Chapter 23
"Sit down." Buffy eases Tara down on the chair, before walking to the bank of telephones. Buffy digs in her pocket for change, shaking her head at her lover. "Damn pain in the ass doesn't have the strength to walk home and she was going to try." Buffy punches the buttons firmly. Waiting for the phone to be picked up, Buffy turns around to watch Tara.
Tara frowns, watching Buffy. Whispering, knowing Buffy will hear her. "I'm fine. I could have made it home." As Buffy narrows her gaze on her, Tara sighs and rolls her eyes. "Pain." Tara mutters.
"Mom, are you about done for the night?" Buffy questions as her mom picks up the phone.
"I was just getting ready to close up, why? Did everything go okay? Is Tara okay?" Joyce questions worriedly.
"Everything went fine. Tara's just very tired and doesn't really have the strength to walk home. It doesn't help that all she's had is a bagel to eat today." Buffy admits quietly. "If you could come by the hospital when you're done closing down, I'd appreciate it." Buffy smiles softly as she watches Tara lean her head back, closing her eyes.
"I should be there in fifteen minutes." Joyce sighs in relief. "Bye, dear."
"Thanks, mom." Buffy hangs up the phone before walking around the corner shoving more change into the soda machine. Walking back to Tara, she kneels in front of the witch, opening the soda. "Here, you can probably use the sugar." Buffy offers quietly.
Tara quirks her lip as she accepts the soda. Reaching out with an unsteady hand, she runs her fingers over Buffy's cheek. "I'm really okay, sweetie. I just used a lot more of my power than I was planning on. I kind of projected myself inside Faith, then sent a lot of healing and calming energy into her while I was there. I need to make sure I eat good and do a couple meditations myself before I do it again. I just wasn't prepared to expend that much power."
Buffy urges Tara to drink the soda. "So if you prepare, it won't be such a drain?" Buffy questions, stroking a hand over Tara's thigh.
"No, it won't. It basically needs a dusting off and some usage." Tara smiles in between sips of the soda, feeling the sugar hit her system.
Buffy sighs in relief, leaning her head to rest against Tara's knee. "Good. If that's all it is, I won't argue about you doing this again. I really wasn't looking forward to the bitch session we were going to have if I had to explain to you that you couldn't help her."
Tara chuckles quietly, running her hand through Buffy's hair. "We would have had to do it somewhere other than your house. I'm afraid you mom might freak if we get into another argument this quickly."
Buffy laughs, rubbing her face against Tara's leg, as she unconsciously moves her body in closer to Tara. Wrapping her arms around Tara's lower legs, Buffy whimpers quietly. "I love you."
"I love you, too, sweetie." Tara smiles as she feels, more than hears, Buffy start purring. Finishing her soda, Tara sets it down on the table to stroke both her hands down Buffy's back.
Joyce rolls her eyes as she comes in the hospital. "You two do realize you're in a public place, right?"
Tara blushes before laughing quietly as Buffy just snuggles in closer. "Well, if we make anybody sick, they're in the right place." Tara jokes looking up at Joyce.
"Won't make them sick. Turn them on, I can see." Buffy mutters. "But not make them sick."
Tara rolls her eyes before tapping Buffy on the shoulder. "Come on, sweetie. I need to get some food in me."
Buffy quickly shifts back before helping Tara up, keeping a strong arm around Tara's waist.
Joyce shakes her head. "That didn't take much. God forbid you actually get hurt or sick."
"Not allowed." Buffy grumbles, keeping Tara tight against her as she walks her out to the Jeep.
"I can get in the Jeep by myself." Tara smacks Buffy's hands as she starts to pick her up to put her in the front seat.
"I wanna help." Buffy pouts, trying not to grin as she shifts her hands around, trying to grasp Tara's waist to help her into the Jeep.
Joyce bangs her head against the steering wheel as the two women joke around.
Tara keeps swinging at Buffy's hands, starting to giggle. "Behave, or no more smoochies for you!"
