Chapter 129: Tough Love
Buffy and Dawn sit side by side, across the desk from the Junior High Principal. Celia's stroller is next to Buffy.
"You lied to me, Dawn?" Buffy says.
Dawn studies her fingernails. "Didn't lie, exactly..."
"Oh, yeah? What about all the times I asked you how school was and you said, 'fine.'" Buffy says.
"Well it was! You didn't ask if I was in it..." Dawn says. "…when it was fine..."
Buffy shakes her head, nonplussed as she addresses the Principal. "I don't know what to say. I guess you probably know it's been a really hard time for Dawn these last few weeks since Celia was born and not that that's an excuse—"
"I understand." Principal Stevens says. "A new baby in the house can add a deal of stress."
"It is. For Dawn, especially. I mean, she's just a kid." Buffy says.
Principal Stevens looks off, lost in thought. "Hmmm. Well..." She looks back at Buffy. "I think we both know that Dawn is a lot more than "just a kid." She's a talented young girl with a sharp mind." She looks at Dawn. "When she puts the effort in."
Dawn self-consciously looks away.
"Look, I realize there's been some ball dropping, but I'm sure this'll all—" Buffy says.
"Dawn. Why don't you wait outside for a few minutes?" Principal Stevens says.
Dawn throws a sheepish glance at Buffy, then stands, moves to the door and exits.
Buffy watches her go, and then turns back to Principal Stevens, whose demeanor has become a bit more serious. They stare at each other for a moment.
"I know this is not what you want to hear. But I'm going to be frank with you. If you can't straighten Dawn out, we'll be forced to make a report to social services. And Dawn could very well be taken away from you. And I hate to say it but they might even take your daughter away also. If they find you unfit to take care of Dawn they very well might find you unfit to take care of Celia also. I know this a lot to take in, especially when you recently gave birth."
Later Buffy, pushing Celia's stroller, and Dawn enter the Magic Box.
"Hey, what's up? It's Dawn Giovanni, C.P. and the Buffster." Xander says.
"Hi." Dawn says.
"Hey, everybody." Buffy says. "Giles can I talk to you alone for a minute."
"Willow, mind watching the till?" Giles asks.
Willow shakes her head, "Not at all."
As Giles and Buffy cross to the back room, Buffy looks at Dawn. "Um, Dawn, why don't you get started on your homework, okay? If you need help..." She looks to Willow. "Will, could you...?"
Willow gives a comforting nod.
"Oh and Dawn could you watch, Celia?" Buffy asks.
Dawn nods.
Buffy and Giles exit into the training room. She slumps down on the training mat as she rests her head against a punching bag. "I don't know what to do... She's messing up. I'm messing up. It's... a mess."
Giles sighs, "You're going to have to put your foot down with her."
Buffy sighs, "I try. My foot's not used to being put down."
Giles nods, "Well here is my bit of advice for the day. You should be talking to Piper about this. Other than that you are Dawn's family. She needs you to do this. Plus it will be good experience when Celia gets to be Dawn's age."
A moment passes as Buffy lets this sink in. Slowly, she drags herself up from the mat. "Right. She needs me. Me the grown up. Me the authority figure. The guiding hand and stompy foot that is me."
"That's the spirit." Giles says.
"Okay, I can do this." Buffy says.
"I know you can." Giles says.
They exit the training room into the Magic Shop.
"Early to bed, early to rise; balanced breakfasts; hospital corners; museum visits. It's a new beginning: discipline, authority..." Buffy says as they see Willow, Anya, and Xander, lying in the shape of a triangle on the floor. Dawn stands in the middle of them with Celia in her arms. "Order...?"
Willow and Dawn are laughing hysterically.
"What is this?" Buffy asks.
Dawn freezes when she hears Buffy. Willow throws an exaggerated, 'Oops, busted' look to Dawn. "Dawn, I thought I told you to do your homework and watch Celia."
Anya and Xander seem embarrassed; they exit to another part of the shop. Giles follows.
"I was." Dawn says.
