Chapter Sixteen
Dani walked into a darkened room where Willow sat slumped over fast asleep. She stood quietly and looked at Buffy who lie motionless on the bed, as she had been for the last two days. After all the excitement had died down, Dani had helped get Buffy to a room so that she could rest and wake up. The resting part seemed to be going well but there was no movement from the legendary slayer as of yet. Giles couldn't figure out what was wrong with the slayer, as there were no indications of a concussion or other major injuries to keep her out cold in this fashion.
As Dani looked over at Willow, who had finally drifted to sleep, Dr. Dennis Kendall stepped quietly into the room. "Hello Miss," he said as quietly as he could and stepped over to Buffy. "How's the arm?" He asked and glanced over at Willow with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Dani regarded Harmony's father with a forced smile and stepped away from Buffy so that he could get a look at her. "I'm glad to hear that this nightmare is over for you all." The man said in a friendly tone, as he began checking Buffy's vitals.
"Did you finish checking the others?" Dani asked having decided that some form of conversation would be appropriate. "The slayer healing is helping my arm but it's still sore," she said and looked down at her right arm, which was in a sling. Her injury would have normally taken a couple of months to heal properly but she figured a week thanks to the healing powers.
"Yes," the man said and looked over at Willow sadly. "The other young girl, Buffy's sister, is a mental mess. I gave her a sedative to help her rest. The others are banged up but doing well. I'm sorry for the losses that you all sustained and wish that I could have been here to help sooner." Dennis sported a look of understanding and compassion on his face as he spoke to Dani.
Dani could tell that the man was sincere by the tone in his voice and his body language. She knew that she didn't have any reason to come across as standoffish to him but couldn't help it. She could not stand the sight of Harmony Kendall and hoped that the vampire was long gone. "Do you think that Miss Willow will be all right?" Dani asked in a concerned tone. She truly liked Willow and hoped that the woman would be mentally well enough so that they could resume their talks and maybe something more. Dani was well aware of the blow that Willow had sustained two night's ago and wanted to be there for her in whatever way that she could.
"The call that I got suggested that most of her problems would be mental," the man said as he put his medical supplies away. "I can't say until she wakes up so that I can speak with her and her problems aren't in my field of expertise." Dennis finished speaking with a frown on his face. He truly liked Willow and hoped that she would come out of this mess unscathed.
As Dennis finished checking Buffy over, a haggard looking Giles stepped into the room. "Dani, breakfast is ready in the kitchen." He looked at the slayer with sadness in his eyes. "Everyone is down eating and we need to pick ourselves up so if you would join them," Dani gave the man a smile and walked out of the room.
"There is nothing physically wrong with Miss Summers Rupert." Doctor Kendall said with a shrug of his shoulders. "When Harmony phoned me to come check on Willow, she mentioned some things about a shape shifting being and divided souls?"
"Yes, it's a long story and, if you would like to be of further help, we can clue you in later in the day." Giles said in a tired manner.
"What if Miss Summers too had a divided soul? If so, it is possible that there is no soul in that body. Speaking of bodies," he glanced at Willow and then back at Giles. "I have got everything set for Miss Maclay's body to be taken care of along with the bodies of the other girls."
- - - - - - -
The sun was beaming brightly through Dawn's window when Faith went in to wake her up. She thought it best that Dawn be allowed to skip breakfast and rest but it was well passed noon. "Hey D," she said softly and shook the girl's shoulder. "C'mon, you hafta get up and get something to eat or you will be sick."
Dawn opened her sleepy eyes and looked at Faith. The look on her face was hallow and void of any emotion, as Faith leaned down and gave her a gentle hug. "I'm sorry for your loss D."
"Sarah and I were getting close and now she's gone. She died a hero Faith." Dawn's body trembled as she spoke and the tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Yeah she surely was a hero D. We had no idea that the two of you were starting up a relationship." Faith said and sat down on the edge of the bed. "That has to hurt and I wish there was some way that I could help you get through it."
