My Salvation
by Bwriter
Part eight
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Part eight
Officer Burkle tried to get Buffy to tell them what had happened in her own words on the way to hospital but all Buffy would say was, "he never got what he wanted" and left it at that.
When they arrived Buffy was taken in to see a doctor and Officer Burkle went alone with her telling her partner to contact Giles.
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The phone ringing startled everyone and Giles spilt his tea in a hast to answer it.
"Hello? You did? She is, how bad is it?" The people sitting around him all leaned forward to see what his next response would be.
"Of course. I'm on my way." He hung up and lowered his head.
Willow burst into tears thinking that Buffy was dead. Giles raised his head and noticed that all the young people were crying. Oz had his arms around Willow while Xander was comforting Cordelia and Devon was standing by the window. He soon realised what they thought.
"They found Buffy. Hank had taken her back to her old home. When they arrived he was lying in agony on the floor and Buffy was bound to the bed naked. They've taken her to the hospital. I'm on my way now, who's going with me?"
They all stood and made their way to the door not knowing what to think.
Giles was worried. The police officer he spoke with never told him how bad Hank had hurt Buffy.
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Buffy was lying in a hospital bed with bandages covering her upper torso where Hank had cut her. She had been told her uncle was on the way and she just wanted him there. She knew she would feel better when he was.
She had been told that Hank was in the same hospital receiving treatment for his bite and she didn't like thinking he was in the same building though she had been assured that there were armed guards both outside his room and hers.
She looked up as she heard a noise and her eyes filled with tears when Giles stepped into the room. As soon as she saw him she knew that Hank wouldn't get to her.
She stiffened when he embraced her and he felt it. He let go immediately and stepped back to give her space. She looked at him and knew he was thinking that she wasn't comfortable around him.
"Giles please don't. I'm just sore that's all. Come here." Holding her hand out she let out a breath when he took it and sat on the chair beside her.
"How are you?" He cringed when he looked over at her thinking that it was a stupid question to ask.
"I have a few deep cuts and three of my ribs are broken but other than that just some bruising.
"Yes I got that off the doctor but how are you?" He stressed the question with a small squeeze of her hand.
Buffy looked at him and really thought about her answer hard before speaking.
"I constantly feel like I'm going to vomit. I can't get his taste out of my mouth no matter what I do. I thought I was dreaming when the cops arrived. He wanted to break me and for a while I thought he'd finally gone and done it."
Giles had tears streaming down his face.
"What changed?"
Buffy smiled a real smile.
"I thought about the progress I had made. I have my friends and you and I don't want anything to happen to that. I have actually liked my life these past few weeks and I want that back."
Giles smiled at her and stood. When she looked panicked he sat back down.
"What is it?"
Buffy took a breath before telling him that Hank was in the room a few doors down and that even with armed guards she didn't feel safe and asked him to stay.
Giles clenched his jaw at the tone of her voice. In hope of stilling his anger he closed his eyes and took deep breaths lest her frighten Buffy.
"I was just going to tell the others to come in. I wont be gone more than a minute." Buffy let go of his hand reluctantly and let him leave.
True to his word he was back not thirty seconds later with Willow, Xander, Oz, Cordy and Devon in tow.
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Willow was the first to reach her. She was about to throw her arms around Buffy when she paused to really look at her — girlfriend?. Seeing a small smile on Buffy's face she carried on wrapping her arms around her gently and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
If anyone noticed they didn't say.
With a murdered "thank you" she backed off and let Xander hug Buffy.
"Man Buff, what... glad your okay. You are right?" He was looking at her with such concern.
"Yeah Xand. I'm okay."
Everyone in the room knew that she wasn't but no one called her on it.
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"Yeah Xand. I'm okay."
Liar.
Buffy looked at the people surrounding her and let her eyes connect with Willow's.
"Guys I'm kinda tired do you mind if I get some rest for a while? I'll see you all tomorrow." She didn't mean to be rude but she was tired and she wanted to talk to Willow alone.
They smiled and said their goodbyes before leaving. Giles kissed her on the cheek and told her he wouldn't go far already knowing that she wouldn't feel safe if he left. He felt pride knowing that she trusted him that much.
When only Willow remained Buffy patted the bed beside her in invitation. She sat and picked up Buffy's hand running her thumb over her knuckles.
Buffy gazed at her letting her emotions show through her eyes.
"What happened?" Buffy already knowing the question was coming and told her what she wanted to know.
