Well you know how we like to try and get more than one update done in a day
- here's the next little slice. Beth x
Anya carefully helped Tara sit back down on her bed before she picked up the long white button down next to them, holding it up for the blonde to slip her arms through. They had already quite successfully in the demon’s opinion gotten Tara out of her funeral clothes and into a long loose flowing pair of dark grey linen pants. A loose light grey tank top contrasted nicely with the white over shirt and as Anya had put forward was both stylish and practical for the blonde’s recuperation.
“See that wasn’t so bad.” Anya grinned as she stepped back.
“It wasn’t thank you Anya.” Tara gave the demon her best smile as she looked down at her outfit. She was pleased with their choices, feeling a thousand times more comfortable and more alive in the new outfit.
“Now please remember to tell Willow when you mention this that I didn’t look at you.” Anya sat on the other bed. “I don’t want her getting jealous that I saw you naked first after you coming back.”
“I’ll remember.” Her cheeks blushed lightly as Anya spoke. “My lips are sealed.”
“Xander should be back with your applesauce soon.” Anya looked at the clock. “Though applesauce for lunch should seem like a gourmet meal after just water.”
“You know I have no idea why I want applesauce.” Tara laughed softly shaking her recently brushed blonde hair.
“I know why. It was one of the only things you’d eat after Glorificus sucked your brain out when you wouldn’t tell her that Dawn was the key.” Anya relayed the information as she picked lint off her skirt.
Tara just stared at the demon dumbfounded for a moment as the words tumbled into the air around them.
“When who what what?” She asked blinking her blue eyes.
“Glorificus, the hell god who opened the portal that Buffy died jumping into to. She needed Dawn who is really a ball of energy to open it up but she didn’t know who the energy was. She tracked you down and did this brain melt thing on you to get the information but you were so brave and didn’t tell her. You were out of it for a while till Willow did a spell to put what Glory took back in your head. She found you when you were lost, or that’s how you put it when we talked about it.” Anya summed up. “You ate lots of applesauce while Willow took care of you.”
“I see, well no I don’t but I understand on an inform... The trees haven’t lost all their leaves yet.” Tara suddenly looked up and around at the walls and ceiling of the little room.
“Tara?” Anya looked up at the blonde when she heard the strange words.
“Sorry.” Tara blinked and refocused on Anya. “Applesauce, Willow gave me it when I was sick, I see.” She tried to catch up but something was pulling at her subconscious making it hard to focus on the demon.
“She took care of you when you were sick, she was so sweet. That’s when we all really knew how much in love you two were.” Anya continued on figuring the little outburst was nothing important.
“And how long ago was that?” Tara tried to force herself to relax, hoping that Anya’s talking would help her focus.
“Year and a bit.” Anya began studying Tara’s face and particularly her eyes, which seemed to be oddly tracking over the room. “Are you okay?”
“I... I’m sorry.” Tara blinked again and tried to fix her eyes on Anya’s face.
“Maybe you should lie down?” The demon stood up pointing at the pillow. “You’ve gone all pale.”
“No I think I’m okay it’s just....” Tara’s focus drifted again. “They’re all pretty just like the colour of our hair.”
“Why does everyone always go mental when I’m on watch alone.” Anya huffed as she gently put her hands to Tara’s shoulders and led her to lie down.
Tara let herself ease down, finding her focus slide back into place as the demon looked down at her, concern written over her face.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered again her voice shaking a little as worry flooded the blonde’s mind.
“It’s okay, maybe you need to sleep.” Anya reached down to lift the blanket up over her.
“Okay get the extinguishers and a fire blanket, I’m smoking!” Xander threw open the door and more or less pushed Madalene through it, following closely behind before slamming the door shut. Dropping the small bag of shopping on the floor Xander scooted over to the nearest mirror to check that he wasn’t actually on fire. Madalene caught her balance and immediately turned around to pat a smoulder patch on his back.
“I didn’t ever think they’d keep attacking even while they were on fire.” Madalene blew up onto her hot slightly red skin. The young man looked at the reflection of the spellcaster in the mirror and gave her a goofy grin.
“Must like BBQ.” He offered.
“Well I feel extra crispy.” She laughed.
“Me three.” Xander pulled off his sweater and looked at the numerous small burn holes.
“What are you two doing?” Anya looked up at their little display.
“Hey An a little sympathy here, Mads and I just got attacked by flaming bugs, and not Tara Tinkerbell bugs either.” He put in with a smile to the pale Wicca.
“Flaming bug.” Anya raised an eyebrow at him.
“Bugs.” Xander nodded. “Many bugs.”
“No, flaming bug on your pant cuff.” Anya pointed at the small-ignited body that was crawling up Xander’s leg and leaving a trail of black.
