If There Was No Buffy

Chapter Three

No Good Night for Slaying

Tara thought about going up to try to console her, but knowing Dawn, and her moods, she knew it was a hopeless task. Instead, she finished eating the bananas, rinsed the ice cream down the drain and stacked the bowls in the sink. She then went into the living room to wait for them to return. Sometimes they came in through the front door, when it was a good night – vampires and demons were killed with ease and they were in a good mood. But when things didn't go so well, when they had to fight for their lives, or someone got hurt, the always came in through the kitchen door, as if trying avoid being seen. Tonight Tara hoped it would be through the front door.

Tara didn't know what time it was when she heard them come in the back door, but she knew it was late. But when she walked into the kitchen her mild concern turned into shock and anguish. They all were wounded and splattered with blood. Willow's forehead had a large gash going from above her left eye up past her hairline into her hair. Blood was around her eye and covering half her face to her chin. She had scrapes and bruises on both arms with blood staining both hands.

But Xander was even in worse shape. His shirt was off and was being used as a sling where his right shoulder had been dislocated and was badly swollen. He had cuts and slashes over his chest and back. Blood and dirt was matted in his hair and blood was soaked into both the front and back of his pants. There was blood on his face but his right eye was blackened so Tara couldn't tell where the blood came from.

The Buffy-bot had been partially scalped on the left side of her head, the flap of hair hanging down past her shoulder, the stainless steel dome of her head was shining brightly. She was limping, dragging her right leg, and her right arm dangling loose at her side.

"Oh my god!" Tara exclaimed. "What the hell happened?"

"Later," Willow said curtly. "We need to take care of Xander. Get some ice from the freezer, wrap it in a dish towel and crush it up. He needs the cold to stop the swelling."

"But you're bleeding," Tara protested.

"I'm fine!" Willow yelled at her. "Xander first!"

Tara immediately did as Willow demanded. And as soon as the ice pack was in place, she wet another towel and began to administer to Xander's other injuries along with Willow. Only when Xander was patched up did Willow allow her own cuts and scrapes to be taken care of. No one spoke until all the wounds were taken care of.

"So, what happened?" Tara asked.

"It was a - I don't even know the name of it, a demon Buffy encountered back when we were in high school. Its blood got on her, caused a rash, and Giles said something about her being infected with the aspect of the demon. He thought she might get some of its – parts."

"That's right, I remember," Xander interrupted, laughing at the memory through his pain. "Dawn kept asking Buffy if she was seeing horns, or spines, or a tail growing out of her." Then he stopped, sobering up. "But she didn't," he said, realizing it was just one more false memory the monks had implanted in everyone.

"No, she didn't," Willow answered. "Anyway, these demons communicate telepathically. And I guess as a defensive thing, it sent a telepathic blast of some kind at us that scrambled our thoughts and OUR defenses. Then it attacked. Only the Buffy-bot was unaffected and if it hadn't been for her, we all might have been killed. Somehow she was able fight it off enough to make it run away. Luckily we didn't get any of its blood on us since none of us wounded it. It even did a number on Spike. "

"Where is he?" Tara asked.

"He went back to his crypt to lick his wounds," Xander said, then added in a tired voice. "You know, I think I'd really like to go to bed now, and sleep for a couple of days."

"Oh, of course. Tara come on, let's get him upstairs."

Both women helped Xander up the stairs to the bedroom, being careful not to awaken Anya, knowing she would raise holy hell at all of them for allowing Xander to get hurt.

When they went back to the kitchen the Buffy-bot was still standing by the counter. Willow shook her head. "I'm really getting tired of having to repair her night after night. I think all the damage she's been getting is affecting her. Her balance is off, her agility isn't so good any more, even her strength doesn't seem the same. I'm not sure how much more she can take. Maybe I ought to just let Spike have her."

Tara was silent for a few moments, then softly said, "Will, I know I said I thought you guys were doing all right, and I know you don't want to hear this, and I can't believe I'm even saying it, but maybe it's a good thing there's going to be a new Slayer. We can't keep going like this; you know we can't. Even with your magic, we're not equipped for this. Look at how bad things are getting. Is it really worth it – all of you going out night after night, never knowing if you'll come back in one piece, or at all?"

Willow closed her eyes as if trying to shut out what she knew in her heart of hearts was true. She slowly shook her head, then reached out for Tara, who took her into her arms, then guided her back up the stairs to their bedroom.

For most of an hour the Buffy-bot stood patiently waiting for Willow to repair her. Then she made it over to the kitchen light switch, turned it off, set her internal gyroscopes to automatic so she wouldn't fall over, then powered herself down.

To Be Continued