Title: Justice Of The Peace
Author: Auburn
Email: GemmaQT@hotmail.comRating: this part is PG-13
Discalimer: I own nothing except my imagination, if you want this story tell me where it's going.
Feedback: If you want to leave it, I will read it.
Summary: (AU) Willow and Tara are both police officers in Sunnydale, California. Tara has just been transferred from Alabama. together they face untold dangers. and become closer whilst doing it.
A figured hid behind the bushes in one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries, keeping an eye out for what they knew was the towns darkest secret, they surveyed their surrounding making sure they were secure and able to defend or attack at any moment.
A noise coming from a shabby run down crypt gained the persons attention so they waited patiently for any sign of what they were looking for.
Then there it was, it’s face distorted and uneven like nothing human, it’s beady eyes illuminated by the darkness of the night and fangs protruding from it’s twisted mouth.
Tara knew what she had to do.
She walked calmly out from behind the bush weaving between headstones as she made her way across the cemetery, checking to see if the creature had seen her. She knelt down pretending to tie her shoelace.
The vampire followed her and smiled when she stopped. Deciding to play with his food he switched his facial features back to human form and attempted to make conversation.
Tara had heard the creature approach, falling for the oblivious civilian routine.
“You shouldn’t be out here at night precious, there are dangerous people out here.”
The blonde stood and faced the cold blooded killer.
“I’m one of them.” her full lips curled in what could only be described as an angelic smile, but the innocence was contradicted by the admission.
The vampires face twitched and stretched as his eyebrows creased and expanded, his teeth sharpened and grew, jutting out from between his lips.
“Wanna bet?” he snorted before launching himself at the seemingly vulnerable young woman. He regretted the movement and his confidence as he felt the wood slide through his skin, penetrating his heart and making him more dead then he already was, he exploded into a pile of dust leaving no trace of his existence other than a memory to the blonde.
“Damn I so should have waited until we finalised the bet, maybe he had a hundred.” she joked to herself.
“Funny.” the blonde stood stiff, caught unaware by the voice. She turned slowly to look at the owner and gasped, then mentally scolded herself. She should have realised there would be more.
Three more vampires stood snarling at what they presumed would be their dinner and proceeded closer.
Tara thought quickly, she could take two, but three? Who was she wonder woman?
Surveying her surroundings she tried to think of a plan, but there was nothing, no way out except to fight, maybe if she caught one unaware then that would just leave two. She could take two. Deciding that was her best option she lunged at the closest vamp and tried to dig the stake into his heart, but he managed to block her and punch her in the face whilst she was caught off guard.
She stumbled back with the force of the blow feeling her bottom lip split and warm liquid run down her chin.
The vamp went to punch her again, but she ducked and his outstretched arm left an opportunity for her to drive the steak threw his undead body. she stumbled back as it erupted into a display of dust.
Another vamp threw himself at her, knocking her to the round and trying to sink his teeth into the vulnerable flesh of her pale neck. She kneed him in between the legs making him release a high pitch screech then the blonde pushed him off her, she struggled to her feet, but was knocked to the ground again by a blow to the head from the third vamp.
She struggled to stay conscious, trying to crawl away from the third attacker, her leg swept across the floor in to the path of the vamps feet sending him sprawling along the floor she saw her opportunity to make a break for it.
Tara ran as fast as her legs would allow her injured body to go, her head spun to the point where she was ready to fall at any moment. She saw the bush separating the cemetery from the rest of the street and flung herself at it, the braches refracted and snapped as the blonde tumbled threw the mass of leaves and twigs then she landed on the pavement of the street with a thud. She searched for a place she could hide, but knew she was safe when she saw the street was crowded with people. One of them ran in the blondes direction.
“Tara!” Xander exclaimed, shocked of what to say or do as he ran towards the blondes fallen frame.
“Are.....what....why... hospital?” he tripped over his own words as he half lifted her to her feet.
“No hospital, take me to my place, please?.... apartment block B, second floor, 4 Sandringham drive.”
“Yes ma’am.” the young man guided the blonde to his car and took her home.