“Oh.” Xander shook his pant leg. “Die, die bug fiend.” He jumped around a little trying to shake off the insect.
“They just won’t give up.” Madalene took aim and kicked Xander in the shin squishing the bug in the process.
“OW!” Xander yelped but then smiled. “I mean thank you, but…” He leaned down and rubbed his leg. “Ow soccer girl.” He said quieter.
“I wish it snowed here.” Tara said quietly from the bed.
“You wish it...” Madalene lost her smile as she looked from Xander to Tara. “How long has she been that pale?” She striped off her charred sweater and moved over to the bed.
“Only a few minutes, we got her washed, dressed and settled, she’s just tired.” Anya shrugged and turned back to look at Xander. “Did the bugs bite you?” She asked of him curious.
“Tara, are you okay?” Madalene focused on the blonde, tracking the erratic paths of her eyes.
“Yeah in several thousand places but not important. What’s up with Tara?” He moved over.
“She’s only a teeny bit demon and she gets all the attention.” Anya tutted under her breath and turned focusing on Tara as well.
“Promise much attention for you later, now back to the recently raised girl.” Xander without thinking reached out and put his hand against the flat of Anya’s back.
“I...” Anya was about to interject something but stopped as she felt Xander’s hand, instead she lost herself looking up at his face longingly.
“I want to be better.” Tara whispered not looking at any of them.
“Better how?” Madalene moved closer trying to get Tara to look at her, she kept her voice soft and even.
“Better?” Tara blinked her blue eyes and gave Madalene a startled look not expecting to see the spellcaster so close, in fact not expecting to see her at all.
“You said you wanted to be better and something about snow.” Madalene relayed.
“I did?” Tara shook her head having no recollection of it.
“She’s said a few odd things.” Anya put in as she surreptitiously moved closer to Xander.
“Are you having pain? Are you remembering something?” Madalene questioned trying to figure out what was going on.
“Yes, maybe that’s it.” Tara closed her eyes for a moment. “Perhaps I’m remembering something.”
“Do you’re thing with the crystals, it’s upsetting to see her in pain.” Anya encouraged Madalene.
“Why don’t we figure out what’s going on first.” Madalene smiled at the demon to humour her before she turned back to Tara. “Memories of what?”
“Figure? What’s there to figure, she was fine and then she started rambling about glass and trees and snow. It’s clear that now she’s not fine. Fix her.” Anya demanded.
“Tara, what are you feeling?” Madalene pushed the blonde slightly while ignoring Anya.
“Give her time An, she’ll do whatever she can.” Xander encouraged the demon to give the spellcaster time.
“I feel okay.” Tara said suddenly. “Just, not quite.” She tried to explain a deep furrow spread over the Wicca’s forehead. “I feel somewhere else.” Tara finally came up with an explanation that summed up the division in her head.
“Tell me what you feel.” Madalene urged her reaching to take the blonde’s hand noticing how cold it was.
“I’m not sure, it’s like I’m here but I’m not here, I’m somewhere else. And inside I feel.” Tara took a deep breath and placed her hand balled up against her chest. Everyone waited for her to continue. “Empty, cold.” She struggled for some clearer definition. “Dead.” She whispered with sad blue eyes.
“Focus Tara, you’re not dead.” Madalene spoke instantly. “You’re right here with us.”
“Xander.” Anya squeaked in horror at the words, clinging to the young man for support.
“It’s just... it’s just like Buffy... a little residual from having to be...”
Xander stammered trying to explain but not knowing how as the words made him worried as well. “Okay Anya’s right magic crystal time.”
“No.” Tara spoke quickly and with an assured tone. “I know this doesn’t make sense but this doesn’t feel wrong, that is it does, but I feel like I should be feeling it.” She hurried to explain before another wave of confusion hit.
This time however the confusion wasn’t laced with clarity of any kind, it was just a jumble of flashes of light, noises, images, a cacophony of information that threatened to drown out her very consciousness.
“Lost.” She whispered, her voice scared and haunted. “I’m lost.”
“I’m phoning Buffy.” Xander announced suddenly, patting his hand softly against Anya’s body for a moment before he moved towards the phone.
“Lost how?” Madalene questioned trying to understand the cryptic words.
“What’s Buffy going to do?” Anya looked at him incredulously. “We can’t stake her, Willow will never be normal again if we stake her.”
“No staking anyone.” Xander shook his head as he picked up the phone. “But Buffy’s been through the whole... well dead thing. Maybe she knows what’s going on.” He dialled the number.
“Lost, can’t......... breathe.” Tara clearly began to panic her blue eyes flashed open as she looked around.
“Okay, okay... enough focusing. Let it go.” Madalene put her hands up to either side of Tara’s face. “Concentrate with me, you are here, you are not lost, you can breathe.” Her words were even and firm.
