Xander had been at the hospital all day. He was tired and he was frustrated that he couldn't do anything but sit on an uncomfortable chair and try to think of funny jokes to tell Willow. For one brief moment he was sure she'd wake and laugh at something she found amusing, that he'd be the one to save her. He started to imagine her laughing with him and played conversations in his head where she told him he was a funny guy and that there was nobody else she would ever want as her best friend. Willow knew him better than he knew himself. He had thought the same about her, but then they'd all been introduced to Tara.

He liked Tara, but he just didn't think of Willow as someone who would like her in that way. He was jealous. For those first few times he saw them together, he didn't like that someone else was that close to his Willow, and he wished he'd have taken more notice of her when it was him she wanted. But he could see how happy Tara made her, and he was glad about that. He was happy for them both, and after sitting in a hospital room all day with Tara and seeing the worry in her eyes, he knew that Willow's heart lay in good hands.

When he took a break to get coffee, he saw the gang coming towards him and noticed how quickly everyone was walking, he didn't know whether to be scared or not, there were many reasons they could be in a hurry, it didn't have to mean something bad had happened.

"Xander, we have a problem," ok – so sometimes it meant something bad had happened. He took his coffee and sat down with everyone outside Willow's room. "How's she doing?"

"No change. Tara went to get some of her things, make it a little more comfortable for Will."

"Well, I mean, do they really think she'll be in here that long?"

"She's not even awake Buffy, it's not like they're just waiting for a broken bone to heal or a mild concussion to pass, it's about as bad as it gets," they all looked at each other and Anya moved to stand beside Xander, she hugged him and he smiled at her. "Thanks. So what's this big problem? Is there a new big bad?"

"Maybe. Something was stolen from the Magic Box and it could've been used to hurt Willow."

"And we didn't know this before because?"

"Because Giles wouldn't treat it as something serious, he was wrong, isn't that right Buffy?" Giles rolled his eyes and looked at Xander to explain. When he'd told him all they knew so far they each sat with their own thoughts before saying anything.

"We gotta find out what happened with this robbery, we have to know who it was and if they were caught."

"Wouldn't there have been something on the news if it was that big a deal?"

"Have any of us even looked at a TV or picked up a newspaper today?" they exchanged glances. "Exactly, we need to figure this out like, yesterday, we need to help Willow," as they all stood to figure out who should do what, Giles lifted a hand up in contest.

"Look, I know we're all worried and it's been an awful day, but we don't know anything at all about what's happened here. And if it's mystical, I think we should tread very carefully."

"This coming from the guy who didn't think there was anything to worry about," Giles turned to Anya and was about to pick his fight when Buffy intervened.

"Ok look, Xander, Anya – why don't you see what you can find out from the cops, I'm gonna see what the word on the street is about this key of Boobooso."

"Boubasa."

"Whatever, Giles, Anya, hit the books, see what you can find about this guy and his key," they all headed out and Giles' calls for attention were ignored by everyone as their individual voices carried louder than the last.

"What about Tara?" finally everyone stopped and looked at Giles, "someone should, should call her or stay here until she gets back."

"I'll stay."

"Anya, are you sure?"

"Sure I'm sure, I like Tara, and I think she'd be comforted by me," before Giles could make a joke Buffy pushed him towards the door and Xander followed. They had their plan, now they had to put it in motion.

Tara had picked out some clothes but wasn't sure if she should take them to the hospital or not. Was it inappropriate to bring Willow things that she wasn't going to be able to use? She's picked out some music for her to listen to, some books that she could read to her, a hair brush to comb her hair, her favorite stuffed animal, but clothes? No. It wasn't time for that. She put them back into the closet and sat down with the stuffed animal on the bed.

She imagined Willow sitting next to her, holding her, telling her that they'd be together forever, that they'd be happy and never have to face anything alone. Well Tara was alone now. How could she get through this without that strong guiding hand that had transformed her from the stuttering quiet shell she had been to the slightly more confident woman she was now? She couldn't pull it off without her.

Her birthday had been the ideal time for her to start and try to fit in more, she could do that, she wanted to. But only if Willow was there. Everything was so messed up. She had called Willow's parents; they had been surprised to hear from her, they'd never met or spoken, but knew about her relationship with Willow. They were on vacation but would get the first flight home. They had been short with her and didn't try to make conversation, in fairness – they had just heard that their daughter had been in a serious accident.

Tara knew she was overreacting. Of course it was an awkward and horrible phone call. Of course it would be strange being around the others without Willow making her feel at home. But she was going to be fine. She was going to wake up and everything was going to be ok. She didn't care what it took or what she had to do, she would make this better, and she would not lose Willow, not now. Not ever.