* * * * * * * * * *
Xander had, as promised took Tara home instead of the hospital. Although he had tried to persuade the blonde that she should go to get checked, she simple said ‘no thank you’ so he made it his mission to take care of her, with or without her permission.
He practically carried her up the stairs of her apartment block to the second floor and escorted her into her home.
Tara tried to assure him that she would be fine and perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but he wouldn’t relenth after she tripped over a box on the floor for the second time. Her whole apartment was covered in boxes and the odd piece of clothing scattered around. Xander couldn’t believe that although Tara had lived in Sunnydale for almost two weeks she still hadn’t unpacked.
“Really loving what you’ve done to the place Tara, it’s got the whole... ‘just moved in’" effect he clowned.
Her only reply was a grunt.
“Do you have any first aid equipment?... and if you do do you know where it is?” he asked, looking around the mess, he located a small wash cloth and wet it in the kitchen sink. Kneeling in front of the blonde he began to wash the blood off her chin that had seeped through the cut on her lip.
“You wanna tell me what happened?” he probed.
“Attacked... kids...you know how it goes.” was all she was going to say, she knew the police officers of Sunnydale were denying the blatantly obvious fact that vampires, among other things existed. “I didn’t see their faces so there really is no point in reporting this...” she assured.
“Ok.” he smiled warmly, handing her the wet cloth “so err....first aid kit?” he asked again.
“Oh....” she looked around, her vision blurred slightly by the throbbing in her head. “That box.” she pointed to a box on the kitchen counter and the young man quickly opened it to find more first aid equipment than expecting.
“You kinda accident prone then Tara?...... ‘cause if not...your one paranoid woman.” he joked.
The blonde smiled, truly grateful for his help.
He wasn’t quite sure what things he needed from the box so Xander just brought the whole thing over to Tara and plonked it down beside her, hoping she’d know.
Tara took a few things from the it and fixed her cuts and bruises, her body ached all over and all she wanted to do was go to sleep.
After she finished tending to her cuts Xander handed her a glass of water and some aspirin he’d found in a cupboard above the kitchen counter. He helped lift her weak body from the sofa and lead her into her bedroom, laying her down on the bed he took of her shoes, but didn’t take off anything else, just being in her room was enough to make him embarrassed. Undressing her would kill him, either that or she would make sure he walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Instead he just pulled the cover over her fully clothed body and left her to sleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Morning sleepy head.” Xander greeted the yawning blonde “how do you feel?” He had decided to stay at Tara’s wether he had permission or not, he was worried about the woman, she seemed too be alone in this town.
Tara smiled at him and couldn’t quite believe he had stayed the night “I feel better thanks, I just have a headache and feel a little achey.” she looked around her apartment and notice something. “What?......why?...”
Xander knew what she was trying to ask “I stayed the night, I hope you don’t mind, but I was worried, you were hurt pretty bad..... as for the slight change in your apartment, well I thought I’d be useful whilst I was here...again I hope you don’t mind.” throughout the night he had unloaded several boxes mostly full of kitchen utensils making his own mind up about where they should go. The coffee machine brightened up his night and allowed him to have an endless supply of caffeine as he worked.
The blonde looked around her apartment and smiled, it actually did look a little more homely the young man had carefully placed pictures on the walls of her friends and family, and he had even put together her coffee table. She was very grateful “thank you Xander I appreciate it, I’ve just been so busy with work and...... yeah work, that I hadn’t really had the chance to unpack, thank you it was very kind.”
“Ah it was no problem.” he assured “so What You’re so busy that you can’t unpack and get yourself comfortable?.... listen Tara if you need help or something if something’s going on....”
“Xander,” she cut him off, “I appreciate your help and everything, but there is nothing going on, I’ve just been busy is all, Sunnydale is a lot harder than I thought it would be....”
He nodded his head in understanding “I tell you what, tomorrow night you and I will get some beer, order take out and get your place set up properly sound like a plan?” he suggested.
She wondered what his motives were, but decided it couldn’t hurt. “Ok, sounds like a plan.”
