A/N: Don't forget to check out Gimpy72's story To Love Again. It is now out on E-book. You can find a preview to the story on my profile. The book is on Amazon on both E-book and Paperback. Definitely check it out. To Love Again by BL Clark.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Missing Willow

A few days had passed since Tara had woken up in the hospital. Willow had left sometime while the doctor was talking to Tara and hadn't been back by. Tara was worried about the dark witch. She was the only thing left in Tara's miserable life now that her mother was gone. Willow was the only person who kept her safe from the beast that once controlled her life.

Willow? Can you hear me? Tara thought into the darkness, hoping for some kind of communication with the dark haired witch.

I can hear you, Willow responded, causing Tara's blood to run cold at the monotonous sound coming from Willow's mind speak.

Are you okay? I haven't seen you...I just...

I'm fine. The doctor asked me to leave the hospital after I drop you off. But I had to make sure that you were gonna be okay. I stayed long enough to hear your thoughts after you woke. I didn't want to cause you anymore grief...

Then come back...I need to see you...please.

Tara...I think it's time for me to leave you alone...for good.

What? No!

I can't stay anymore, Tara. I've been alive long enough to know that it's time for me to let you live your life. I can't just stay here and be your protector anymore. I have to let you live the life you were meant to. If it means I have to leave, then I will. I need to see if I can find peace. Even if its not with you...

Willow, please. Just wait. Come see me. Please. Don't just go.

I'm sorry...I will always love you.

A sob tore from Tara's throat as she felt the connection between hers and Willow's minds evaporate. It was painful no longer feeling that connection to the dark witch. Her whole life a part of her subconscious had always been aware of her connection to Willow and now it was gone. Willow had cut it away as if it was just a piece of string tied to her arm instead of the connection of their souls.

Tara cried herself to sleep that night and awake again the next morning because of the nightmares that had haunted her in her dreams. It was horrifying seeing herself get shot over and over again. She could remember the pain of the bullet ripping a hole in here. She remembered watching the redhead from her dreams holding her bleeding body as the life faded from her.

The nurses had rushed in when Tara had jerked from her dreams in a panic, blindly shouting for Willow in the darkness of the room. The nurses had finally just given her a sedative, hoping to help Tara sleep through the night, only to leave her to her dreams and the nightmares that haunted her.

The next morning, Tara slowly woke up, afraid to find herself covered in blood. Instead her whole body was sore, and bruises covered her abdomen. The last few days rushed back to her, and Tara looked around the room, seeing the white walls of the hospital and the lack of her father or Willow in the room. She felt tears begin to fall down her cheeks as the memory of her mother's death and Willow's departure caused her heart to shatter.

"Willow?" Tara whispered to the darkness, hoping the dark witch wasn't truly gone, but knowing she was due to the lack of their connection in her mind.

"She's not here," a familiar voice said, causing Tara to flinch as her head jerked to the side of the room to see Faith standing there staring out the window. "She left the other day. Anya and I tried to stop her, but she teleported away. What happened, Tara?"

"I don't know," Tara admitted, frowning as she tried to understand why Willow left.

"Did you say something to her? Did something happen?" Faith asked, barely containing her anger about Willow's disappearance.

"No...but my doctor had thought she did this to me. Maybe that's what upset her?" Tara offered, not sure what else could have happened.

"Or she was upset she didn't get there in time to stop it," Anya said as she walked into the room.

"What?" Faith asked, confused by Anya's words.

"Willow feels like Tara is her responsibility, especially now that Laura's dead. She feels like she failed you by not stopping your father from hurting you."

"She couldn't have known what was happening," Tara argued, not understanding why Willow would leave because of her getting hurt.

"Yes she would have. She always feels when one of us gets hurt. Especially you," Faith announced, remembering the moments when Willow had felt pain at the same time they did. A papercut, stubbing their toes...Willow had felt it all.

"That's not possible. She can't feel when we get hurt. If she felt it, she wouldn't be able to help."

"It's hard to explain, Tara. You'd have to see it to understand. Do you remember the first time you saw her? When she showed up out of nowhere, angry and prepared to protect you?"

"Yes."

"Angel said she felt you were in trouble. She went to protect you because she knew you needed someone. She's been there almost every time your father hurt you," Faith explained.

"But she wasn't there this time. Why wouldn't she have stopped him this time if she knew I was being hurt?"

"She couldn't. Willow lost control again, Tara. Anya and I had to help her regain control again. After she was herself again, I asked her what happened. All she did was say your name and disappear again. A few hours later, she showed up again and told us she was leaving. We don't know where she went or why."

"I do," Anya announced, causing Tara and Faith to look at her in shock.

"Where did she go, Anya?"

"She went back to stop Amy."

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for all the help with this story and all my others. :)

A/N2: There won't be a sequel after this story anymore, but I thought of a better ending so you won't need a sequel.