"Please don't lie to me." Buffy says as she takes Celia from Dawn.
"I'm not." Dawn says.
"We were acting out a geometry problem. 'Cause I just read this really neat article that said kids learn math better when you tap into their visual learning patterns; you know, using the right brain too, instead of just the left and stuff like that—" Willow says.
Buffy nods, "Uh-huh."
"So we made a triangle with our bodies. And that's when I called Xander 'obtuse' and he got all grumpy and then Dawn said we were 'acute' triangle and, well... hilarity ensued." Willow said as Buffy put Celia back into her stroller.
"Right. Well, you know what? I think maybe Dawn should do her geometry at home." Buffy says.
"But it was working. I was really learning—" Dawn says.
"Go get your stuff." Buffy says.
Dawn goes to gather her schoolbooks and backpack. "Fine, don't listen to me."
"Don't get all grouchy at her... Who among us can ignore the allure of really funny math puns?" Willow says.
"It's really important Dawn finishes her school work right now." Buffy says.
"I know it is. And I'm a big fan of school. You know me, I'm all: 'Go school, it's your birthday'! Or something to that effect." Willow says.
"Look. I know you mean well but you just don't understand. And there's no way you could." Buffy says.
Willow nods, "I do so understand. You're stressed out—"
"I'm more than stressed out. I'm freaked out." Buffy says. "Between; Glory, Dawn and Celia…"
"Yeah. Well, maybe you need a little break to de-freak. You could come to the World Culture Fair, if you want, with me and Tara." Willow says.
Buffy shakes her head, "Nah, I don't think so."
"C'mon, you could bring Dawn and it could be really fun. I mean educational-type fun, in a discipliney sort of way. Supposedly the highlights last year were baked sushi and some inexperienced yogis who tried to walk on burning coals and—"
"Can't do it Will. But don't worry. It's not like I don't have a life. I do. I have Celia and Dawn's life." Buffy says. "You ready?" She firmly leads Dawn out of the shop.
Dawn turns her head to Willow and rolls her eyes.
Later back at the Manor Piper and Buffy stand opposite Dawn, who's sitting, at the dining room table. Dawn is doing her homework, while Piper and Buffy are folding laundry.
"Okay, so I think the next step is to make a chart. A schedule. I'll write down all the things you're supposed to do and when you have to do them and there'll be a box for everything and you can make a big x in it when you're accomplished your task." Buffy says.
Dawn looks up from her homework, giving Buffy the evil eye.
"What? You want gold stars, you can have gold stars—" Buffy says.
Dawn shakes her head, "I don't want gold stars. I don't want any of this."
Buffy sighs, "This is for real, Dawn."
Dawn shakes her head, "No, it isn't. I'm not real, so why would my exciting graph of chores be real? Who cares if a Key gets an education anyway?" She puts down her pen, shoves her homework to one side defiantly.
Piper looks to Buffy and lets out a sigh.
Buffy pushes the homework back in front of Dawn. "It's not a graph. It's a chart. And you are real."
"Yeah? Those Monks put grades K through Eight in my head. Can't we just wait and see if they drop Nine in there too?" Dawn says.
"Dammit, Dawn, this is serious!" Buffy says.
"Buffy." Piper says.
"Why? Why should I care about any of this?" Dawn asks.
"Because they'll take you away! You and Celia." Buffy says.
Shocked, Piper and Dawn stares at Buffy.
"Take me and Celia away? What do you mean?" Dawn asks.
"You didn't tell me that Buffy. What do you mean?" Piper asks.
Buffy sighs looking at Dawn, "They'll take you away from me. That's what your principal told me when you weren't in the room. If I can't make you go to school, I won't be found fit to be your legal guardian. And as a result I might not even be found fit to be a parent either and they'll take Celia."
"They'd take Celia? They can't take Celia." Dawn says.
Buffy sighs, "So you see…"
Dawn nods, "I'm sorry, Buffy. You know you could've told me that."
Piper nods, "You could have told me that also, Buffy."
