Start of a New Life
by Rin
Decisions, Difficulties, and Death
[reviews]
A/N: Here we go!! Another installment!! Woohoo!! I'm in the process of moving but I promise to have at least one up a week (I'd say there will be more but I'm keeping it low just in case). Hope it's not too confusing, and I didn't botch too many details. There is still more to come, so the confusion will, I hope, be cleared. If not, just bitch at me.
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"How are you feeling?" Willow sat down gently on the bed, and gently caressed her lover's cheek, wiping the sweat-matted hair away with soft motions.
"Better now that you're here." Buffy grinned, somewhat delirious from her high fever, and the heat was causing her body to sweat more than usual, even more than during her workouts. She felt hot but cold at the same time, and it was hard to explain; all in all, she was frustrated at the contrast in temperatures her body was producing.
"Baby..." Willow's eyes showered love, worry, and concern for the blonde, and Buffy continued her deep breathing, trying to keep her blazing eyes open. When she closed them, they stung but the same thing happened when she opened them. She had tried meeting them in the middle, half open half closed, but that didn't help, either. Every part of her body seemed to be getting increasingly more uncomfortable. It started with the heat, and the dizziness. Then, it worked its way through her body. First, her head, then her eyes, and the pain and discomfort just kept claiming anatomical parts as the minutes passed. For the first time, Buffy was beginning to fear that she was dying. 'Anything but that...please, anything but that. I just found Willow...I need more time. I can't leave her; she'll be dead herself. I won't do that...I won't let her die. I have to protect her...must protect...have to protect. Need to...gosh, I love her. Please don't put her through that. I don't mind dying. I realize that death is my gift...but it's never my gift to her. That's her nightmare...I won't let her nightmares manifest. Never, ever...must...need...Willow.'
"Wills...I...I..." Buffy's lids were closing; she felt another bout of sharp shooting pain begin to run from her toes up to her head. It kept happening in random intervals; the last one was an hour ago, and she was happy that they had subsided briefly.
"Shh...Buffy...it's okay, baby. I promise. I'll make you better. You'll be Buffy in no time. The doctor is on his way here now. Dawn's downstairs talking to the pipe guy, and then we'll get you back to normal." Willow was having a hard time holding back her tears but she had to be strong.
"You can cry...I know you want to. Hell, I want to..." The blonde winced, as the traveling sting made its way to her stomach, and around her sides. It was always the worst part of the process, causing her to clench her jaw together tightly, and grab the sheets for support. Now, though, Willow saw the movement of her hands, and intercepted, holding her sweaty hands within her own soft ones, stroking gently in a soothing manner.
"No...no tears, baby. Strong...like an Amazon, remember?" Willow's eyes were threatening to spill over, and she was about on the verge of a breakdown again upon seeing Buffy's entire body struggle. However, she never once left the blonde's side during the whole episode, riding out the pain with her, and willing the doctor to hurry.
"Will..." Buffy's tearful, tortured cry caused Willow's resolve to crumble, and her own sobs crashed into the space. However, she still held on, and made soothing gestures and noises...fighting through the struggle with her wife.
"I'm here, Buffy. I'm here, baby. Don't worry. It's almost over; I promise we'll make it better. No more ouchies, and more smoochies."
Finally, after several long, torturous minutes, Buffy passed out from the intense sensations coursing through her entire body. When she noticed that her lover was asleep again, Willow broke down, still clutching the blonde's hand like she promised. There had to be an answer...she had to fix it, or she didn't think she'd survive this time. 'It was hard with Fred...and Tara was bad...but if Buffy dies, then I'll die right with her, even if not physically. Xander won't be able to bring me back from this one. Not even the yellow crayon speech will work.' Hearing the doorbell ring, she wiped her eyes, and took several deep, calming breaths before moving to answer the door. Luckily, Dawn was letting the repairman out at the same time, letting the doctor in the house. Willow made her way down the stairs, and hugged the quiet doctor in greeting, seeing the man for the first time in over four years. Still, she wasn't the least bit surprised that he had called while she and Dawn were eating their pizza. He always was a caring man (at least to her family), and he proved it in the way he promptly returned her distressed phone call. Dawn shut the door behind them, and joined the two just as their friendly embrace ended.