Buffy's hands stop, and she looks up into Tara's twinkling blue eyes. "You wouldn't?" Pouting, Buffy moans as Tara leans in kissing her firmly.
Pulling back, Tara smirks as she hops up into the Jeep. "Try me."
"Finally." Joyce starts the car as Buffy climbs in the back seat.
"What's for dinner?" Buffy questions, reaching up to stroke a hand through Tara's hair.
"A couple buckets of chicken." Joyce answers as she pulls into the fast food restaurant. "Potatoes and rolls?" Joyce offers looking from Tara to Buffy.
"Please." Tara smiles at Joyce. "Thank you."
"I'll be back in a few minutes." Joyce shakes her head, laughing quietly.
Buffy watches as her mom walks into the restaurant before easing her upper body between the two seats, looking into Tara's laughing blue eyes. "Want a kiss." Buffy wiggles her eyebrows at Tara while puckering her lips.
"You need help." Tara shakes her head at her lover, smiling before closing the short distance, kissing her. Groaning as Buffy's tongue eagerly seeks entrance, Tara eases her mouth open, battling softly with Buffy's searching tongue.
Buffy shifts herself in as close as she can against Tara from the angle she's in. Running a hand up Tara's side, she gently runs her fingertips over the soft swell of Tara's breast as she sucks Tara's tongue in her mouth.
Whimpering as Buffy releases her tongue, Tara tilts her head back against the seat, reaching up to press Buffy's hand firmly against her breast. "Sweetie." Tara murmurs.
"I know." Buffy grumps before nipping playfully at Tara's neck as she pulls away from the witch. "I'll behave." Buffy moves, sitting in the back seat, wrapping her arms around her chest to keep from reaching for Tara.
"Do you think your mom is going to need help carrying the food out?" Tara shifts to look at Buffy, laughing quietly at the puppy dog eyes looking back at her. "I can help her." Tara offers shifting her body to open the door.
"NO!" Buffy almost yells, reaching out to stop Tara. "I'll help her." Buffy shakes her head. "You need to rest." Buffy quickly opens the door, jogging over to the restaurant doors, glancing back as she hears Tara laughing. "Yeah, yeah. You think it's funny. Just wait, I'll get mine." Buffy mutters to herself, before smirking.
"Want to take a nap on the couch, or in bed?" Buffy questions as she tears a hunk of meat from her piece of chicken breast, munching on it while watching Tara nibble on her wing.
"I'll go up to your room. That way if you guys want to watch television, I won't be in the way." Tara smiles softly at Joyce before scooping up some mashed potatoes with gravy.
"You wouldn't be in the way." Joyce smirks towards her daughter. "Buffy'll probably insist on curling up with you, anyway. Not sleeping, you understand…"
"MOM!" Buffy yells, blushing deeply. "You're not supposed to talk about your daughter like that." Buffy grabs a roll, tearing a piece off before shoving it in her mouth.
Tara bites her lip before sliding her eyes towards Joyce, grinning. "You're probably right, Joyce. Not much sleeping would probably get done if she decides to lay me…I mean lay down with me." Tara hesitates just long enough, for both women to know she meant what she said, that it wasn't a mistake, before giggling as her lover's mouth drops open.
Joyce laughs appreciatively before turning wide eyes on Tara. "Sheets?" Joyce questions. As Tara blushes, and nods her head briefly, Joyce looks up beseechingly at the heavens. "God, please help me. I'll need you to make sure I get a few hours sleep each night!"
Buffy whimpers, burying her face down on the table, her face hot enough to start a fire.
Tara laughs quietly, watching Buffy. "Don't worry, Joyce. I'm sure we'll spend the week in my dorm room." Tara jumps up and runs upstairs as Buffy looks at her with an extremely wicked look in her eyes.
Joyce watches Tara's quick escape before turning her gaze on her daughter, laughing quietly at the calculating look on her face. "Payback?"
