Hi everyone....
Please pretend I am the goregous lovely Beth (who is out of town for a few days and unable to reach the board) who is posting your morning installment... smile
Now everyone please make sure that your harnesses are on tight... hard hats in place... tissues... I've had the cookie table restocked and the pillows in the puddle have all been fluffled...
as you can imagine from my warning there is a big dip in the road... hang in there... WTTP is in effect...
Dawn carefully ran the cord of the ancient phone under the small space under the bathroom door and maneuvered her way in so she could shut it. This was the only privacy she could attempt in the cramped quarters, other than asking Madalene to go outside but the strange witch didn’t seem too interested in breaking the spell she’d been doing most of the day now.
“Buffy?” She questioned in a hushed voice to make sure the Slayer was still there.
“Still here, what were you doing?” Her sister’s voice came through loud and clear.
“Moving into the bathroom.” Dawn explained as if it was the most obvious thing. “I think you need to come back to the hotel.” She stated firmly.
“Just what I was thinking.” Buffy agreed instantly. “Well actually no I was just thinking that you need to come here.”
“I can’t, I can’t leave Tara with that weirdo.” Madalene hissed as she turned further from the door.
“Dawn, its Tuesday.” Buffy disregarded her sister’s words. “You need to be home.”
“It’s Tuesday?” Dawn stopped questioning for a moment. “Oh my God.” She looked at the silver and pink dial of her watch. “The Disney Family Movie of the week is on in an hour.” Since they’d gotten Willow home from the hospital they’d always gathered on Tuesday nights to watch the Disney movie.
“Exactly.” Buffy confirmed the teenager’s thoughts.
“But... but Tara woke up.” Dawn’s voice wavered as she tried to fight against the two things that were pulling her to opposite places. “She knew I was Dawnie.”
“Oh.” Buffy went quiet for a second, as she listened to her sister. “Did she?” Her voice went tender and loving.
“Yeah.” Dawn nodded before she remembered how the rest of the day played out. “But then she was in pain and Madalene is doing weird magic on her with crystals. Her eyes aren’t black but does that mean it’s okay.”
“What?” The volume in Buffy’s voice disappeared in an instant. “In pain? What happened?” She demanded.
“Witch girl said it was like things flashing through her brain on super high speed, that it could be from still having memories.” Dawn spilled out wanting to believe her sister would have answers and ways to fix all of this.
“Well I suppose it could.” Buffy conceded.
“You suppose? YOU SUPPOSE?” Dawn snapped at her.
“Dawn, this isn’t exactly something I understand either.” Buffy tried to soothe. “Look you need to get home. Call a cab, I’ll watch the start of the movie and see if I can slip out to patrol early.” The Slayer tried to come up with a plan.
“Fine.” Dawn grumbled her agreement. “Have you told Xander?” She questioned softly.
“No.” Buffy admitted. “We will, just not yet.”
******
Xander hopped down the stairs and emerged into the living room where everyone was gathered rubbing a small dark towel into his wet hair. He stood in the entrance for a moment as Mickey danced across the screen enchanting both Dawn’s attention from her spot on the floor and Buffy’s who was at the end.
“Hey can I get braids when you’re done with Dawn?” He looked at Willow who was carefully working on the teenager’s long dark locks.
“Too short.” Willow looked up at him and shook her head almost looking worried that she would disappoint him.
“Hmmm just cause you now smell like a girl doesn’t mean you get girlie treats.” Buffy smiled and threw a cushion in his direction.
“Hey is it my fault you don’t have anything but melon body scrub?” He sniffed at himself and laughed. Catching the pillow he tossed it back at her. “Though I feel so pretty!” He batted his eyelashes for emphasis.
“And besides Willow’s my personal hairdresser not yours.” Dawn piped up as she patted the foot near her. “Buffy can be yours.” The Slayer grinned from her place next to Willow.
“Oh great, I was thinking something in highlights and really funky for the new fall fashions.” He exaggerated as he swaggered over and got hit by another pillow.
“Wait I have a Clairol colour kit upstairs, how does platinum blonde sound?” Buffy sniggered at his show.
“Okay jokes over.” Xander held up his hands.
“He dyed his hair when we were younger.” Willow’s voice added to the conversation softly a she continued with her work on Dawn’s hair.
“Really?” From her place Dawn turned to look at Willow’s face.
“Willow that is confidential.” Xander’s eyes went wide.
“He put peroxide it in and it turned bright orange before it fell out.” Willow leaned down a bit as if only telling Dawnie.
There came a short loud round of giggles from the teenager and Buffy as his secret was revealed.
“Come on, it was the eighties. Everyone did it.” Xander stood there with his hands on his hips.
“Wow Xander I never knew you were so cool.” Dawn grinned sarcastically.
“Next we’ll hear you tried an Afro perm too?” Buffy laughed so hard her side hurt as she watched the carpenter freeze.
“He did.” Willow turned to Buffy the edge of her lip coming up into the tiniest hint of a smile.
Buffy laughed even harder and released her cushion at the young man again hitting him in the chest.
“Now that I have no shred of manhood left I might as well go make popcorn.” He huffed out doing a bad pretend grumpy.
“It’s okay Xander.” Dawn called as he left. “Buffy used to have wear red lipstick, black eyeliner and tie her hair into bunches with moms stockings.”
“You do realize now I am going to have to officially tickle you until screaming pitch.” Buffy pushed over from her spot towards Dawn. “You’d better finish that braid quick smart Will.” She grinned widely at the redhead.
Willow nodded and turned back to her work, though she seemed to work slower on purpose.
“On second thoughts I’ll just go help Xander with popcorn.” Buffy moved past the pair into the kitchen.