"How are things, my young Willow?" Ethan Rayne may be interested in chaos, and others may believe his methods and him to be a terrible man...but he was loyal to his friends. Ira Rosenberg had been one of those men, and on occasion the doctor would join her father in business ventures. One time, they had even helped the high school by funding the local candy drive for the band program. Of course, as was usual, it had resulted in disaster and chaos. The parents had gone crazy over the chocolate bars, and the demand was high, as though they were addicted, as they remembered times past when the rare candy was produced during their teenage years. Willow was still shuddering at the memory of Giles taking on his 'Ripper' persona; one she wasn't too taken with because of his rebellious manner. Even with the band candy incident, though, Willow still trusted the British doctor. Giles had been friends with him during his teenage years, and had warned her against the older man but through her father, she had seen a side of Dr. Rayne that others rarely would, and that caused her to go against her base instincts.
"Oh, Ethan. It's terrible. Buffy's...I don't know how to explain it. It just happened, and I'm scared, and I don't want to lose her, and I just can't..." Willow started to cry again, and Dawn embraced her, rubbing her back soothingly. She was worried about her sister, too but the impact was hitting her sister-in-law really hard.
"I assure you, young one, that we'll find the problem. Now, take me to your Buffy, and we'll see what I can do. Alright?"
Willow nodded, and broke her hug with Dawn, as the three of them moved quietly up the stairs. After several tense minutes, Ethan had managed to check Buffy's temperature, blood pressure, and heartbeat, checked her throat, eyes, nose, and ears, and checked her reflexes. Everything was routine...but he knew to start with the basics before delving into the big stuff.
"Well...seems your friend has a high pulse rate, and her temperature is extremely high. I'm surprised, young Willow, that you haven't moved her to the hospital yet. 105 is way too high. Her sweating is more than average, and one would think her convulsions are from her fever. You say that she has some sort of metabolism problem?" Ethan placed his stethoscope back into his satchel, and turned back towards the two women standing on the other side of the bed.
"Yeah. Um, it was never fully explained to me but it's like her adrenaline pumps faster than a normal person, and that makes her energy stronger, and you should see her eat. I've never seen anybody with such a lar..." Dawn was interrupted by a gentle touch on her forearm. Willow knew the young brunette was trying to hide her emotions, and she wanted to help to ease her mind. That's why Ethan was there.
"Yes, well...can you be more specific?"
"Actually, you'll have to wait for Buffy to wake up for more details. She's explained it to me several times but I think there's more that she's hiding, like she's afraid I'll stop loving her if I find out. Impossible but she still won't tell me." Willow's gaze turned back to her sleeping lover, and she took another deep sigh, sitting back down next to the blonde, and wiping the matted hair from her face, ignoring the overabundance of sweat pouring from Buffy's forehead.
"Okay...I'm quite interested in this chaos. It's not something a doctor runs by everyday. From her patterns, I believe she'll be out a few more, so I believe tea is in order, and maybe an update. What's it been? Five years?" Ethan's cocky grin frightened Dawn but Willow was used to it, and didn't pay much attention.
"Almost four, actually. Ethan...will she...I mean...Buffy...will..." Willow's frightened gaze made Rayne narrow his eyes in concentration. He wasn't entirely sure but he had never seen the young Rosenberg so scared in her life; it almost made him feel guilty for not knowing the answer to her question.
"Willow, I'm afraid I have no answer for you yet. It could be something related to this metabolism problem you mentioned. At this point, it could be anything. Why don't we make tea, and converse while we wait for you friend to wake?" Ethan laid his satchel down on the dresser, and followed the redhead to the kitchen, leaving Dawn behind to watch over her sister while the two old friends caught up on the good and bad times. The young brunette couldn't help but be wary of the doctor; there was just something off about him, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it yet. She just hoped Willow knew what she doing by letting him take care of Buffy.
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"Seems my original thoughts have proved right, Willow. Her body is reacting violently to her high adrenaline and metabolic rate." The redhead gripped the phone in her hand, trying to make herself listen to the doctor. However, her heart rate and panic impulse were beginning to kick in, since her friend was telling her what she had originally feared. It had been three days, waiting for Buffy's blood samples he had taken to be tested. Willow hoped that her wife would show some recovery during that time but she only seemed to be getting worse.
"What...um...Ethan...what...does that mean exactly?" She swallowed hard, feeling almost numb.