"Is Buffy awake?" Dawn asked and took the juice that Faith was offering her.
"No," Faith said in an almost inaudible tone. "They can't find anything physically wrong with her either. It may just be that she is tanked with all that's gone on in the last while."
"What about Robin and Kennedy; are they going to get out of this free of punishment?" Dawn asked in an effort to find something to take her mind off the loss of her girlfriend.
Faith pulled the girl into her arms and hugged her tightly. She knew that Dawn was trying to be strong and avoid the hurt that she was feeling. "D, they have no proof so we hafta catch them in something else. Anyhow, it's all right to grieve and let it out. I'm not goin' anywhere."
"You know, I so wanted that to be Tara Faith. She was like a second mom to me after mom died. I'm so tired of being strong." The tears flooded down Dawn's cheeks, as the slayer held her firmly.
"You don't hafta be strong D," Faith said and wiped the tears from her face. "I'll do it for ya till you can be strong again."
- - - - -
Willow awoke to hammering sounds around her. She was in a bed and the sun was going down. She rubbed her eyes and looked over at Dani, who sat flipping through a book. "How long have I been out and what is all that noise?"
"You've been out all day and they're repairing the damaged rooms." Dani stood up and got Willow a glass of water and two pills for her head. "Would you like me to get you something to eat Miss Willow?"
The horrific events came flooding back into Willow's mind and she began to shake violently. "Tara's body, she…"
Dani pulled her close and rubbed her shoulders gently. "God Miss Willow, I am so so sorry that you had to go through that. They're taking care of everything and we will have her put on the grounds here. She will be next to Sarah and the other fallen slayers."
"Buffy, the other slayers, Harmony?" Willow asked in a frantic tone.
"We're down to a few slayers, Amy is going to get trained by Giles and start helping with that. Buffy," Dani looked perplexed as to how to handle the wording on that end. "Well, there is nothing physically wrong with her but she's still out of it. Harmony, nobody has seen her. I'm so glad that she didn't really perform that ritual Miss Willow." Dani tried not to display her dislike for the vampire as she spoke but it was obvious.
"She told me that she had a plan and for me to protect my mind at all cost. I figure that's where Amy came in and they duked the sorceress so it worked out well." Willow said with a pained look on her face upon mentioning the sorceress.
"I wish there was something more that I could do to help you get through this Willow. I know that you had your heart set on Tara's return." Dani wiped more tears from the shaken redhead's eyes as she spoke.
"We have to figure out how to help Buffy and get back to recruiting the slayers." Willow said with a determined look on her face. "We can't just sit around here or they will win, whoever the next they is." Willow's features looked tired and defeated yet determined, as she finished speaking to Dani. "Did anyone figure out what the sorceress wanted?"
"No, that will come later Miss Willow." Dani said with sadness in her voice. She knew that Willow was trying to find a way to forget her pain and knew that was not the way to go about it. "You're right on the things that we have to do Miss Willow, but not right now. We have to get you through your heartache and then you can help the others."
As Dani finished speaking, Kennedy came into the room with a small tray of food. It had been her plan to wake Willow up, feed her and comfort her. She looked at Dani questioningly and then smiled at Willow. "I thought you might need something to eat Willow. Why didn't you tell us that she was awake? Everyone has been so worried about her Dani." Kennedy admonished the slayer as she fluffed Willow's pillows and handed her the tray.
Dani knew what Kennedy's game was and decided that there was no way that the bitch was going to use this tragic time to worm her way back into Willow's bed. "I was about to do just that Kennedy," Dani replied coldly.
Kennedy had a game plan but knew Dani did also. It was wrong to comfort someone just to worm your way into their life on a more intimate level. Kennedy did not see that she was doing that because she and Willow shared a life at one time. Dani, on the other hand, was doing that in Kennedy's eyes. "Well then, go do it and I can help get Willow motivated here."
