oh in case anyone has forgotten the disclaimers just to remind about the angst...
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Spike and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Joss Wheldon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the authors. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the authors for permission to reproduce this story on any other fanfiction site.
LOVE/ GRAPHIC SEX DISCLAIMER: This story depicts a love relationship between two consenting adult women. If you are under 18 years of age or if this type of story is illegal in the state or country in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature disturb you, you may wish to read something other than bthis story. (Please note this may not apply until much further parts but it will be an integral part of the storyline.)
TIMEFRAME: Season Seven done Rainbow Writers Style… we are taking all that has aired up until Grave as gospel and working with what the bad evil Josh has given us… the difference WE LOVE WILLOW AND TARA… so we’re going to fic all the horribleness… the theme is still “Back to the Beginning” as hinted at… but with a total focus on fixing what was done to our gorgeous lovely couple.
PAIRING: Willow and Tara… obviously!
BIG GIANT HUGE ANGST/UNHAPPINESS DISCLAIMER: So if you’ve seen season six… you know… ME sucks… they took us all down a road we never wanted to go… but now we have to get back… so the ride will be bumpy… but we promise this time the light… its daylight and NOT a train!
WORK OF THE RAINBOW WRITERS WARNING! … If you know our stuff you know we can OWN pain and suffering when we want too… stock up: tissues, chocolate, have loved ones near… we’re going to get to a happy place but we’re not going to gloss over the damage ME has done
YELLOW CRAYON XANDER WARNING: In the vein of trying to be nice… we’ve decided its time for Xander to clean up some of his act and take on some responsibility… no he’s not turning into super Xander, but maybe a more respectable guy.
Episode RW 7. 5
Familiar Territory
By: The Rainbow Writers
Buffy got up from her place and crossed to the window. Reaching out with her fingertips she smeared through the light cover of dust over the leaf of a potted plant stood by the blinds. The office felt so different this time, with Willow’s green eyes focusing on every move the Slayer made, as well as taking everything in around her. Though nothing had changed about the office itself it all seemed almost alien to the Slayer right now. To be honest she was glad that the doctor had slipped out for a moment as it gave her a chance to let her mind play catch up.
“I like the paperweight, very Warhol.” Willow nervously picked up the large chunk of glass and studied it.
“Do you remember that you tried to take it home on one of your first visits?” Buffy replied without thinking.
“Did I?” Willow’s face screwed up a bit. “I don’t remember.”
“No worries.” Buffy crossed back over and sat down. “I wonder how long she’s going to be.” She crossed her legs tapping her fingers on the arm of the chair.
“She said she was waiting for the blood work results.” Willow reached up to the small bandage on her arm. “Did you tell them we were the Scooby gang? That she has Scooby Doo bandages is very cute.”
“Does it hurt?” Buffy pointed to Willow’s arm wanting to avoid the answer that they had got them especially for the redhead in an attempt to make the blood work sessions easier.
“A little, sorta ouch bruise type. The nurse was really nice though, she was chatting away like we were old friends.” Willow sat back tapping her feet. “Are you okay?” She questioned looking up at the Slayer.
“Yeah I’m okay, just a little, you know.” Buffy waved her hand in the air.
“I wish Tara could have come.” Willow added her own nervousness growing. “She could have explained better.”
“She wanted to, I’m really not sure how Mads and Giles persuaded her otherwise.” Buffy admitted.
“Is that my file?” Willow looked to the thick large volume on the doctor’s desk.
“Uh huh.” Buffy glanced over though she didn’t really need to. The thick file always sat on the desk during each of their appointments.
“I wish I remembered more.” She put her hands up to her head.
“About that last three months?” Buffy asked checking they were talking about the same thing.
“About being sick.” Willow’s voice was smaller. “About what I was like.”
“You were you, just sick.” Buffy replied giving her friend a gentle smile.
“Sick and on enough medication to put a horse in a coma?” Willow looked up frowning more. “I mean if you wanted to be that mean to a horse, I don’t like them but I wouldn’t want to drug one into a coma.”
“More like a small pony.” Buffy frowned as she made the correction. “I’m sorry about the drugs Will.” The Slayer added her voice ashamed voice.
“It’s not your fault.” Willow shook her head and lowered it so that her hair fell slightly forward.
“Are you okay?” Buffy jumped on he move quickly worried it was something more.
“I just... I don’t understand what happened. I don’t understand why I feel like this.” She shook her head and tapped her foot more.
“Feel like what?” Buffy pushed her worry deepening with every word.
“Out of control.” Willow looked up her eyes sad but clear and attentive to Buffy’s face.
“I thought you felt better?” Buffy frowned feeling her internal panic rise a notch with each passing second.
“I don’t like it here, it smells like antiseptic and she reminds me of Professor Walsh.” Willow looked to the doctor’s chair. “I want to go home.”
“It won’t be long.” Buffy assured her though she couldn’t get over how different this felt. “For the record she’s not like Professor Walsh, not really, she’s actually kinda nice.” She tired to lighten the air.
“Sorry, that took longer than I expected.” Dr. Clabet came in with a handful of papers and went straight to her desk.
“It’s ok.” Buffy shook her head.
“I was just telling Buffy how I liked your paperweight.” Willow fidgeted nervously with the cord on her sweater.
“You’ve always found it quite fascinating.” Dr. Clabet nodded as she went over the paperwork. Buffy watched both her best friend and the doctor carefully. “So Willow how are you feeling?” She looked up appraising the redhead.
Buffy felt herself breathe in waiting for Willow’s answer.
“A little overwhelmed.” Willow’s voice was soft.