"I just did." Buffy says looking between Piper and Dawn. "Dawn tell me why you did it. Why did you skip school?"
"You really want to know?" Dawn asks as Buffy nods. "To get your attention."
"What?" Piper and Buffy asks.
"I know Celia needs a lot of attention since she's a baby. But since she was born you haven't been paying any attention to me at all, Buffy. I'm your sister, but lately I feel like I've been abandoned."
Buffy lets out a sigh, "Why didn't you tell me? I'm sorry you felt that way." She moves around the table and sits next to Dawn. "I'm sorry, okay. I didn't mean for you to feel that way, really. How about this, you finish your homework and I'll take you out for pizza. Assuming Piper doesn't mind watching Celia."
Piper smiles, "I don't mind. I think it's a good idea. Do a little sisterly bonding. Spend some times together, just the two of you."
At the Magic Shop Willow sits by herself in the front corner where the cushions are. She's lonesome and sad, scared and emotionally bruised by a fight she had with Tara. She seems to have come to a decision. She looks towards the door.
On U.C. San Francisco campus the sun is out and the quad is overtaken by college kids enjoying the Arts Fair. There are booths set up with food, art and music of different cultures. In the distance we see a long Chinese Dragon puppet, weaving through the crowds. A Hispanic kid in Lederhosen is hitting on a pretty girl. Flags are flying, people are playing different instruments, and in general a happy chaos reigns.
Tara sits alone amongst all this jubilation, she sits watching the happy students as they pass. Her face blank with sorrow.
Someone slips their hand into Tara's and gives a gentle squeeze.
Tara starts to smile. Willow has found her! She turns toward her friend. It's not Willow sitting next to Tara. It's Glory. Tara's expression changes to shock and fear.
Glory smiles. "This seat taken?" She squeezes, securing the grip.
At the Magic Box Willow still looks blank. But she's on her feet now. She wanders over near the counter. Giles is cutting open a package wrapped in twine.
"I hope this isn't another return. Everyone wants petrified hamsters, then they're never happy with them." Giles says as he takes in Willow's blank appearance. "Are you all right?"
Willow nods sadly. "Yeah."
"Ah yes. Your good mood is both obvious and contagious." Giles says.
"I had a fight with Tara. It was awful." Willow says.
Giles picks a piece of merchandise off the counter, moves through the swinging doors to put it on a shelf. Willow follows him. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Willow says.
"You two don't quarrel much, do you?" Giles asks.
Willow shakes her head, "Never. 'Til today."
"Well, it's over now." Giles says.
"Over? How can it be over? I just found her!" Willow says, panicked.
"The quarrel is over," Giles says.
"Oh. Yeah." Willow says with a sigh of relief.
Giles senses something at the side door. He barely registers it. "And you'll feel better when you make your apologies. Then you'll know you can fight without the world ending." He casually rests a hand on the doorknob of the side door. "I know it must seem bleak now, but as they say, This too..." In one swift motion, he yanks the door open and one of Glory's minions, Slook, tumbles forward. He then slams the door half-way shut, cracking it against Slook's skull, and opening it again so that Slook falls forward into his arms. "...shall pass.""
"Wow!" Anya says.
Giles pulls Slook into the open area of the store. Getting a grip on his hair, Giles shoves him down onto his knees. "Now, what do we have here?"
"He's one of those things that work for Glory." Anya says.
"Yes. How helpful." Giles says.
"I do indeed work for the God. Let me go if you do not wish to incur her anger." Slook says.
Giles shakes his head, "But she's not here. What a marvelous opportunity for you and me to talk."
"I will never betray Glorificus. I will never talk, no matter what heinous torture—" Slook says.
"Actually, you're talking quite a lot. But not about the right things. Tell us why you were here." Giles says.
"No words shall pass my lips that would bring peril to Glorificus." Slook says.
Giles holds Slook's gaze. Without looking away. "Quickly you two, on the counter... get the twine. Let's tie him up."