“Mmmmm this feels great Will.” Dawn snuggled backwards. “I kinda want to undo it all so you have to do it over.” The teenager giggled and leaned her head on Willow’s knee.
“Do you want me too?” Willow questioned as her hand crept up to her face and she itched the area around the bandage.
“No, it’s ok. I mean you’re not my personal slave or anything” Dawn nuzzled into Willow’s knee. “And we’re missing Mickey.” She nodded to the colourful screen.
If Dawn had looked up she’d have realized that Willow hadn’t heard any of her words. The redhead was too busy cupping her hand over her nose and mouth and she breathed in deeply. A small animal cry broke out of her throat as she pulled her hand away looking at it.
“BUFFY!” The teenager squeaked as she jumped up and turned around.
At the moment Dawn’s voice carried through the air to electrify it unfocused green eyes spun upwards and Willow’s body went stiff as her muscles started seizing.
Wide hazel eyes took in the scene in an instant as Buffy hurried back. It was lucky for them the redhead had been on the couch as she was now fairly safely leaned into it, her legs out straight and her arms stuck out into the cushions. Her head pushed back over the top but the gap was far enough that it didn’t touch anything.
“Dawn back.” She called to her sister as she moved in closer and Dawn blinked wild panicked eyes as she scooted out of the way.
Xander rushed in after the Slayer and instantly started pulling back furniture.
“Buffy get the coffee table.” He tried to stay calm as he manhandled the chair back towards the hall.
“Got it.” Buffy picked up the large object and literally tossed it out of the way.
“Okay the neurologist said we have to time it.” Xander didn’t know where he was pulling information from, now if he’d have asked himself the question ‘monkey’s ass’ was sure to have come up but he knew he was doing the right thing.
“I-I-I’m on it.” Dawn’s shaky voice noted as she held up her small wrist and watch.
“Xander cut the TV.” Buffy waved at the brightly coloured dancing screen the happy Disney melody seeming more of travesty than normal. She then drew her attention back to Willow. The hacker’s entire body was painfully taunt, the rubber sole of her sneaker caught on the carpet before the jutting of her leg dislodged it and it shuddered over and over.
“Damn Disney.” He cursed smacking the button to let the screen blip to darkness. “How long should we wait before we call?” He went to Buffy’s shoulder the helpless site of his best friend making him swallow hard.
“Five minutes.” Buffy said calmly. “What we at Dawn?” She glanced at her sister.
“1:54.” Dawn replied her eyes fixed on the slim sliver hand that ticked its way round the small pink watch face.
‘God make her stop, make her stop.’ Xander’s thoughts screamed out in his head. ‘I’m not a religious man but if you make it stop I’ll go to church, I’ll even be the little guy with the plate begging everyone for money for you. Please just make it stop.’
“How long now?” He waited as long as he could watching Willow’s left hand joined in the meaningless shuffle against the couch.
“2.28.” Dawn replied her eyes still fixed.
“Come on Willow, fight it.” He whispered his own hands clenched at his sides as Buffy dropped down onto her knees focusing on her best friend.
“Come on Will, you can beat this.” She whispered leaned in as close as she could. “Come on Willow.” She breathed forcing her breathing into a steady rhythm in through her nose and out through her mouth trying to encourage the blonde into the same. On the second long breath her acute sense were overwhelmed suddenly.
“Shit.” The small word was pushed from the Slayer’s mouth as she forced herself backwards almost instantly her eyes fixing on Dawn. “Dawn get out!”
“What? What I didn’t do anything!” Dawn panicked her voice high and distraught.
“Your hair, smell your hair.” Buffy hissed. “Xander, I need something, something smelly, a wipe or… there are some baby wipes in the bathroom, go!” She barked at him.
“I’m on it.” Xander tore off towards the upstairs.
Dawn stood limply and began backing away. She pulled her long braid around over her shoulder and brought it to her nose. She sniffed carefully but couldn’t smell anything, just traces of her shampoo and...
“Tara.” She looked up her young eyes horrified.
“Exactly.” Buffy nodded concentrating as Dawn rushed to get out the front door. “Time?” She called before the teenager disappeared.
“3:55.” Dawn squeaked as she pulled the door behind her.
Xander’s feet thundered on the stairs as he made the return trip. He hip checked the displaced chair on the way by but bit threw the pain as thrust the pack of wipes at the Slayer.
“Willow I need your hands, damn it.” Buffy cursed at herself. “Xander go check Dawn please, tell her this isn’t her fault.” She glanced up quickly at him.
“What the hell is going on?” Xander questioned though he backed up to follow Dawn’s retreat through to the front porch.
“Ask Dawn.” Buffy instructed as she pulled out as many wipes as she could and put them all over the floor.
In a subtle change the muscles in Willow’s body started to slow down, the shuddering soothing to individual spasms before the time between them lagged more.
“That’s it Will.” Buffy watched the calming and as soon as she felt it was safe, she drew closer to risk taking a wipe and smoothing it over Willow’s cheeks.
The light scent of spiced jasmine was replaced with the overpowering nature of simulated baby powder. Slowly the muscles in her body burned themselves out, leaving her head to lay limply down chin first on her chest. Hard panting breaths signaled that she was breathing.
“Okay there you go.” Buffy eased really close and picked up Willow’s hands in turn carefully wiping them completely with a wipe before going over her friend’s cheeks and chin and forehead again “Ok Willow, it’s okay.” She whispered tenderly just waiting for the redhead to show her a spark of consciousness.
.... I'm available for hugs if anyone needs them...
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
by Puff » Thu May 30, 2002 9:11 pm 
at: 5/31/02 8:16:52 pm