"You'll get yours, too." Buffy admits, narrowing her gaze on her mother. "You started this whole conversation, you know." Buffy reaches down grabbing her chicken breast, taking a bite out of it, thinking about possible paybacks.
"Do you think she ate enough?" Joyce questions looking at Tara's plate.
Buffy sighs looking at her lover's plate. "She doesn't eat enough." Buffy quickly places another piece of chicken on the plate along with a roll and some more vegetables. "I'll be back down in a little while." Buffy stands, clasping the plate in her hand while reaching for Tara's glass, quickly walking up the stairs.
Joyce watches as Buffy quickly leaves. "It's definitely going to be interesting around here." Joyce whispers to the empty room, sighing. "I'm going to have to find something to do on the weekends, or those two are going to drive me crazy." Joyce shakes her head before going back to finish eating her dinner.
Buffy stands in the doorway watching as Tara slides between the covers as she climbs in the bed. "I would prefer you eat a little more before sleeping." Buffy quietly states walking into the room, sitting beside Tara on the bed.
"I'm full, sweetie." Tara smiles softly at Buffy.
"You didn't eat enough." Buffy looks down at the plate and glass before setting them on the nightstand. Turning back, she runs a hand down Tara's cheek, smiling as Tara sighs quietly, pressing her cheek into the caress.
"I'm more tired than hungry right now." Tara admits looking into Buffy's worried gaze. "I didn't sleep a lot last night, then the power expenditure kind of wore me out." Tara watches Buffy for a few long moments. "Sweetie?" Tara questions.
"Yes." Buffy brushes her thumb over Tara's cheek.
"I sleep better when I have my purring slayer here with me." Tara smiles as Buffy's eyes light up.
"Then you'll have her." Buffy stands up walking over to the door, gently closing it before turning around, stripping her clothes off before climbing in bed beside Tara. "Not fair, you have clothes on." Buffy points out as she wraps Tara up in her arms, burying her face in the witch's hair, curving her body into Tara's back. Inhaling the witch's scent, Buffy shifts the hair out of the way so she can place soft kisses on the back of Tara's neck.
Tara smiles softly, before giggling as Buffy's fingers play gently over her stomach. Placing one hand behind her, on Buffy's thigh, Tara caresses the strong leg. "Want my purrs, let me shift around."
Buffy grumbles into the witch's hair, not wanting to give up her position.
"Please?" Tara softly begs, smiling as Buffy releases her. Shifting around to face the slayer, Tara grins. Kissing her quickly, Tara shifts her body down, resting her head on Buffy's breast while throwing her leg over Buffy's thighs. Stroking her hand over Buffy's stomach, Tara sighs deeply, closing her eyes as the rumbles start working their way through Buffy's body. "Love you." Tara murmurs, gently digging her fingertips into Buffy's stomach, making the slayer purr louder, before slowly falling asleep.
"Love you, too." Buffy murmurs, wrapping her arms loosely around Tara, stroking her fingers softly over the witch. "Would still like skin." Buffy grumbles in between purrs, before smiling, relaxing deeper into the bed.
"REPORT!" Maggie Walsh's icy blue eyes land on Riley Finn.
"Ma'am! There has been no NHT activity this week." Finn stands at attention, wincing internally as he prepares to be blasted.
"What do you mean, no activity?" Walsh narrows her gaze on the young soldier.
"Ma'am, there has been no hostiles anywhere in Sunnydale. It's…It's like they either all left town or were killed." Riley waits to see what else his superior has to say.
"I suggest you find out exactly what has happened to them!" Walsh snarls her nose at the soldier. "We are nowhere near being finished with the testing." Walsh turns back to her computer screen, punching new information into the program she's running. "Dismissed."
Riley snaps off a text-book salute before spinning on his heel, heading to the elevator. Clenching his jaw in anger, he punches the button waiting for the elevator to open, before striding out, walking towards his room. Slamming into his room, he strips yanking on sweatpants and a tank top. Working his way down to the workout room, he attacks the heavy weight bag, working out his pent-up frustrations.