Anya and Willow grab the lengths of twine off the counter.
There is a sudden loud crunch and an anguish of pain. Anya and Willow turn back to see Slook pale and sweaty. Trembling at Giles' feet.
"Don't... I'll tell you anything. Please. Whatever you want to know. Just... I'll... anything..." Slook says.
"What happened?" Anya asks.
"He changed his mind." Giles says.
"I'm... I'm supposed to watch. We're watching the Slayer's people." Slook says. "While Glory fetches the Key."
"Glory knows who the Key is?" Willow asks as panic fills their eyes.
"Oh God." Giles says.
"We've got to call Buffy." Anya says.
"Too late. Too late. Glorificus will find the blonde witch and there's nothing you can do to stop her." Slook says.
"Blonde Witch. What do you mean—" Anya says.
"Tara." Willow says. "She, Buffy and now Celia are the only blonde ones that are witches. They wouldn't go after Buffy and I don't think they know about Celia."
"She is the new one among you. At first Glorificus considered the baby, but came to the conclusion that she is too new to be the Key. So that left only one. It wasn't hard to figure out. The Glorious One will have found her by now. She will have her Key."
Willow's adrenaline is racing; she's ready for action. Heading to the door.
"Willow, wait. I'll go with—" Giles says.
"No. Call Buffy. Go look in Tara's room. I'm going to check the Fair." Willow says.
And she's out the door.
Giles turns to the phone and dials Buffy, "Buffy it's Giles."
At the Manor Buffy is on the phone. Behind her stand Piper and Dawn. "Yeah, Giles."
"Glory is going after Tara. She thinks Tara is the Key. Willow is on her way to the Fair at U.C. San Francisco. She suggested sending someone to Tara's dorm room." Giles says.
"Ok we're on it." Buffy says as she hangs up. "Glory thinks Tara is the Key. Dawn can you watch Celia and Wyatt? Since this is Glory I don't want you out there if we can help it."
"Sure, Buffy." Dawn says.
"Piper go find Paige and orb to Tara's room. See if she's there. If she's not orb to the otherside of the fair opposite where Willow is at. I will flame to Willow."
Piper nods, "Ok Buffy. Paige!" She heads up the stairs.
"Be careful, Buffy." Dawn says.
Buffy smiles, "I will. And again I'm sorry okay for making you think I abandoned you."
"I know. Now go save Tara." Dawn says as Buffy flames out.
At that Fair, Glory sits next to Tara on the bench still holding her hand. "This is nice. Just hanging out. Just us girls."
Tara stares forward into the crowd of people laughing, playing, oblivious.
"You like this sort of thing, don't you?" Glory says.
Before Tara can say anything Glory squeezes Tara's hand. So hard that she hears bones snap. Tara gasps, in terrible pain.
"Don't make a sound." Glory says.
Tara's eyes dart to two big guys in rugby shirts.
"Nuh-uh. They won't help you." Glory says.
The couple passes buy. Tara's eyes move to a group of three bicycle cops.
"I'd kill them. You know that. There's no one here that can stop me." Glory says as she indicates people as they pass. Saying to Tara in a soft and terrifying voice, "I'll kill her. And them. And I'll kill him. And him. And her. And it'll be all your fault."
With that she gives Tara's hand another bone crunching squeeze. Tara nearly retches with pain. Her face is blanched of color. But she doesn't call out. Doesn't say a thing.
Blood starts to seep from between the clenched hands. Apparently bones have broken the skin. The blood slowly drips through the slats onto the grass below.
"It's kind of funny, isn't it? All these people here and nobody who can do a thing. Not a person who can help you. That's people for you; pretty worthless." Glory says, smiling at Tara. "But Keys on the other hand... Keys are worth a very lot."
Tara's eyes widen, an awful realization. She makes a tiny shake of her head but it's too late.
Glory grabs Tara's bleeding hand and brings it up to her lips. She closes her eyes and takes a big lick of the blood and savors it. Suddenly, her eyes open. She gags, spitting the blood on the ground! "You lying little tramp. You're not the Key. You're nothing. Just another worthless human being."