As Dani gave Kennedy a death glare, the door to the room opened and Harmony Kendall stepped inside. Willow's eyes lit up slightly at the site of the blonde vampire, as she thought Harmony had left for good. "Hey there Willow," the vampire said and pulled the redhead into a hug. "My father phoned and asked me to stop back in here to see if you were all right." She smirked openly at both of the slayers who looked rather upset.
"I wish I was all right Harmony." Willow said, as the vampire sat down next to her. "I don't know what's wrong with Buffy and seeing Tara's body like that really gave me a blow."
Dani decided not to press the issue with Harmony just now and stood up. "I'm going to go let everyone know that you are awake Miss Willow." She stepped on the other side of Willow and kissed her on the cheek before leaving the room.
"What's your game Harmony?" Kennedy questioned angrily. "Willow has been through enough and doesn't need your line of bull."
"Kennedy," Willow looked sternly at the slayer. "You've done worse to me then anyone here. I know that you are trying to help but I don't want your help so leave."
Kennedy's anger threatened to surface but she knew that she had to play her cards correctly. "I'll be back to see if you need anything Willow." She said as calmly as she could and stepped out of the room.
"I guess I have a strange way of clearing a room." The blonde vampire said as she rubbed Willow's overly tense shoulders. "Dad told me that you had slept the entire day? He was very worried about you Willow, they all are I presume." Harmony finished speaking and looked at Willow's eyes, which seemed very tired still.
"I guess I'd call it a long sleep," Willow mumbled in a more relaxed tone. "I dreamt of what happened most of the day. I guess my body was to tired to give off a good enough sign that my sleep was troubled."
"That had to have been hard for you Willow." The vampire said as she moved her hands down to Willow's back. "I know that you loved her very much."
"Were you leaving for good Harmony?" Willow asked in a casual tone, though didn't know if she wanted to hear the answer. There was a part of Willow that was grieving heavily, another part of her knew that she should allow Dani to comfort her and another part, wanted nothing but the vampire to make it all go away.
"This lifestyle isn't my bag Willow." Harmony said bluntly and kissed Willow. "I'm not a fighter, otherwise I would have been good with the evil-y deal."
"I wish I didn't allow myself to fall for you Harmony Kendall." Willow said honestly. She knew that the vampire had no feelings for her otherwise she would stay. The things that Harmony had said to her about wanting to be good for her didn't matter anymore. Her vague answer spoke volumes to Willow. She knew that she had to protect her heart at all cost before it got shattered by an undead creature who apparently wanted her as a play toy.
"Willow," Harmony held her more firmly to stop her from getting up. "This building is all dusty from the work they're doing. I got it all over my new jacket and that's not very thrilling. You're not going to make me get all dirty for no good reason are you?"
Willow looked at Harmony with sad eyes. "Harmony, I can't play anymore. I don't have the strength nor desire to have meaningless sex. It's time for me to move on and get a real life."
Harmony's eyes went yellow and she stood up from the bed. She had decided at that moment that she would not take anymore help Willow calls when she left this place. She knew better than to let herself try to feel something for a human because she was a soulless creature and humans needed more then they could give. Yet, she had to make her final point before she left that hellhole for good. "What the hell is your problem Willow? What have I done to you that makes you think this is all a game? I almost got myself killed more then once for you! Being with Dani is the safe way but is that what you want?"
"I want someone to not see me as some object or pries. I don't want to be won in some competition and I want to be loved." Willow's hands began to tremble as she spoke. "Maybe I'm asking to much from anyone. Maybe Tara was my only…" before Willow could finish the sentence Harmony had her lips planted firmly on Willow's.
Harmony pulled away from the kiss just as quickly as she started it. "You asked me to help you with this situation Willow and I kept my word. I have done everything you needed me to do and then some. First you tell me that you want me and then I'm not good for you. You have my number if you should decide to make up your mind. I for one am not playing the game." Having said that, the vampire walked out of the room and drove away from the headquarters.