“Slap her!” Anya encouraged.
“If you don’t calm down I’m going to slap you.” Madalene snapped at the demon. “It’s okay Tara, concentrate on my voice.”
“Hi.” Buffy’s bright voice answered the phone almost instantly.
“Buffy, hi it’s Xander.” He was so glad she picked up this time. “We need you at the hotel.”
“What’s happened?” She demanded instantly as her good humour evaporated.
“Well Madalene and I got attacked by a horde of bugs but surprisingly enough not the important bit at the moment, Tara is freaking out.” Xander filled her in. “She’s gone all pale and is talking funny... about being lost and cold and wanting it to snow.”
“Freaking out, what did Anya do?”
“She didn’t do anything, well other than helped her get washed and dressed.” Xander looked at the pair on the bed, the spellcaster trying her best to get Tara to focus.
“Okay, I’m on my way.” Buffy said her brain whirling. “No wait, Xander I can’t come.” She cursed heavily.
“Well then any clue why she might be doing this?” Xander knew the predicament. “Maybe Willow has a book or something.”
“Nothing’s jumping to mind. Yeah maybe, give me a second.” The sound of Buffy resting the phone down echoed in the receiver for a second.
“Buffy’s going to look for something that might help.” Xander relayed to them all.
“She threatened to slap me.” Anya stated glaring at Madalene.
“An, please don’t piss off the spellcaster.” Xander gave her a soft smile. “She’s doing her best and she won’t slap you.” Madalene briefly flashed Xander a look that said ‘I will if she doesn’t shut up’.
In the bed Tara began to shake, underlining the need to do something.
“XANDER!” Buffy’s shout called the young man back to the phone.
“WHAT!” Xander shouted back jumping from the sudden scream.
“Willow’s gone.” Buffy’s panted horror filled reply came at a lower decibel. “I have to go.”
“Willow’s gone where?” Xander bit before she could hang up.
“Shit, shit, shit” The Slayer cursed over and over. “I don’t know, I was on the phone to Giles, she was.” She stopped. “I have to go.” She stated forcefully.
“Oh shit. Go look for her.” Xander agreed. “We’ll do what we can, phone and tell me what’s going on.” The phone clicked dead before he finished. “Tiny problem.” Xander looked back at the group. “Buffy can’t help us.”
“Why not?” Anya snapped angrily.
“The Willow is issingmay.” Xander stared at his ex-fiancée. “Big roblempay.” He tried to keep Tara from knowing what was going on.
“Oh great, for the first time in my life I do the naked lesbian thing and an hour later the world falls apart.” Anya threw her hand up in the air flustered.
“I so want to know about that but right now bigger things.” Xander’s eyes went wide. “Madalene?” He questioned when the spellcaster didn’t say anything.
‘Tara, Tara can you hear me?’ Madalene projected her voice into the blonde’s thoughts.
‘Yes.’ Tara did her best to reply from behind the background noise.
‘I know this will be hard at first, but we can speak like this easily when you’re stronger. Try to focus with me.’ Madalene urged her.
‘Too noisy.’ Tara’s weak reply came through.
‘I know, but you can turn noises off.’ Madalene focused more to filter out everything on her end but her soft voice. ‘First weed out Xander and Anya, then focus down more.’
‘Not them.’ Tara’s disjointed voice came back to Madalene. ‘Wind, birds, children.’
“Wait, did you just say Willow is missing?” Madalene turned to Xander. The young man nodded. “I’ve heard of this... read about it...” She wracked her brain. “Some of us, we have such strong connections to people, lovers in particular... we can sense them, sense their emotions. Would Willow be afraid if she was say wandering in a park?”
“Willow would be afraid if she was wandering in her own bedroom.” Anya put in helpfully.
‘Tara, you have to listen to me. This isn’t your feelings... this is Willow’s.’ Madalene spoke again to the blonde’s mind. ‘You have to help her calm down. Buffy is looking for her.’
‘Willow’s?’ Tara’s inner voice was stronger as she queried the spellcaster.
‘She’s wandered from home and is frightened.’ Madalene confirmed. ‘She needs you to help her.’
‘But I don’t know Willow, I can’t help her, how can I help her?’ Tara asked distressed.
‘You do know her or else your telepathy would never allow you to hear her. Just focus and help her calm down.’ Madalene reassured. ‘This is your Willow.’
‘Do I do it like I do this?’ Tara asked.
‘Exactly.’ Madalene nodded. ‘Just reach out to her, I will help you project your voice.’
******
I am really enjoying the flow of this story, but it seems to be going slowly in terms of Willow discovering Tara is alive and recovering. I am just anxious.
at: 6/15/02 9:06:02 pm
at: 6/15/02 11:59:51 pm
Can't wait for more. Will this be the only update for today?