"I didn't—" Tara says.
"I hate being lied to. It makes me feel so betrayed!" Glory says as she smiles. "Hey! Do you want to make it all better? If you tell me who the KEY really is I'll let you go. Think about it. You think your hand hurts? Imagine what you'll feel with my fingers wiggling in your brain."
Tara looks at her in terror.
"It doesn't kill you. What it does is make you feel like you're in a noisy little dark room. Naked, and ashamed. And there are things in the dark that need to hurt you 'cause you're bad. Little pinching things that go in your ears and crawl on the inside of your skull. And you know that if the noise and the crawling would stop, you could remember how to get out. But you never ever will." Glory says.
"Who is the Key?" Glory asks.
Tara looks at her, realizing that Glory will surely brainsuck her anyway. She thinks of Dawn, of Buffy, of their family. Especially of little Celia and she knows they will be next if she says anything.
Tara closes her eyes, jutting her chin forward proudly as tears spill down her cheeks; her expression indignant, offering her head to Glory: she'll never talk.
"Fine." Glory says as she reaches out, slides a hand down the side of Tara's face.
Across the quad Buffy flames in unnoticed and makes her way to Willow, "Will?"
"I thought you were…" Willow says.
"Piper and Paige are going to Tara's room. If she's not there. Then they'll orb to the opposite side of the quad and search for her from that side." Buffy says.
"Thanks, Buff." Willow says as they make their way through the crowds looking for Tara.
Finally Buffy and Willow see Tara. About ten yards away. And next to her is Glory about to brainsuck her.
"TARA!" Willow says.
Buffy breaks off into a run, full on Slayer speed trying to push her way through the crowd.
Willow begins to chant a spell, "By force of heart, and mindful power, By waning time and waxing hour..."
Glory's fingertips push just a few centimeters into Tara's cranium.
"I echo Diana, um, when I decree... what is it... what is it..." Willow says.
Glory's hands plunge deep into Tara's head as Glory writhes in ecstasy.
Buffy is getting close.
"No...NOO! That she I love must now be..." Willow says.
It's too late.
"Free. TARA! NOOOOO!" Willow says.
Glory looks up at Buffy and smiles at her and at Willow coming up behind Buffy. A Chinese dragon cuts between Buffy and Glory before she can reach her. And when it has passed, Glory is gone.
Willow goes to Tara, who still sits on the bench. "Tara! Are you okay?"
"It's dirty. It's all dirty. And all over me. Dirty, dirty, bad. Bad!" Tara says.
"I'm sorry, Will. I tried to get to her. But the crowd was too thick." Buffy says.
Willow clutches Tara to her as she begins to cry. "Tara, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
Tara looks pleadingly at Willow, her eyes trying to communicate something her brain won't help her say. "It's under my skin. Dirt, dirt, dirt..."
Willow rocks Tara, rubbing her back like she was soothing a baby.
Buffy kneels next to Willow, "Let's get her someplace secluded. Maybe Leo can heal her?"
Willow nods as she helps Tara to stand and they walk to a secluded part of the campus.
"Leo!" Buffy says.
Leo orbs in. "Buffy? What's going on?
Buffy looks at Willow and Tara, "Tara is hurt. Can you heal her?"
Leo nods as he walks over to Tara and attempts to heal her but nothing happens, "I'm sorry. Her mind is…"
Buffy nods understanding, "Glory happened. She did that thing where she sucks out a person's mind. She thought Tara was the Key."
Leo nods.
"Willow we should probably get her to the hospital. Leo will you go find Piper and Paige and tell them we found Tara and where were headed." Buffy says.
Leo nods, "Yeah, Buffy." He orbs out.
Buffy takes hold of Tara's uninjured hand and Willow's hand and flames out.
Later at the hospital Tara sits up on an examination table. She is wearing a hospital gown, looking scared and pitiful. Her injured hand is in a cast.