"It means, young Willow...that there's not much I or anyone else could do for her at this point. I'm sorry; I'm not sure how much time she has. The high metabolism and adrenaline glands have just produced too an intake already; anything could have triggered it. Perhaps, an overabundance of kinetic activity, or something that requires more energy than everyday activities." Willow gasped, thinking back on all of the glorious days of their honeymoon, and no longer able to hold back tears. It was hard to believe that something so beautiful, wonderful...making love to Buffy so often had caused this, and now Willow felt that she was now broken by this news. It was the only possible explanation; after all, they had been practically making love the entire week.
"E...Ethan? Are you sure there's nothing..." She trailed off, staring off into nothing, letting the tears stream down her face. It's not everyday that you hear that your lover is dying...but it seemed that it was for Willow. 'It's not fair...why...why me? What did I do to deserve this? Am I bad person?'
"My best guess would for you to be with her. I'm sorry that I can't do much more right now; I honestly wish that I could. It seems that life has thrown you more than your share of lemons. Just be with her. Go...I'll continue looking for something." With that, he hung up, and Willow just stood there, still gripping the phone tightly, staring off into nothing, and tears streaming. It had been a good ten minutes at least, with the operator's voice message repeated every 15 seconds. Dawn found her that way, and held the redhead, as they both cried their eyes out, unable to comprehend or believe that this was the end for Buffy Summers.
"I have to call Giles. He always has the answer. He has to have the answer." Willow jumped from the couch, and grabbed the handset again, dialing a familiar number. When she received her mentor's answering machine, the redhead frantically babbled through the problem, even giving a brief description of the rare disease. When the machine cut her off, she rushed up the stairs, and enveloped her sweaty, heaping mass of a wife into a tight embrace. Buffy was awake, and was suddenly shocked by the suddenness of the outpouring of love. Willow had just burst through the door, and next thing she knows, she's in a big hug, one of those tight, oxygen-denying hugs.
"Will...baby..." Buffy's voice was hoarse, and not as strong as it used to be. There was pain, fear, and acceptance behind that voice. She didn't want to die...but she had long ago accepted that she had the possibility of not making it past her eighteenth birthday. It had taken so long to accept that death was her gift in exchange for her seemingly super body functions...but after meeting Willow, she had reason to fight for her life more than ever. She found herself exercising more, keeping her body in shape, so that she would be trained well enough to fight it, and she kept her mind in a safe place, always staying two steps ahead. She wasn't sure what triggered it all of a sudden but she wanted to focus on the 'how to get better' more than the 'why did this happen?'
Finally, Willow tentatively broke the embrace but never let her hands leave Buffy's body. The redhead didn't care about the sticky, sweaty mess that was her wife. She was still the most beautiful, amazing woman Willow had ever met in her life. Suddenly, Buffy wretched over the side of the bed, and started coughing up massive amounts of blood into the wastebasket. Again, the redhead couldn't hold in her tears, and used all of her willpower to stay strong for the blonde. She just continued rubbing her wife's back softly with one hand, and holding back her blonde locks with the other. It took a few minutes but Buffy finally stopped.
"It's okay, baby. I've got you. Everything's okay now." Willow positioned herself on the bed, and held her dying lover in her arms. Tragic...cliché...whatever it was...it was still the hardest thing she ever had to do in her life but she wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Buffy sobbed gently into her shoulder, as the redhead pulled her closer, rubbing her back to soothe her back to sleep. It was easier when she was asleep because her cries of pain wouldn't ring throughout the house, and she wouldn't have to feel how intense they were. It took half an hour before the blonde was unconscious again, and Willow was thankful for every second more that she could feel the hot, soft breathing from her wife. Lying there, next to her lover, she picked the ringing phone up without having to move the blonde too much.
"Willow, dear. I'm so sorry I didn't get your message sooner." Giles sounded out of breath, as though he was running around his flat.
"It's okay, Giles. I completely forgot about time differences."
"How are you, dear? You sounded frantic over the phone."
"I've definitely been better. That's for sure."
"Willow...I've been studying up on this disease of Buffy's ever since you told me about it, and I'm angered that you contacted Ethan Rayne before you did me. The man's a complete..."