“Great so err....it’s a date, are you sure your ok to go to work? I could always call in and tell them what happened?” he offered.
“No no I’m better now, I’ll be fine.” she smiled.
“Ok, I’ll see you tomorrow.” he clarified before existing the apartment.
Tara closed the door behind the young man and smiled to herself, he was a nice guy.... then she remembered he said date and panicked. Xander Harris was a nice guy, but definitely not her type.
* * * * * * * * * *
Willow strolled into work and to the changing room, refreshed after a quiet night in with her beloved computer, it had been just what the doctor ordered.
Tara saw Willow enter the room and greeted her with a small smile.
“What’s on the roster today?” the blonde asked, opening her locker and removing her uniform, placing it on a bench in the middle of the isle she turned to the redhead for an answer.
“Well the captain wants to see us about something, I’m not sure what it is, he read our reports on how we found the body I think he wants us to work under the detective on the case.” Willow explained, also removing her uniform.
“Do they have a suspect?”
“I’m not sure to be honest, I just got word from Mack that the captain wants to see us, he didn’t say what about, but a word of warning.... the captain is a mean man.” the redhead looked around the room nervously realising that she was going to have to change in front of Tara. Her face turned crimson and she timidly lifted her shirt over her head revealing pale skin and a black lace bra which supported small yet full breasts.
Tara caught a glimpse of Willow’s partially naked upper body and smiled to herself when she saw the shy flush of the redhead’s cheeks spreading down her neck and chest. Willow always looked so serious and uptight, but at this moment she looked small and vulnerable and Tara realised there was many layers to her partner.
Taking off her own shirt she revealed her white cotton bra and smooth skin, forgetting about the bruises sustained from the night before, but when she saw the redhead looking she realised and tried to unsuccessfully hide them with her shirt.
Willow saw the dark purple welts covering what should be fair skin and her concern made her take a step towards the blonde.
“What?...Tara?....what happened?” the redhead asked in a low caring voice.
Tara shook her head and smiled reassuringly. “I was attacked by kids.... a gang of kids walking to the store last night is all, Xander helped me.... I’m ok honestly.” the blonde felt guilty about the little white lie she had told her partner, but she couldn’t exactly tell the truth. She felt the redhead’s fingertips run gently over a particularly nasty bruise on her stomach and shivered.
“Uh.....sorry” Willow pulled her hand back quickly, realising her concern had taken over rational thinking and moved back to where she had put her uniform. Making a mental note to call Xander after her shift about what happened.
Tara was shocked at the concern and worry the redhead had displayed and scolded herself for not reassured Willow that it was ok to touch her, but couldn’t quite get the words out. Instead she just smiled at her partner as they both continued to get dressed in silence.
* * * * * * * * * *
“right.....girls now that I have you both here. Detective Noemi Reed is investigating the case of the murder of a young man, I believe you two are the officers who found the body and she has requested the both of you to be a part of the investigative team, understood?”
Both women nodded their answer at the old man. His voice was stern and his posture oozed authority as he sat in his oversized chair behind an equally oversized mahogany desk. Captain Morris was not a man you would like to get on the wrong side of.
“Ok,....she would like to meet you both in her office at eleven sharp.” he waved his hand at them indicating they were dismissed and spun his chair to look out of his second floor window.
Tara was livid by the mans behaviour the redhead had warned her that Captain Morris was mean, but rude, abrupt and obnoxious she was not expecting.
As they closed the door to his office the blonde shook her head and sighed. “What a pig.”
“That’s it?... that’s your angry face?” Willow asked, she had expected more of a reaction. “When I met the captain for the first time, I babbled for about an hour and then some, that man is an ass....no wait he’s a baboons ass.... no..no he’s a...a....”
“Pig.” Tara finished.
“Yeah, He’s a pig.” the redhead smiled at her final decision.
The taller officer smiled to herself as the word neurotic popped into her mind, that was the only word she had that described her new partner.
“So Willow, what do we do until eleven?”
“We patrol the streets... c’mon.” she informed as she walked down the hall towards the parking lot.