Willow sits on the doctor's stool, holding Tara's good hand. She's obviously been crying.
Piper, Paige, Phoebe, Buffy, Giles, Xander, and Anya stand near them. The mood is bleak. Everyone listens as Doctor McCarthy talks to them."
"Can't she go home now?" Willow says.
"Unfortunately, no. Hospital policy dictates we keep her for the night." Dr. McCarthy says.
"Does she have to? I can take care of her at home." Willow says.
"It's poisoned. Why don't I tell you that? It's got to be checked though." Tara says.
"Is she your sister?" Dr. McCarthy says.
"It has to be verified of course. Anyone could tell you that. Of course. Of course." Tara says.
"She's my everything." Willow says.
Dr. McCarthy nods, "Well, you can get her released first thing in the morning. But she's got to spend one night in the psych ward, just for observation. We'll keep an eye on her, do a couple basic tests and then you take her home. Does that sound fair?" Willow nods blankly. "Well, you hold tight then, and I'll send a nurse by in a few minutes to pick up Tara." He leaves.
Willow stays near Tara, kissing her head, having a few private moments.
The others stand together awkwardly.
"Words cannot express how much I hate this place." Xander says as Giles nods. "And yet the same words I say when I hit my thumb with a hammer keep coming to mind."
"It's dreadful." Giles says.
Piper nods in agreement, "It is. Willow if there is anything we can do."
"It's like Communism." Anya says.
"Will. I'm so sorry." Buffy says as she pulls Willow into an embrace.
Tara looks at Buffy and smiles a strange smile. "They kill mice."
"Tara." Buffy says as she tries to hug Tara; Tara remains stiff. "I'm sorry I couldn't reach her in time."
Willow nods to show her gratitude. "I'm so scared."
Moments later the nurse has returned and is pushing Tara out in a wheelchair.
Tara strains to look back at Willow. "Don't... please don't with that treachery. I told the cats. And now I beg my mother, sitting all alone."
"'Bye Tara. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you." Willow says.
At the last second, Willow can't let Tara go. She tries to follow her out the door, but Xander catches her in his arms. Holding her.
"Will, no. It's just for one night." Xander says.
"Yeah, I know. But it's a whole night and I don't think I can sleep without her." Willow says.
"You can sleep with me." Anya says. "You know, that came out a lot more lesbian than it sounded in my head."
"Will, you just have to rest. Right now there's nothing you can do." Buffy says.
Willow looks up, determined. "Yes, there is."
Buffy looks at her, understanding. "No. No way..."
Willow exits into the hallway. Buffy follows.
"You can't even think about taking on Glory." Buffy says.
Willow faces Buffy. Strong. "You saw what she did to Tara. I can't let her get away with it."
"No, you have to let her get away with it. Even I'm no match for her, you know that. And I'm a Charmed One for crying out loud, supposedly one of the most powerful witches on the planet." Buffy says.
Willow sighs and starts to walk down the hall.
Buffy blocks her way. "You're not going. I won't let you go."
"It's not your choice, Buffy; it's mine." Willow says.
Buffy shakes her head, "This is not the time."
"When, Buffy? When is? When you feel like it? When it's someone you love like I love Tara? When it's Dawn, Piper, Phoebe, Paige or Celia, is that it Buffy?" Willow says.
"No. When we have a chance. We'll fight her when we have a chance." Buffy says as Willow pauses. "You wouldn't last five minutes Willow. She's a god."
Willow nods, slowly. Then she slumps as if every atom in her body is giving up. "Fine. I'll wait."
"It's the only choice." Buffy says.
Willow nods, "Yeah." She turns around and walks off in the opposite direction.
"Can I do anything—" Buffy says.
Willow shakes her head, "Just let me be alone."
Buffy watches her go, slowly making her way down the hall.
Back at the Manor Buffy, Leo, Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Dawn sit at the dining room table. Wyatt and Celia are nearby in their bassinets.
"So, what'd the doctors say? Is Tara... like those guys in the mental ward, or, is it different somehow?" Dawn says.
