Choose
by sailor80
Six
[reviews]
It was early the next morning when they landed at a small private airstrip. As promised, Giles was waiting for them. He greeted them with hugs, his normal reserve set aside for a few moments. Buffy stayed attached to Willow after their greeting. She didn't miss Giles' frown at Willow's appearance.
He bundled them into cars for a brief ride to a large stone manor house. Inside, they followed him to a large library. Quentin Travers and a few other members of the Watchers Council were all ready seated.
Buffy eyed them suspiciously. She maneuvered them so she was between her family and the Council members. After a few long moments she stared at Travers and asked, "Well?"
"Good to see you, too, Miss Summers."
"Cut the crap, Travers. You want something for this. You always want something."
"We want nothing, Miss Summers. The Slayer is always accorded that which she needs to do her job. You need the witch."
"What's it going to cost?"
"Nothing," Travers repeated. "You will have everything you need. Rupert," Travers nodded toward Giles, "has made some arrangements for schooling and such for your friends. We have excellent training facilities here for your use. The Council is not your enemy."
Buffy nodded slowly. "Ok, Mr.," she emphasized, "Travers. My family and I appreciate what you've done."
The door opened and three young women in hiking boots, blue jeans and green sweaters entered. They nodded at the Council members. Willow's forehead drew into a frown. She reached toward Buffy, and her eyes rolled back into her head. Her body stiffened.
The three young women surrounded Willow before Buffy realized what was happening. She watched without interfering until Willow screamed. Then she pushed her way through to pull Willow into her arms. She held her as close as she could and whispered promises into the redhead's ear. Buffy felt when Willow relaxed, and knew she would sleep for an hour or two.
Everyone but Tara and the trio of green-shirted women had left while Buffy tended Willow. Tara knelt in front of Buffy. "We need to go now," she said softly.
Buffy nodded and stood easily, even holding Willow's dead weight.
"You can't come," Tara told her apologetically.
"You can't stop me."
"Buffy," Tara began, then shook her head and stepped back. She walked to the door and held it open. Two of the green-shirted women went through, followed by Buffy, who carried Willow. Tara stepped into line behind Buffy and the third woman closed the door before bringing up the rear.
The motion disturbed Willow. "Buff?" she asked sleepily.
"It's ok, Wills," Buffy soothed her. "We're almost there."
"Whysit so dark?"
"It's ok," Buffy repeated.
"Oh. All right." Willow rested against Buffy.
*****
The cleansing ritual was lengthy, but both Buffy and Willow felt better when it was over. Willow was put to bed, where she had the first dreamless sleep in a long time. Buffy, energized, went to work out. After an hour, she showered and dressed and went to find the rest of her family. She found Giles first, in the library.
"Hey, Giles, where is everybody?"
"Buffy," Giles smiled. "Do sit down."
Buffy sat in the chair closest to Giles. "Dawn is having lessons. Xander and Anya are touring the grounds."
"And all the Council guys?"
"Gone, except for the trainers and instructors. They have their own wing."
"What's this going to cost, Giles?"
"It cost you nothing. You are not beholden to anyone for this. It is what the Council is supposed to do for the Slayer."
"So why now? They could have been making with the nice a long time ago and saved everybody a lot of grief."
Giles sighed. "There's a prophecy."
Buffy shrugged. "There's always a prophecy. Do I have to die again? Cause I am so not ready."
"No, you don't die," Giles smiled. "No one dies. But it seems to concern you and Willow. It's all rather vague right now."
"It's always vague. Why can't they ever write these things in plain English?"
"Spoils the mystery, I suppose."
"So what is it?"
"That's the part we haven't worked out yet."
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"It talks about the Slayer, her Sorceress, their heart, and a key."
"I don't like it all ready." Buffy got up and started to pace.
"Don't fret over it. At least not until there's something to worry over."
Buffy stopped in front of Giles. "These things are never good, Giles. They never say the Hellmouth will open and spew forth puppies and kittens. It's always death and destruction and the end of the world."
"Until we know what it says, there's no use worrying."
"I'm just wigged, Giles. First you tell me Willow could die, and now we're here in a castle and there's some prophecy and I just want something to be a little less hard for a change."
Giles didn't answer her, so Buffy began to pace again. She stopped, cocked her head to one side, then spun and left.
She was at Willow's side before anyone realized anything was wrong. Buffy pushed past the young woman outside the door. She reached the bedside in a few steps. Willow was choking, trying to sit up, but too weak to do it. Buffy turned Willow enough for her head to hang off the side of the bed, and anchored her with one arm. With her free hand, she pulled Willow's hair back.
