Choose
by sailor80
Sixteen
[reviews]
Buffy watched Willow. Each time the redhead moved or made a sound, Buffy stroked her hair and told her she was safe. Doctors and nurses came and went, but Buffy didn't move. She watched Willow and poured all of her love into the connection between them, her palm against the redhead's. She tried not to think about everything that could still go wrong, and instead focused on the feeling of Willow's hand against hers.
It was nearly dark before her family returned. They crowded into the room. Dawn stood behind Buffy, resting her hands on Buffy's shoulders. Xander stood opposite Buffy, his fingers lying against Willow's cheek. Anya stood next to him. Giles stayed at the foot of the bed. Tara and Aislin completed the ring, Aislin near Giles, Tara between she and Dawn. They were subdued as Giles relayed to Buffy what had happened at the meeting. The Watcher's Council, he reported, was in chaos. Some had been smug in the face of the Scoobies' outrage. That lasted until Giles recited the Slayer's message to them. Then the shouting began. "They were still arguing when we left," Giles told her.
Buffy shrugged. "When are we leaving?"
"Whenever you're ready."
"I'm ready now."
Giles nodded. He turned to leave, and nearly ran down one of the doctors. He pushed the man into the hall.
The gang heard a little of their discussion, mostly "you can'ts" from the doctor. They stood silently around the room, watching each shallow breath Willow took. Buffy looked toward the door every few seconds, and then something dawned on her. She looked at Aislin and asked, "Are you coming with us?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Yes."
"I am."
Tara's heart lightened a little at Aislin's answer. Amidst the bedlam of the past few days, she had found comfort in the feeling she had when the raven-haired witch was near.
"I'll need to get some things," she said.
"Let's see what Giles says first." Buffy turned her attention back to Willow. All she wanted, all she had wanted since this awful mess had begun, was for Willow to be well. Bringing her so far from their home had only made things worse. Willow was worse, and they were, she was certain, in danger from the Council, or would be, once they got their act together. She had thrown everyone's lives into turmoil for nothing. The only good things to come of it were that Spike and Travers would bother them no more.
The next time Buffy looked up, only her sister and the witches were in the room.
"You have to stop blaming yourself," Aislin told her. "What's done is done. Look forward."
Buffy didn't answer.
"Rupert will be back soon so we can leave. We thought we should do the ritual again while we have an opportunity."
Buffy nodded.
Tara and Aislin ringed Willow with herbs again, and again, they joined hands around her. Tara and Aislin spoke both parts this time. Buffy and Dawn repeated the calls back to them. Again, Willow's body went rigid and she screamed as the smoke surrounded her, but afterwards, she was still.
They left Buffy alone with Willow after that.
* * *
Tara went with Aislin to pack her things. She wandered around Aislin's house while Aislin rolled and folded clothes and placed them into a bag. The second bag Aislin packed with books and herbs and oils. Then she sat on the couch and looked around.
Tara joined her. "I love your home."
"Thank you. I'll miss it."
"I'm glad you're coming with us."
"The Slayer asked. She doesn't do that often."
"That's the first time I remember her asking for anything except to watch Dawn."
Aislin nodded. "You don't ask for much, either."
Tara looked at Aislin for a moment, then at her lap, but didn't answer the statement.
"Are you afraid I'll say no?" Aislin asked quietly.
"I don't know."
"She was careless with your heart, but she loves you still."
Tara's head jerked up and she met Aislin's gaze. "For all that, she was never mine."
"No. And as much as you wanted to be, you weren't hers. You're waiting for someone."
"You?" Tara asked
Aislin smiled. "If I'm fortunate." She reached to cover the hand resting on Tara's nearest thigh. "I wish we could continue this now, but we've got to meet the others." She stood, bringing Tara with her, and pulled Tara's hand to her lips. She kissed Tara's knuckles gently before releasing her hand. Tara answered with her half smile.
* * *
Again, they followed the ambulance through unfamiliar streets. There was another chartered plane waiting at the end of their ride. Only Giles knew how many favors he had called in to make everything happen so quickly. Buffy was too tired and worried to do anything except hold fast to Willow's hand. She was aware that she had abandoned Dawn to the care of the other members of her family, but believed her sister understood why, especially after being involved with the rituals to do whatever it was that Aislin caused to happen.