‘Keep to the truth sweetie. There are probably a lot of things she can help you with.’ Tara’s gentle prompting came through her brain.
“I feel like I’ve done all these things while I was sick that I should be making up for but I can’t really remember what I did or what I was like.” Willow made the admissions quietly.
“Buffy, did you alter her medications?” Dr. Clabet let silence sit in the room for a moment before she asked the serious question of the Slayer.
“No, we decided last time not to until this time.” Buffy replied quickly. “Didn’t we?” She added doubting herself.
“Yes.” Dr. Clabet nodded. “It’s just that is the most articulate and coherent answer Willow has ever given me to that question.”
“Oh.” Willow bit her lip and tapped her foot. “I’m usually really articulate, I can articulate with the best of them. I actually read the dictionary in study hall when I was bored sometimes to find new words I could add to my vocabulary.”
Buffy couldn’t help but smile at the typical Willow like answer.
“She’s gained over three pounds.” Dr. Clabet looked back to her notes seeming a bit perplexed.
“Yeah Tar....” Buffy began but stopped herself. “Tar-gets.” She changed her word quickly knowing she couldn’t say the risen blonde’s name. “Targets help I think.”
“Targets?” The doctor looked at the Slayer a bit confused.
“Targets.” Willow jumped in seeing things were going badly. “Buffy and I had a serious conversation about targets and that if I got to certain ones then it would be better cause I would feel better and be better.”
“And you gave me a weight target last time.” Buffy pointed out to the doctor fighting the urge to hug Willow on the spot for helping her out. “We met it and had a go at beating it.”
“And then I got...” Willow saw that she’d done a good thing. “More books.”
“Books?” The doctor looked between the two of them.
“Books.” Buffy nodded. “Her favourite reward.”
“How many episodes has she had in the last week?” Dr. Clabet took out her notepad.
“Excuse me what are episodes?” Willow broke in before Buffy could answer but she looked at the Slayer for any answer as well.
“They’re...” Buffy began but she had no idea how to answer so she looked over to the doctor.
“They are what we have commonly come to refer to as any period where you have experienced a drastic diminished capacity to function.” The doctor looked at Willow solidly. “Do you feel that you can answer my question yourself?”
“No.” Willow swallowed hard and looked down. “I don’t remember any episodes.”
“There have been six, maybe seven, though mainly small.” Buffy replied quietly wishing the redhead didn’t have to hear this.
“Seven?” Willow’s voice squeaked unable to believe what she was hearing.
“None for the last forty eight hours.” Buffy stressed trying both to make the doctor believe the change she was seeing and to make Willow feel better.
“Willow perhaps you could step out into the hall for a moment and I can speak with Buffy.” Dr. Clabet smiled softly at the redhead.
Buffy turned to give Willow her usual nod of approval to leave but she was met but something completely unusual.
“No.” Willow shook her head firmly.
“But Will...” Buffy frowned softly looking into alert green eyes.
“I have every right to hear everything that is going on.” Willow countered her voice even. “We are talking about me here and I am perfectly capable of deciding what is best for me.”
“But we don’t want to upset you.” Buffy pointed out knowing that the Doctor’s silence meant she was watching them carefully.
“I know but I want to know what’s going on.” Willow argued softly with her. “How can I feel better if I don’t know what’s going on?”
“I know that Will but if the doctor feels it’s best you to wait for me outside for a second.” Buffy turned to the doctor for support.
“Willow, I can go over everything that Buffy and I discuss with you afterwards if you like.” The doctor offered seeing the redhead’s growing distress. “I just have a few questions for her directly.”
“Please Willow.” Buffy pleaded lightly.
“Okay.” Willow relented and moved outside the door closing it gently behind her.
“I think you can anticipate what my question is Buffy.” Dr. Clabet put down her papers and stared at the blonde hard when the door closed.
“How did we manage to make her eat?” Buffy knew it wasn’t the question but she wasn’t ready for the real one.
“I am concerned that possibly you have attempted to use some sort of experimental or dangerous medications to help her.” She shook her head to Buffy’s attempt.
“I haven’t I swear to you.” Buffy shook he head, “We’ve not changed her meds, not altered them, not even her supplement’s. She’s just getting better.”
“Then exactly how would you explain her sudden 45% recovery?” Dr. Clabet questioned with a look of disbelief.
“45%?” Buffy whispered the figure impressed. “Our lives have changed a bit.” She tried to find some reasonable explanation.
“How?” Dr. Clabet pushed for more.
“New friends arriving, old friends coming back.” Buffy gave an outline. “Mr. Giles has come back to Sunnydale.”
“And how has Willow reacted to that?” She went further for information.
“Very positively and Xander he’s moved into the house.” Buffy continued with the streamlined facts. “She really likes having him around.”
“So you’re telling me she’s coping with vast amounts of change to her daily schedule by having a positive recovery trend?” The doctor eyed Buffy suspiciously.
“Yes.” Buffy looked down nervously. “Really Doctor I promise you we’ve not messed around with her meds at all. I know how dangerous that would be, you told me that the first time I took her home.”
“I think perhaps it’s time for a re-evaluation then.” The Doctor conceded seeing that she wasn’t going to get any direct explanation. “Perhaps you should call Willow back in so we can include her.”
******
so glad to see so many are still reading along with us...
oh and Xita thank you again for the offer... I did mail them so hopefully it went through okay...
have a good saturday night
kathleen (and Beth)
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
To The Land of The RainbowWriters
at: 10/27/02 1:28:22 pm
- ooh, new thread!
WOLFLORD 