Buffy sighs, "They said there's no way of knowing right now."
"'Cause... none of those guys got better. I mean, none of them." Dawn says.
"Dawn honey... Tara might not either." Piper says.
Buffy tries to comfort Dawn as Dawn buries her head in her hands, starting to cry. "It's all my fault."
Phoebe shakes her head, "It's not your fault."
"How's Willow?" Dawn asks.
"She was looking to go all paybacky on Glory for a minute there, but I cooled her down a little." Buffy says, shrugging. "Actually, a lot."
"She's not gonna do anything rash, then." Paige asks.
"I explained, you know, there was no point." Buffy says.
Phoebe nods, "Uh huh."
"What?" Buffy asks.
"So, you're saying someone possibly almost as powerful as us who is pissed off was planning to go out and try and kill Glory until you... explained?" Phoebe says.
"You think she'd...? No. I told Willow, fighting Glory'd be suicide..." Buffy says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Paige, Piper and I'd do it, if it were you, Dawn, Celia or Wyatt instead of Tara."
Buffy looks at them as Piper, Paige and Dawn all nods in agreement.
"Buffy think back to just after Celia and Wyatt were born. You and Piper did the same thing Willow was planning on doing. Because someone was threatening someone you and Piper loved. Now think if Glory'd done that to me, or Piper, or Paige, or even Phoebe..." Dawn says.
Buffy stands motionless a moment, thinking. It hits her. And without a word, she flames out…
At Glory's apartment. It has been trashed, curtains pulled down, furniture broken. Willow stands in the middle of it, her face streaked by tears, her eyes glowing. "Shatter!"
Across the room, a large mirror shatters on the wall, its shards falling on Glory, raining down around her.
Glory laughs, "Is that it? Is that the best you can do?" Despite her laughing, she looks like she's taken a few blows. Her dress is torn, she staggers just a little... "You think I care about all this? The apartment, the clothes..." As she says this she stands up straight and rips off her dress, revealing a full black slip. "I don't give a rat's ass when it comes right down to it."
Glory backhands Willow, flinging her across the room.
Willow lands on a chair which takes on her momentum, catapulting across the floor, and tipping over onto Willow.
Glory smiles, "Sucking on your girlfriend's mind, now that was something to treasure."
Willow frees herself, stands, and never takes her eyes off Glory. A leather bag sledes across the floor, fast, by itself. It stops in front of Willow. Unties itself and opens up like a flower.
Glory smirks, "What's this? Bag of tricks?"
Suddenly a dozen knives fly straight up out of the bag, into the air, pointing at Glory.
Willow grim, "Bag of knives."
Suddenly the entire dozen knives all fly straight forward at Glory simultaneously.
Glory stands her ground, and, faster than the eye can follow, bats the knives out of the way. She laughs, lifts a table and chucks it at Willow with incredible force.
Willow, cries out, in pain as the table hits her. She goes down. But manages to return the volley, "Spirit of serpents now appear. Hissing, writhing, striking near."
The carpet Glory stands upon suddenly rises up from all four corners. The corners begin twisting themselves around Glory like a huge snake.
Glory sighs, "Now this is getting weak..." As she says this, Glory simply walks through the twisting carpet. It evaporates as she passes.
Willow, injured, watches as Glory approaches. Glory comes closer to Willow, clutches her face in one hand, taking a good look at her prey. "And so are you, honey."
Willow's eyes have turned back to normal. She is indeed weakened.
Glory smiles, "Aren't you?"
Willow spits on Glory's face.
Glory doesn't move, lets the spittle slowly drip off. "You're going to regret that."
Glory grabs Willow by one wrist and drags her across the room with ease.
Willow slides along the floor like a wounded animal. "No..."
Glory scoops up a knife from the floor without breaking stride. She lifts Willow up, holding her against the wall by her wrist. "You know what they used to do to witches, Lover?"
Glory raises the knife high into frame, ready to plunge it into Willow. Willow can watch but she can't move. "Crucify 'em."