Airborne, Buffy felt a little better. She stayed beside Willow and dozed occasionally. She remembered the flight over, kisses and giggles and promises of a future she now wasn't sure they would have. She slept lightly and jerked awake at each small noise Willow made. She heard her name once, and leaned over Willow.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I tried, Buffy," Willow rasped.
"No, you did good, Will." Buffy stroked her cheek. "No sorries. You were magnificent."
Willow's eyes opened and she asked, "Buffy?"
"Right here."
"You came."
"I'm sorry it took so long."
"Where are we?"
"On our way home." Buffy's fingers continued to brush Willow's face.
"What happened?"
"We'll talk about it later. Rest." She leaned down and kissed Willow chastely.
"Love you."
"I love you, too." Buffy watched Willow's eyes close. It took her a moment to realize that they were their normal lovely green. She leaned back into her seat and smiled.
Aislin sat beside her. "How is she?"
"Green eyed," Buffy grinned.
"Good."
"Yeah," Buffy agreed.
"Can I get you some tea?"
"No," Buffy said slowly. "I'm still getting over the last cup you got me."
"Fair enough. How about something else?"
"I'm good, thanks."
"All right, then." Aislin got up and moved toward the rest of the group.
The doctor Giles had brought along — an old friend, he said — checked Willow regularly without disturbing either she or the Slayer. Their family was another matter. They came in turns to sit beside Buffy. They didn't talk unless Buffy was awake, but one of them was almost always next to her.
The flight was uneventful. They arrived in Sunnydale in mid-afternoon, long enough before sunset for everyone to be safely ensconced at the Summers house before dark. Xander and Anya didn't go directly to the house. They stopped for groceries and videos and for several kinds of takeout, and laid a spread on the kitchen table when they arrived.
Willow and Buffy were nowhere in sight, but everyone else was in the living room. Tara was sandwiched between Aislin and Dawn on the couch. Giles was on the phone again.
"They're upstairs," Tara told him before he could ask.
Dawn jumped up. "I'll tell her food's here."
She returned minutes later, grinning ear to ear. "Willow's awake," she announced and scurried into the kitchen to fix a plate to take to her sister. Xander tore up the stairs. He hadn't spoken with Willow in weeks, something that had never happened in their long friendship. He hesitated for a moment in the door to watch Buffy and Willow together. He didn't have to force the smile that accompanied his greeting.
Willow smiled back at him, and Buffy stepped aside to let Xander sit on the bed. She trusted Xander with Willow, and left the room so they could talk.
They didn't talk. He was relieved that she looked a little better, but she was exhausted and still scrambled from the sedatives used to keep her quiet during the flight. He held her hand and let her slide back into sleep, then stayed until Buffy returned.
* * *
Buffy ate half a pepperoni pizza and two plates of broccoli and beef. Dawn flitted around her, bringing napkins and refilling her drink until Buffy made her sit and eat. Dawn didn't need much encouragement. She sat beside Buffy and ate nearly as much as her sister. She stayed seated while Buffy rummaged through the cabinets until she found a can of chicken noodle soup. Buffy microwaved the soup, and filled a mug. The rest she left in the bowl and put in the refrigerator. She started to leave, and was stopped by Dawn's quiet, "Can I come?"
That question made her realize just how long it had been since she had seen her sister for more than a few minutes, and reminded her that no matter how grown up she tried to be, she wasn't quite there. "Sure. Hey, get the crackers, ok?"
Xander was where he was when Buffy left, sitting at Willow's side, holding her small hand in his much larger one. He kissed Willow's forehead before surrendering his place to Buffy.
Buffy touched Willow's cheek gently, and let her fingers drift to, then across, Willow's lips. She leaned close and spoke quietly to wake her. Buffy helped her sit up, then moved behind her. Willow rested against her and let Buffy feed her the soup. Dawn sat at the foot of the bed and occasionally passed a cracker to Willow. None of them talked. When Willow finished the soup, Dawn got off the bed. She took the mug from Buffy, and leaned over to kiss them both on the cheek before leaving.
Buffy lay back against the headboard. Willow lay against her. Buffy was careful not to touch her arms or disturb the IV lines. "I'm glad to be home."
"Mmm hmm."
"I was so scared, Willow."
"I knew you were coming." Willow yawned.
"Sleep. I'll be right here."