* * * * * * * * * *
The women had been patrolled the streets for a while, stopping vehicles they caught speeding or interrupted rifts between civilians. Tara thought she had made a brake through with Willow when she had accidentally shown her injuries, but the redhead went back to being quiet and unco-operative in the car making the blonde more frustrated with her partner. She knew Willow was a nice person deep down, but why wasn’t Willow nice to her?
A message over the car radio broke her out of her thoughts. The message informed of a disturbance in a near by ally way so Tara radioed to base that herself and Willow would check it out.
Getting out of their cars the two women checked their surroundings making sure no civilians would inadvertently get caught in the cross fire if anything should occur. Satisfied that everything was safe Willow lead Tara down the dark alleyway, black bin bags were left leaning against the walls and boxes were scattered around the floor along with discarded news papers.
the redhead walked further down the alleyway checking for anything unusual, but nothing seemed out of place until something caught her eye sticking out from behind a dumpster.
The object became clear and was identified as a foot and as Willow got closer the foot lead to a leg and the leg lead to a hip. She kicked away a piece of cardboard that was covering the rest of the body and covered her face.
“Shit!” she exclaimed taking a step back.
Tara rushed forward to see what had caused her partner to have that reaction and sighed.
“I’ll call base.” she informed as she walked towards the opening of the alleyway to stop people from entering.
Willow stayed with the body looking around for any sign of what happened.
* *
He peeped out from behind a box which he called home, he had called this alleyway home for many years and had often been told to move on by people who lived in luxury with their nice homes and families, food to eat and fresh water to drink or wash with, this alley was all he had, he couldn’t leave. He had been a Vietnam war veteran but now here he was living in an alley and there was nowhere for him to go. He hadn’t seen the other officer leave the alley, maybe if he got rid of this officer he could stay here and no one would know?
Pushing the paper off his body that he used as a blanket he pulled out a knife from his tattered sock and flipped the dirty blade, pointing it towards the officers back he stood and moved forward slowly, careful not to step on anything that would make his presence known. Getting close enough to what he realised was a female officer he lifted the knife, ready to impale her with the sharp metal blade, just one stab and he could stay in his home.
**
Tara finished radioing to the precinct informing them of their findings and she turned to go back down the alley to take a proper look at the body and wait for forensics, her jaw dropped and her first instinct was to grab her gun from her belt and shoot.
The bullet followed a straight path, cutting through the air at lightening speed, aiming for it’s target without mercy, hitting flesh and damaging it’s victim.
The old man screamed in pain when the bullet knocked him to the ground, the metal of the knife hit the floor with a clang as it connected with concrete.
Willow turned in shock as her mind processed what had happened and looked towards the blonde officer who was now running towards her with almost as much speed as the bullet. She grabbed the redhead pulling her body close checking for wounds and Willow allowed herself to be held, her jaw loose and her eyes fixed on the bleeding man, she felt her legs buckle beneath her, but strong arms held her upright as her head tilted and her world went black.
To Be Continued....
so you think there’s sexual tension hmmm?.... 
maybe! Glad you think this fic is great. I aim to please
maybe Xander has a crush on Tara, guess we’ll have to wait and see. Willow will wake up and see how much of a hottie Tara is ...maybe she already has?
You know I never intend on adding humour, it’s just that my humour kind of seeps into what I write, glad you enjoy it tho thank you.
. I thought as seen as your reading my fic I should read yours, your writing style seems similar to mine... or maybe I’m wishing? 
! I’d be happy that Tara hit my car too mmmm yummy!
Auburn,
having a potty mouth oh thats classic. I'm so happy I got my account to work again! 
her car got all smushy 
it's so cute to see them not like each other right from the start, plus them as cops that was not something I was expecting. It's complete genus 
and even though i'm tired from my job 
I plan on making time to look for and read this fic! 
And Tara shot the would-be killer of our beloved Willow! 
I bet Willow will be so embarrassed that she fainted in Tara's arms. 
at: 9/14/03 8:39 pm
But i know that Willow is save in the arms of TARA
..oh i just want to know what happens next....please hurry with the next upate...
