Chapter Six

Faith stood placidly on the other side of the glass looking at Xander. He was the last person she thought she'd ever see and wondered why he'd decided to visit her. As she looked him over, she saw the worry lines creasing on his brow. "Sup Xan," she said casually not wanting to sound eager to know the answer.

"It's willow," he said not knowing where to start. "She's gone off the deep end and Tara doesn't love her anymore but is trying to help her and I fear what will happen if we don't get her help before she finds out Tara's feelings. Faith, she went crazy with magic and killed someone. It is eating her up inside but I'm afraid she will go over the edge totally if someone doesn't help."

Faith couldn't help but smirk. Xander was one of the ones who were ready to feed her to the wolves and rightly so. "So what do you think I can do for Red.? Get her to fall in love with me so Tara can be free?" Faith blinked her eyes in utter distain hoping that wasn't his plan.

"Faith," he looked her over. "Honestly I don't think anyone could fall in love with you. Especially someone who knows how cruel you are but the fact remains Willow needs help from someone who might understand what she is going through."

"Well so long as the love part isn't in the deal I'm game." Faith said unwilling to get involved in such emotions. She had changed in many ways for the better but was in no way looking for someone to fall for her and start getting all clingie.

"Angel has arranged everything," Xander said and stepped back from the glass. "All you have to do is get out and he will take it from there."

"No problem," Faith said as she easily broke through the glass and grabbed Xander's arm to help speed him up as the two darted their way free from the prison.

- - - - - - - - -

Tara sat out in the yard later that evening. It was nice to feel the cool air against her emotionally drained body. The birds chirping seemed to give a fake sense of calm to this little town and the most uncalm thing of them all now lie dormant in the living room. The magic that dwelt within Willow which Tara had watched the woman who used to hold her heart in the palm of her hand struggle with nearly all day.

Willow had finally drifted off to sleep so Tara took that opportunity to get some much-needed relaxation. She was torn on what to do. The easy answer was taking Willow back and loving her but she would have to be deceitful to do that. There wasn't a deceitful bone in Tara's body this much she knew. The one thing she had to hide was her growing fondness of Buffy's company. She didn't know the extent of fondness and refused to let her mind contemplate it. Buffy was Willow's best friend, a good friend of hers and emotionally messed up herself. Not to mention the little fact she was straight. This enabled Tara to easily dismiss any thought her mind could have for the blonde slayer from even surfacing.

"Tara," Buffy said as she gently placed her hand on the woman's arm.

She was obviously in deep thought of something and Buffy didn't want to disturb her. She missed the time she and Tara had been able to spend together and wanted to sit with her if nothing more. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine Buffy thanks," Tara said with a half-hearted smile. "This isn't easy at all."

"I know it's not and I wish there was something I could do for you." Buffy's eyes showed concern for the Wiccan. "You have done so much for me Tara, you could never know." She pulled the woman into a big hug; neither saw that Willow was watching from inside the house. "You made me feel again Tara," Buffy didn't know why she was doing this but felt it would somehow give Tara a little confidence in herself back. "For that I will be forever indebted to you, not because I have to but because I want to. You with that great smile and comforting ways gave me back the gift of life and I want to return the favor by helping you in whatever way possible."

Tara looked up into Buffy's eyes which held so much compassion. She had begun noticing changes in the slayer but wasn't going to attribute any of them to herself. She was just Tara, nothing special but now here was the slayer hugging her and telling her she was the reason that Buffy now truly is alive again. "I-I-I had no idea," Tara muttered.

"Tara," Buffy looked into her eyes then pulled away quickly. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable but it's the truth. I noticed the stutter and I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." Buffy chastised herself big time fearing she had just pushed the woman away having not paid attention to notice that Tara's stammer was usually present when Buffy was around.

Willow, who was close enough to the window to hear some of the conversation, took notice however and was none to happy about it as Xander's car pulled in the drive. Before she was able to regain her composure, her eyes raged black with jealousy exploding the window with a big wind. "Willow!" Tara shouted as Buffy stood froze in her place gawking at who got out of the car with Xander. "Just what do you think you're doing to my Tara?" Willow shouted at Buffy and sent her flying across the yard then found herself standing face to face with the dark slayer.

"Willow stop!" Tara yelled as Faith punched her hard in the side of the head.

"Hi to you too Red." Faith said as she scooped the unconscious redhead up and strolled inside.

"Xander," Buffy shouted as she got up off the ground with a little help from Tara. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm getting Will some help and Tara needs some relief from her inner turmoil!" He shouted back at Buffy. "Faith is the only one I know of who could half way understand what she is going through but if you two need some kinda private moment I'd suggest you do it out of Willow's sight." He stomped angrily inside the house.

"He's right, Tara stammered looking guilty.

Buffy stood trying to sort out her thoughts and instinctively put a hand on Tara's now trembling one. "Tara we weren't doing anything wrong," she said in a frustrated tone. "We're just two friends trying to comfort one another in our time of need and if he wants to help Willow in that way, he will do it elsewhere."

Tara shook her head knowing Buffy was right, the two had done nothing wrong but also knowing, Buffy was surely home. She showed Tara that with her little temper tantrum she just displayed and Tara thanked her with a smile. "What?" Buffy asked rather confused.

"I don't agree with what you just said Buffy but it shows me, you're truly back, the impulsive behavior." Tara smiled again as Buffy shrugged at her.

"I guess I am back," Buffy returned the smile.

- - - - - - - - - -

Late that night, while everyone slept, Faith was doing her new job of watching over Willow. The woman jerked in her sleep violently as her body began to sweat and tremble. Faith wasn't sure what to do so put her hand gently on Willow's. "No, help me please, don't leave me," Willow's high-pitched yet soft voice begged. "I'm drowning and I can't get free."

Faith furrowed her brow at that statement. She knew all to well the feeling of drowning in darkness, that there was no escape and it would swallow you up until there was nothing left but a shell of your former self. "It's ok Red," she said in a soft but husky voice that dripped with pain for the girl.

Willow gripped her hand tightly as if she was hanging on to her last thread and indeed Faith probably was her last thread of sanity at this point. "I got ya Red," she spoke again and moved the redhead closer as Willow's eyes fluttered open and the tears gushed from them like an angry river.

"I want to die, it hurts so bad! I want to hurt them all and show them how bad I hurt!" Her eyes shot black as Faith just sat there holding on to her hoping above all hope that Willow could regain her composure as she was in no way ready to be blasted worse than she saw Buffy get earlier.

She stared at Faith with eyes that didn't look like Willow was even dwelling in the body. If not for Faith's resolve she would have been chilled to the bone at the new sight of the woman. "You will help me won't you Faith."

Her voice was thick with darkness and Faith knew she should be backing off now but this was Faith. She looked right into those evil looking black eyes and said, "fuck no but I will help Willow!"