John looked at Willow stunned. He had been expecting bad but he had not been expecting this bad. He knew now what Willow had never talked about he past before. He just wished he could take all the pain away for her. He thought about how she reacted to the ring in the first place. Clearly she still was in love with this Darren. John knew from experience that nothing he could do would help much. The only think that would erase that pain was love. Like Natalie's love had eased his pain over the loss of Caitlyn.
Natalie also was shocked at what Willow had just revealed. To think Willow had gone through so much at such a young age. Natalie realized that they had more in common then she had originally thought. Which reminded her of something.
"Willow what happened to Isis. Where is she, is she safe?" Natalie asked, Everyone else leaned forward to wanting to hear her answer.
Willow thought about the question for a minute. She was deciding on how much to tell. Ultimately she had to protect Isis and revealing her location could put her or them in danger so she decided to be vague.
"She is safe but I can't tell you where she is. It is safer that way. I'm sorry but I just can't tell you." Willow said tiredly. "I wanted a lawyer her to tell me whether I did something illegal when I took her and also when I stabbed my stalker." Looking at Hugh warily she asked, "Did I?"
Michael jumped in to say, "of course not! You did what you had to do in self defense. No way should you be in trouble for that!"
Willow smiled at Michael's quick defense of her. She always wondered what having brothers would be like and now that she knew she really liked it a lot. But she also knew that she HAD committed a crime. She had stabbed a unconscious man and she wasn't sorry that she had. She was only sorry that he had lived.
"We are here for you Willow. We will find you the best lawyer in the state honey." Eve said, "well Hugh does she need a lawyer?"
Hugh thought it over, before smiling and saying, "Willow you know you shouldn't have stabbed him. But thankfully the statue of limitations is past for that crime. Besides which we wouldn't press charges any way. The DA's office isn't going to charge you with anything."
Everyone else in the room cheered. Happy to have this over with and emotionally exhausted Willow asked, "can I leave now? I want to go home."
John nodded but said, "You are coming home with Natalie and I. I don't want you to be alone. The killer is still out there."
"John, I appreciate the concern but I can take care of my self. Besides you will be just down the hall. That's why we got apartments in the same building." Willow said touched by his concern.
"I know but I don't want you to be alone." John said worried about what she might do. Her blood oath still in his head. He was afraid she would go out looking for the killer.
"I will stay with her," Rex spoke up hoping she wouldn't turn him down. He wanted to help any way he could, even if it was just staying with her to keep her company.
"Yeah, Rex can stay with me." Willow said, and Rex wanted to cheer.
John didn't like that thought of Rex staying with his little sister but if that was the only way she would agree to have someone stay with her he would just have to endure. But if Rex touched one hair on her head…… he mused to himself.
"Ok, if that's the way you want it." John said on a sigh.
Willow got up to leave and Rex did the same. They were almost out the door when John called Rex back. Willow told him she would meet him at her car.
"Take care of her." John said.
"I will," Rex replied seriously.
Neither Willow or Rex said much on the ride home. Willow stared out the window reliving the past. She knew she was going to have nightmares tonight. She always did when she thought of the past.
They got to Willow's apartment and Rex asked, "You sure you don't want to stay with John and Natalie?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm tired I'm going to get ready for bed now." Willow said as she headed for her bathroom. Turning around when she got to the door, "The bed in the other room is comfortable, Feel free to use anything you want around here." She paused a minute then said softly, "thanks for staying with me Rex."
Rex smiled and said, "Anytime sweetheart."
As Willow took a shower and went to bed. Rex settled into the guest bedroom. He had just settled into a restless sleep when he heard Willow scream. Rex jumped off the bed and ran to Willows room , his gun in hand. She was thrashing in bed, obviously having a nightmare.
"Willow, Willow! Wake up!" He said loudly and she woke up with a muffled scream. "shhh, its ok baby, it was just a dream," he whispered in her ear as Rex he pulled her into his arms and held her close till she calmed down and her trembling stopped.