The knife blade comes whistling down - then stops. Glory's wrist is held fast. She looks up to see Buffy.
Buffy smiles, "True that they did. But now you're messing with a Charmed One." She twists Glory's wrist straight back, making her drop the knife with a small cry of pain.
Buffy lets loose with a solid roundhouse kick, tagging Glory square in the head and sending her whole body whipping sideways. She powers up a fireball and starts throwing them one after another.
Glory takes them in stride, she then counters. Buffy evades Glory's blows, backs up against the couch…
And then Buffy remembers a power she hasn't used in a while, "Couch!" The couch flames out and Buffy throws her arm forward as the couch flames back in flying at Glory. The couch hits Glory, knocking the wind out of her.
Buffy picks the groggy Willow up off the floor and flames out.
The next day suitcases and boxes filled with Tara's belongings lie on the floor of Tara's dorm room, some closed, some still awaiting more stuff.
Tara sits crossed-legged on the bed wearing flannel pajamas and a blank expression. Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Willow, Buffy, and Dawn sit on the edges of the bed or whatever is handy, around her. Willow looks exhausted.
Buffy opens a bag of sandwiches. "Chicken salad?"
"Right here." Phoebe and Willow says as Buffy hands them each a sandwich.
"Eggplant, that's me and Piper." Buffy says as she hands one of the sandwiches to Piper. "And, what is this, peanut butter and... ew, salami, Dawn?"
Dawn takes the sandwich from Buffy. "Yeah, like eggplant is normal. It's what - half-egg, half-plant? 'Cause that's just unnatural."
Piper rolls her eyes, "Remind me to start teaching you how to cook, Dawn. Really cook not those concoctions you make."
Willow holds up her chicken sandwich. "What's Tara got?"
"I got her tuna. Does she like... Tara, you like Tuna?" Dawn says.
"Plastic and their six sisters. Six sick sisters. Willow?" Tara says.
"We'll just start a little slow today, okay? Buffy, can I have that?" Willow says indicating the applesauce. Buffy hands it to her. Willow looks to Tara. "Okay, Darling..."
"I believe that leaves me. I think I had a Tuna." Paige says as Buffy hands her a sandwich."
Willow opens the jar and fills a spoon. Then gently, tenderly, she feeds Tara. Like a child. "There we go. Yeah, that's my girl. It's okay. I'm right here."
Tara smiles. Willow fills another spoonful.
"Can I help?" Dawn asks.
Willow lets Dawn feed Tara.
"What are you gonna need?" Piper asks.
"I don't know... They gave me a lot of stuff to keep her calm. They said I might need to restrain her at night, but... Sometimes she's fine, she looks at me and she's fine."
"I'm sorry I couldn't reach her..." Buffy says.
"It's okay. I can do this. I'm gonna take care of her. Even if she never... She's my girl." Willow says.
"I understand." Buffy says looking between her sisters, all of her sisters those by choice and those by magic. What would she do if Piper, Phoebe, Paige or even Dawn were in the same situation? Would she take the responsibility of caring for them? Looking at Dawn she already knows her answer. She would…
"I know you do." Willow says as she and Buffy lock eyes. Then Willow returns her attention to Tara (no longer being fed) and whispers just for her, "Hear that, baby? You're my always." She kisses Tara's forehead.
Suddenly the entire wall gets ripped out right behind her.
As everyone looks at the opening in the wall they see Glory smiling.
Tara shakes her head, "No! The place is cracking, cracking. No, no, no..."
Dawn smiles, "Tara, it's okay. It's okay."
Tara looks at Dawn and suddenly is fixated, as if seeing a rainbow for the first time, "Look at that... the light, it's so pure..." She points at Dawn, "Such a pure green energy. It's so beautiful." She starts to cry at the beauty of Dawn, the Key.
Glory's eyes light on Dawn as Dawn looks between Buffy, Paige, Piper and Phoebe.
Buffy looks at Glory, but she knows it's too late.
GLORY KNOWS.