"Yes, I know how you feel about him, Giles. He was a family friend, though, and I trust him. At the time, I wasn't completely in my right mind, either. Buffy's dying...and I would go to the end of the world and back, if I thought it would help." Willow didn't want to sound angry but all of the built up frustration, and the new discovery that indeed, her lover was dying...all of that was getting to her, and she needed to lash out somehow.
"Yes, Willow. Of course...now, I'm on my way back there..."
"No!! Giles, you just left here! I won't let you do that!! I'll be okay, I promise! I just wanted to know if you could tell me anything, something that can help. Ethan's at a loss, and so are his colleagues, he says. He tells me to just wait it out, be with her...but there's no way I'm giving up just yet. There has to be an answer." Once again, Willow didn't mean the anger in her voice. It wasn't directed towards the stoic British man, and part of her felt guilty, while the other felt more focused by releasing the anger. Denial, anger...it was all part of the dying process.
"I know that, Willow. However, you can't stop me. I'm already at the airport, and my plane is about to board. I've checked with some of my sources, and we believe there is an explanation and solution to the problem. When I get there, I'll explain more. For now, and I can't believe I'm saying this but...Ethan's right. You should just be with her, stay there, and keep fighting by her side. When I arrive, we'll focus on healing." Giles spoke sincerely, and knew that fixing Buffy wouldn't be the only healing they would have to do. Willow was dying right along with her; only hers was more emotional and mental than the actual physical pain the her wife was suffering. Yes, Giles knew he had quite a tough task before him but he was more than willing to see it through.
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Buffy woke up, struggling for breath. The sweat was seemingly pouring down her body in waterfall-like cascades, and her body was nothing but a mass of torture. Willow rushed back into the room when she heard the gasping, and helped her wife sit up, and bend over so she could get some more oxygen. When her breathing started to return to normal, Willow enveloped her in a hug, letting the blonde sob into her shoulder for the thousandth time that day. All night, she had stayed by her side, sponging cool water over her body, cleaning up the massive sweat, making sure that Buffy was well hydrated, and gently stroking her matted locks, while holding her hand as she slept restlessly.
It was now the afternoon, and Giles was due within the hour. She hoped that he would get there before Buffy woke up again, so that she would have time to talk to him thoroughly. He had been very British over the phone, and hurried in his explanations. There was something they could do, and when Ethan had called earlier that day, there was confirmation from both order and chaos. Willow had hope again that the balance would be restored, and her wife would survive.
"It's okay, baby. We're getting help." She soothed the blonde locks from Buffy's sticky neck, and rubbed the sweat-stained skin on her back. "Giles and Ethan will be here, and we're all going to make you better." Willow just held her rocking lover in her arms, again cursing the powers that be for the terrible fates that befell her loves. She thought it would be better...having more time, instead of having the death come quickly...but she was wrong. This was so much worse. They had been back from their honeymoon for four days, and Xander had taken over Watchers Records again for her. 'Good old Xander...I really need to give him a raise after this is over...when Buffy's better...yeah.'
"Will..." Buffy grabbed onto Willow t-shirt with weakened grips, and kept her head buried into her shoulder.
"It's okay, Buffy. I promise. Here." Willow grabbed the ice bucket, and water from the nightstand, and urged her lover to drink. Her body was having a hard time fighting the problem, and her temperature was still too high, which caused the sweat to roll in waves in attempt to return to normal. The sheets already needed changing again. "Baby, I'm going to run you another cold bath, okay?? Get some of the sweaty off, and cool you down a bit? I'll be right back." Easing Buffy back down, Willow went to start the cool bath. Then, she went to find Dawn, and informed her that she'd need help with the linens again while she bathed the blonde. There was no argument; the younger Summers was more than willing to help her sister. She was currently on Giles and Dr. Rayne duty, watching for them to arrive. However, she needed to move; sitting down quietly didn't allow her an outlet to ignore what was really happening, and that only reminded her of her mother, and the same process was repeating itself again. She was definitely happy for the distraction.
"Have I told you I love you today?" Buffy's delirious grin was causing Willow to smile, too. 'Leave it to Buffy to be sappy when she's...she's...when she's taking a bath.' Helping her wife into the cold water, the redhead quickly moved behind her, and rested her sweat-matted head into her lap, as she sat on the edge of tub. She proceeded to sponge the sweat from Buffy's body, and the blonde was purring in contentment. The cold water was definitely cooling her off, and her lover was giving her bath. "I love it when you do that to me, Wills." Buffy's pleasured tone was disconcerting, and her moan did not help any, as Willow had to keep calm, and not think those naughty thoughts...no matter how hard it was in their current positions.