What Willow vomited was black and oily and left her gasping. When she finished, she hung limply off the bed and panted harshly between dry heaves. When she stopped, Buffy gathered her into her arms and carried her out of the room. She walked down the hall until she found a chair and sat, cradling Willow. Tara would find them, Buffy knew.
It took a while. Long enough for Buffy's panic to subside as Willow sank back into sleep. Long enough for Buffy to try to remember how to pray. When Tara stood in front of them, Buffy looked up into her soft, blue eyes. Tara looked troubled, and Buffy waited for her to begin the conversation.
"You can't save her," Tara said quietly. "None of us can. She has to do it herself."
"I need her."
Tara's eyes closed and her brow furrowed for a long moment before she answered. "I know." She reached out but stopped before touching either of her friends. "You both need to rest a bit before we start again."
Buffy nodded and stood. She shifted Willow in her arms and followed Tara. She led them to another bedroom. Buffy laid Willow down after Tara pulled the covers back. She pushed off her shoes and slid Willow over to make room so she could get in beside her. Tara pulled the covers up over both of them. She stood and watched for a moment as Buffy gathered Willow against her They both looked terrible, and Tara knew she didn't look much better. She wanted to tell Buffy that everything would be fine, but the words choked her, so Tara left them.
*****
Willow woke slowly. She knew she was with Buffy, but everything else was wrong. She frowned, trying to piece it together. Buffy interrupted her thoughts with a quiet, "Hey."
"Hey," Willow answered. "What's going on?"
"Nothing yet, but the witches keep sticking their heads in to check on us. I think they're waiting for you."
The pieces slid into place, and Willow said, "You came."
"Yeah."
"I was so scared."
"I know." Buffy stroked her cheek. "You know I won't let anything happen to you, right?"
"Yeah."
Tara slipped into the room. "You're awake. I'll let the others know."
"Tara, wait," Buffy called, but Tara was gone.
*****
The ritual took longer the second time, because they had to start again each time Willow vomited. After the fifth time, Buffy stopped it. She picked Willow up and carried her away. They returned to the room Tara had taken them to before. Buffy put Willow in the bed, then climbed in behind her. She covered Willow with her body, trying to warm her, and felt her shaking. Like she had done for nights before, she comforted Willow as best she could.
Buffy wasn't surprised when Tara entered the room. Tara waited at the doorway, so Buffy kissed Willow and climbed out of bed. She met Tara at the door.
"You have to bring her back," Tara said.
"No. It's enough for now."
"It's not, Buffy."
"Look at her, Tara. She can't do it again."
"She has to. You have to. So do I. So do Xander and Anya. It touched all of us when it took her."
"Then go. We'll go back later."
"No." Tara was resolute. She backed into the hallway, pulling Buffy with her. She stopped when she was as far away as she could be and still let Buffy keep Willow in her field of vision. "It has to be now, Buffy."
"Tara."
Tara cut her off. "I'm not losing anyone else to this. Especially not her." She waited, knowing Buffy would look at her. When she did, Tara told Buffy, "And not you, either. You bring her now or I will."
They stood in the hallway, staring at each other. Buffy broke the silence "They're hurting her," she said in a small voice.
"They aren't." Tara put her hand on Buffy's shoulder. "You won't let them, and neither will I."
Buffy's jaw flexed as she thought. Tara watched her, and when Buffy's eyes turned toward Willow, Tara's followed.
"Buffy," Tara coaxed, "this is why we came, remember?"
Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed hard before turning away from Tara. She went back into the room and leaned over the bed. She scooped Willow up easily and kissed her forehead before turning toward Tara.
*****
They started the ritual three more times. The fourth time, they completed it. This time, Buffy stayed with Willow afterward. She held Willow against her and dozed, waking each time the redhead moved. Exhaustion finally caught up to her, and she slept without moving.
When she woke, Willow was on top of her. She could feel Willow's thigh against her center, and the heat of Willow's on her thigh. Their breasts were touching, and Buffy's hands slid down Willow's back to cup her butt. She pulled Willow more tightly against her.
"Mmmmm, you awake?"
"Uh huh." Buffy stretched a little, putting more pressure against Willow's body. "This feels nice."
"Yeah," Willow agreed. She turned and kissed Buffy's cheek. "How're you?" she murmured.
"I'm great," Buffy grinned. "How do you feel?"
"Better."
"Good." She squeezed Willow's butt, slid her hands her up her sides.
"What time is it?"
"I dunno. Time to get up, I guess." Buffy's stomach rumbled, and they both giggled. "Definitely time to get up."
"'Kay." Willow tried to slide off Buffy, but Buffy held her there a moment.
"In a minute."