eyes as Willow embraced her lovingly. "Tara, you can't stay here. Dawnie needs you, Faith needs you, they all need you. Your love is all that can save Faith and I know you are strong enough to do it."

Tara cries harder, wanting to go back to live a happy life and to have someone who will love her unconditionally. She now knew Willow loved her but, in life, she loved the magic too which made it a conditional love. She also wanted to stay here with Willow though and felt torn apart. As her soul tormented on what to do, Spike knelt down bearing his fangs deciding he would get Glinda back no matter what.

TBC.

Notes: Thanks again for reviewing, one more chapter to go! I hope this story is finishing up to your liking.