The redhead's boxers were getting soaked from the cool water that she used to clean Buffy's hair with, and she just let her wife stay in the cold atmosphere for a while before she had to take her out, and watch the fever convulsions start again. Deciding to let her soak until she heard the doorbell ring, Willow let out a deep sigh, releasing frustration. Buffy leant her head back further, and studied her wife almost to the breaking point, and she weakly moved her arm up to caress the soft cheek.
"It's okay, Wills. We're fixing it, right? I'll be okay. We'll be okay. I promise." Buffy's tortured expression was easily seen past, and Willow couldn't hold it in any longer. Sobbing herself, she bent down, and buried her dry head into Buffy's damp shoulder, holding on for dear life. "Shh...shh, baby. I'm not leaving you...not even if you kick me out of the house. You're stuck with me for life."
"It's just..." Willow hiccupped into the blonde's shoulder. "It's just that I thought we'd be together well into old ladyhood. Taking walks together...and forgetting to take our pills. I didn't think it'd be so...so..." Buffy caressed her again, and took a deep breath, despite her body's painful protests.
" Willow...I kinda love you." She started having another coughing fit, and leant over the tub, letting the bright red blood flow on the tile. Willow just continued holding her, bringing her own resolve back, and finally accepting that this could very well be the end. When Buffy's fit was over, she relaxed somewhat back into the redhead's lap, both of their breathing heavy, though for different reasons. "Besides...even if I died, you'd bring you back. I don't know much about the afterlife, or what happens. But even if it was peaceful...even if I know everybody here was safe...even if I thought I was in heaven, I wouldn't need anything to sing about...because you are my heaven, Willow. Whither thou goest, I go..." Her struggled whispers were hoarse, and forced but she would always be there for her Willow...even through death, or dying.
"Buffy...I...this...it's just so..."
"It's okay. I promise, Wills...okay?" Finally, the redhead nodded, and leant down to kiss her girlfriend after helping to clean her mouth of the bloodstained spittle. When she heard the doorbell ring, Dawn called out that she was getting it, and Willow helped Buffy exit the bathtub; brushing her wife's teeth, combing her hair, and pulling a light robe on her for modesty. After all, her wife may be dying but Willow was not willing to share the beautiful body with anybody else...well, Dawn but she was her sister, and she was helping. Okay, so technically the two older Brits were helping, too...but surely they wouldn't need to see her naked for that.
Hearing Giles and Ethan enter the room bickering back and forth, Willow helped Buffy back to the bed, glad to find the sheets changed, and the fan still blowing on high. When the blonde was settled against the headboard comfortably, the two men came by to sit on either end. Giles chose to sit next to Willow, as the redhead held her lover's hand for comfort, as Ethan took her vitals again. There wasn't much change, other than the slight temperature drop that resulted from the cold bath.
"Glad to see you awake again. I trust young Willow has been taking care of you properly?" Ethan placed his stethoscope back in his satchel...something the two women had seen him do numerous times over the past few days.
"Of course. My Willow always takes good care of me." Buffy's head was swimming, and she could feel the familiar beginnings of sweat starting to form all over her body. Willow noticed the sudden discomfort, so she started rubbing her back soothingly.
"Yes, well. Willow...as much as it pains me to admit, Ethan is correct. You should have taken Buffy to the hospital." Giles had his admonishing face on, and Willow knew that expression all too well. However, this time she was at full resolve in her decision, and didn't cower under his glare.
"No...no hospitals. That was me...I told her no hospitals." Buffy's eyes were starting to droop again, and her body was showing signs of breaking out into another fever convulsion.
"Be that as it may, I'm afraid that you are lucky to have at least Ethan willing to lend a hand." Giles scowled at his former mate, and returned his attention back to the women.
"Giles, she asked for no hospitals. She's in pain, I panic!" Willow cocked her head to the side, silently asking him to get along with what information he brought that was so important he had to fly back to California from England.