Giles taps his pen on the desk as he waits for Jeffries to come back to the phone. Sighing as he hears the man pick up.
"I'm sorry, Rupert old chap. That's the only information I have here in my diaries. Why are you so interested in that particular slayer?" Jeffries questions as he flips through the Watcher's diaries again.
"Just call me curious. You would think there was more information on this particular slayer than what is in the books." Giles hedges around the truth, not wanting to give anything away. "I was re-reading the books, and was curious, is all it is."
"Well, I must say, you've peaked my interest also. I might have a couple people that are at the Council look into this a bit, shall I?" Jeffries offers closing the book.
"Yes, if you want." Giles tries not to sound to eager. "Just be sure you don't mention my name. That'll close the doors quicker than anything." Giles chuckles quietly.
"Yeah, well, Travers, that bloody ponce, needs his ass kicked." Jeffries shakes his head. "I never agreed with what he did to you."
Giles smiles at the note of anger in Jeffries voice. "Thanks, Jeffries. If you happen to find out anything, I would appreciate you giving me a ring."
"As soon as I have any information, consider it yours." Jeffries chuckles. "How's your slayer doing?"
"She's doing quite well, actually." Giles smirks, thinking about Buffy and Tara. "I just spent Thanksgiving with her and her mother."
Jeffries chuckles at the note in Giles' voice. "Still got a thing for your charge's mother?"
Giles blushes deeply, thankful that Jeffries can't see him. "Of course not! We were under a spell, nothing to be done about it." Giles swallow's as he feels the surge of feelings whenever thoughts of the 'Band Candy Incident' cross his mind. Shaking his head, he tries to get his mind off thoughts of Joyce.
"Riiight!" Jeffries drawls out, laughing. "Keep telling yourself that, old man. Maybe eventually you'll believe it. Well, it was great to hear from you again. Don't be such a stranger."
"I won't. Thanks again Jeffries." Giles smiles as he hangs up the phone, before tapping his chin, thinking heavily.
"Why is there basically no information in any of the Watcher's books?" Giles questions out loud, to the empty room. "The longest lived slayer ever, and they give basic information, don't really explain how her mate died, don't mention the strength and power that she has, or the total integration of the slayer with the woman." Giles frowns hard, trying to figure out what the Council is hiding.
Buffy chuckles quietly as she hears her mom knock so quietly on the door, she wouldn't have heard it normally, even with regular slayer hearing. Her enhanced hearing was all that let her hear it. Making sure the sheets cover her, she calls out just loud enough for her mom to hear her. "Come in, mom."
Joyce eases open the door, poking her head in. "I don't really want to come in, I was just checking to make sure she's okay." Joyce's lip quirks up in a smile at the sight of Tara snuggled up, asleep almost on top of Buffy, while her daughter's just calmly stroking her hand down the woman's back.
"She's asleep." Buffy glances down at Tara, smiling softly. "Obviously." Buffy glances back up, rolling her eyes. "I didn't get her to eat any more, but when she wakes up, I'll insist she eats again." Buffy's gaze moves to the plate of food before glancing back at her mom. Feeling Tara's fingers flex and stroke over her stomach, purrs rumble deeply through her body. Looking at her mother, she smiles apologetically. "I can't seem to help it."
Joyce chuckles quietly. "Doesn't bother me. I'll take these downstairs." Joyce walks on in the room, gathering the dishes. Turning to glance at Buffy, she questions her softly. "Do you two need anything?"
"Nah, I think we're good. We'll eat whenever sleepy-head here wakes up." Buffy murmurs, running a hand through the witch's soft hair, smiling as Tara buries her face even harder into her breast. "Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome." Joyce smiles as she quietly leaves the room, shutting the door gently behind her. Working her way down the stairs, Joyce laughs quietly. "Maybe Rupert will let me spend some time over at his place on the weekends. I'll have to think of an excuse…" Joyce grins wickedly as she throws away the food, placing the dirty dishes in the sink for later.