"After we left you he didn't talk, just drove. It's a miracle he didn't crash he was so drunk. The next thing I know we're at my old place and he's telling me to get out. I was kinda numb. He dragged me into the house and starting shouting at me while hitting anywhere he could reach. He pulled me upstairs and..." By this point Buffy had tears falling down her face and Willow was opening crying.
"...he cut my clothes off me and tied me to the bed with his belt before undressing. He c...climbed up me and sat on my head and stuck his — thing — in my mouth. I started asking myself who this man was because he wasn't the man I grew up loving, then I just cracked. I bit down hard 'til I felt blood. He ended up on the floor in agony and stayed there 'til the cops came."
Willow hugged Buffy before pulling back and giving her a small smile and another kiss, this time on her forehead.
Buffy just gave her a sad smile thinking that maybe Willow was repulsed by what had happened and wanted nothing more to do with her, before lying back down and sighing. Letting go of Willow's hand she started a conversation that she knew if it went the way she thought it would her and Willow would be no more than friends.
"Look Will, I understand if you wanna put this thing we have on hold or just stop it altogether. I don't feel clean, I can't get his taste outta my mouth so I don't expect you to —" she was cut off as Willow placed her lips over her own.
The kiss was meant to reassure Buffy that Willow still wanted a relationship with her but it quickly grew out of control.
Lips caressed while tongues searched out the others. Out of breath they pulled back before Willow leaned forward to leave one last small kiss on Buffy's mouth. They both jumped when they heard a polite cough behind them.
Turning they saw Giles in the doorway. Willow turned beet red while Buffy, who didn't know what to expect, begged him with her eyes not to say anything.
He got the message and smiled at them before turning and going back out.
Willow looked to Buffy and they both started laughing. After calming down somewhat Willow once again kissed Buffy.
"Does that answer your question about whether or not I want out of this relationship or not?"
Buffy smiled once more before starting another kiss, this time to be interrupted by Officer Burkle.
"Oh I'm sorry. I really need to talk to Buffy."
Willow looked to see how Buffy felt about that. Seeing her nod her head that it was fine she got up and went out to talk to Giles.
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"Hey Fred." Buffy liked Officer Burkle. She was nice and caring, never pushing her to speak.
"Buffy, how're you feeling now?"
"Still sore." She watched as Fred approached the bed and sit in the empty chair beside it.
"We have officially arrested your father-"
"He's not my father! Not anymore." Buffy interrupted her with venom in her voice when she talked about him.
"Sorry. We've arrested Hank and when he gets released from hospital we're taking him in for questioning then he's going to spend time in jail before the trail. There is no way he'll make bail."
"Good." Buffy was glad. Soon it would all be over.
"Wait trial? Will I have to be there? In the same room as him?" She really wanted to limit her contact with him to only when it was absolutely necessary to see him. She figured like when he got sentenced would be the only time it was absolutely necessary.
"Well if you want we can do it via video link so you wouldn't have to appear in court if that's what you want. I have to go. I just called in to let you know what was happening and to see how you were. Do you want me to send in your girlfriend?"
Buffy smiled as she realised she was talking about Willow.
"Yeah please and Giles too."
With a smile and a wave Fred was gone.
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"Giles hey." Willow didn't know what to say to him. She didn't know how he would take her relationship with Buffy but she was hoping he would be cool about it.
"Willow." Deciding to be frank Giles asked what he really wanted to know. He didn't think it had been going on long because he was sure Buffy would have told him so he asked Willow.
"How long have you and Buffy been together then?" She looked at him to gage how he was feeling when she saw a smirk that resembled the one Buffy sometimes got she felt better.
"Really it only happened tonight, but we've been working up to it the whole time I think. We both want you to be okay with this. I know you and Buffy are close and how much she respects you. If you tell her to stop seeing me I'm sure she would but I hope it wont come to that."
Giles looked at Willow shocked that she would assume Buffy would willingly leave her if he asked her to. He saw that she actually believed what she was saying and knew she was feeling unimportant right now.
"Willow, Buffy would not just leave you because I asked her too. She cares very deeply for you. The very fact that she even trusts you with her heart at a time in her life when everything is upside down says quite a bit."
Willow looked over at Giles and realised that he was right. She was about to ask him where Hank was when Officer Burkle came over to them.
"Hello again. I have informed Buffy that we've arrested Hank and that we're taking him with us when he gets checked out of here. She asked me to send you both in."
"Thank you officer."
Willow and Giles walked back into Buffy's room and both realised that Buffy looked very tired. Giles sat on the chair that Fred had vacated after fetching one for Willow and picked up Buffy's left hand while Willow picked up her right.
Giving them both a sleepy smile Buffy was out like a light, safe in the hands of her protector and her girlfriend.