Willow pulled back a little and looked into his eyes. "Thanks Rex."
Rex got up to leave but Willow caught his hand. "Stay with me? Please." She pleaded. "I need you to stay."
He nodded and slid under the covers hugging her close. Closing his eyes as she snuggled into him. "I'm so cold Rex, I'm so cold." Willow murmured into his chest snuggling deeper. Rex held her tightly and they fell asleep in each others arms. There were no more bad dreams for Willow that night.
In the next month there were 2 more murders. John was increasingly frustrated with the case. He was pondering what to do about the killer when Willow called him. He was worried about her. She had become withdrawn around him and Natalie since telling him everything that had happened in her past. He knew she still wanted to go after the killer and when he did find out who it was he wasn't going to tell her until the killer was locked up.
"Hi, Will" John said into his phone.
"John, I just remembered that I never told you what I found out about Haver." Willow said, though that was only part of the reason she was calling.
John smiled, he had wanted to ask her about Haver for the past 2 weeks but didn't want to push her about anything.
"Ok what have you got?" John asked, hoping it was something he could use.
"Actually could I come down there to tell you, I kinda need a favor as well." She said.
"Sure, what is the favor?" He asked, hoping that this meant that she would be less withdrawn with him.
"I need to look at your file on Mitch Lawrence. I have been doing some research into my kidnapping and his name came up. Rex mentioned that there was a fairly complete file on him at the station." Willow explained.
John thought a minute. He didn't see what harm it could do the man was dead after all. "Ok, but you can't take it out of the station."
"Oh, Thanks John! You're the best! I'm on my way down right now."
Willow headed to the station after hanging up with John. She was in a happy mood lately. She and Rex were getting closer. Willow actually thought she had fallen in love with him. She was scared but had decided to take the risk.
Rex had kinda yelled at her for keeping John and Natalie at arms length the other day. He had said that she was taking the easy way out, and upon thinking about it she decided he was right. And if there was one thing Willow Summers…, No Willow McBain, jeeze she was still getting used to that new last name, didn't do was take the easy way out. She had decided to apologize and try to make amends.
As for Rex he was actually spending the nights at her apartment but they hadn't actually made love yet. Willow had decided that tonight was the night. She wanted him so much and Rex had been more then patient with her, but she could tell that he wanted to be with her. She was a little nervous though. The only person she had ever been with was Darren. Willow firmly believed in waiting till she was in love before having sex. Now that she had admitted she was in love with Rex she wanted it all with him. She wanted what John had with Natalie.
Since Rex practically spent every night at her place Willow was contemplating asking him to move in with her. She didn't know if it was too soon for him though. Guys were different then girls and to Willow they were still a mystery. She could disable an attacker in less then a second but when it came to figuring out what men were thinking she was totally clueless. She grinned to her self some genius she was.
She was still thinking about Rex when she walked into John's office.
"Hey Will," he said smiling. "You got here quick."
"Yup. I wanted to get this done. I have something I want to do tonight." Willow said with a happy smile. "I actually wanted to apologize to you and Natalie for the way I have been acting this past month."
John was speechless. He had hoped she would come around but this was better then he though. "Its ok Will. You have been through a lot and its only natural that you would be a little freaked out." John finally got out.
"No its not ok, I took the cowards way out and I never want to be a coward. I am really sorry I treated you so badly and I hope you can forgive me." Willow said.
"Of course I forgive you Will. Lets not talk about it again. Ok? So tell me what have you got on Haver?" John asked.
"Well I found out.." Willow started but was interrupted by John's desk phone.
"Hang on one sec, Will," John said after talking on the phone a minute. Handing her Mitch's file he said, "This may take a little while. Why don't you go out to Natalie's desk and look that over till I'm finished."
Willow nodded took the file and went to sit in the chair next to Natalie's desk. She sat the file down on the desk when she saw Natalie was at her desk. Maybe now was the time to ask her advice on what to do about Rex.