"Yep..." Buffy's jaw tensed, and her grip on Willow's hand, and the bedsheet tightened, as the pain started to spread throughout her body, and her muscles spasmed uncontrollably. Willow held onto her hand, and continued to soothe her, while she rode out the waves of pain until the blonde finally passed out into her arms. With careful strength, Willow settled Buffy into a more comfortable position, and stroked her hair through her restless murmurs.
"Giles...now tell me why you couldn't just tell me over the phone." Willow's resolve was firmly placed, and she arched her eyebrow when the stoic man removed his glasses, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This isn't good, is it? You only do that when something's bad. No! Nothing can be bad...Giles, nothing is bad. It's going to be fine, right? Please tell me you didn't fly halfway across the globe to tell me something's bad." Willow's frightened babble made the Brit sigh deeply, and he shook his head.
"No, nothing bad, per se. I am afraid that it was rather difficult finding information about this particular problem. However, with my resources, I was able to dig up a possible, if not permanent solution, which you, or she may not adhere to easily. It will mean a major change for you both, and you have to be absolutely sure. This is a major risk because it is a rare problem, and the solution hasn't had the proper testing to prove whether or not it's..." Giles tried to use his calming tone but he was just as worried for his redheaded friend, a girl he had considered his daughter for years. It was his 'fatherly' duty to worry.
"Out with it! We're not getting any younger here!" Willow was exasperated, frustrated, and more than a little tired, and she just wasn't keen to a Giles explanation. She just wanted the answer.
"Oh, come now, Ripper. Just tell the girl." Ethan's cocky smirk caused Giles to snarl at his former friend, and he had to calm his brow before returning to the explanation.
"Yes...well, Willow. I'm afraid the reason I came from England instead of calling was because I have brought something with me. I'm sure even Ethan can understand why, since he is in the medical profession. With his somewhat unconventional practices, he should appreciate this." With that, Giles pulled out a small black cloth that opened to reveal a few needles, and several small bottles of clear serum. Ethan just smirked, seeing the labels on the tiny glass containers, and Willow just stared at the kit with apprehension.
"Good show, Ripper, ol' boy." Ethan slapped him gently in appreciation on his back, and Giles just glared again in warning. "I'm only angry that I didn't think of this earlier. I've come to tell her the same thing but not sure how we would retrieve such rarities; I was unaware that you had just contacts, Ripper."
"Yes, well...there are many things I make an effort for you to not know." Giles turned his attention back to his 'daughter,' and his stoic expression turned to one of concern for a moment. "Willow, this is our best chance, and I need your permission before administering the needle. It's more like a test at this point but that's all we have. Now..."
"What is it exactly?" Willow cocked her head to the side, and studied the two men. Ethan was cocky, and Giles was stoic. In other words, they were acting normal, and weren't giving any hints to let her know if it were dangerous. "Is it bad? I mean...is there a possibility that this could only make her worse? Because I'm all for the 'her getting better' here."
"Well, it's complicated. While the serum will bring her out of her current condition, and bring her back to...a normal, average speed, I'm afraid that she won't be the same women." Giles looked to Ethan, who only nodded in agreement. Willow just kept staring from one to the other. "Let me explain. It will slow her adrenaline and metabolism down. It's a strong muscle relaxant, and will allow her body time to heal at a normal pace, instead of throwing everything off balance, and killing her slowly."
"What Ripper here is trying to say, young Willow, is that this will help Buffy with what is wrong now...but when she has healed completely from this viral thing that has entered her adrenaline glands, then she'll be weaker, and her appetite won't be as large. She'll have to readjust to life, which is something that can bring about serious consequences." Ethan's face showed sincerity, and his worry over his young friend. Giles noticed this, and wondered when Rayne had started to grow a heart, and not just care about himself.
"I'm...I mean, this is...on one hand, she won't die...she'll get to live...but on the other, she won't be the same person. Her body won't work like it used to?" Willow was apprehensive. She didn't want her lover to die but that was a big change. She wasn't sure that it was a decision that she should make herself, and that Buffy should have a say. While it did hurt to have her lover die, it would be worse to not have Buffy trust her ever again because of saying okay to something that she wasn't alright with. Thinking this, she made up her mind to wait. "I can't make that decision, Giles. I think we should wait for Buffy to wake, and have her decide. After all, it is her body, and her life. Maybe...maybe she just wasn't meant to last this long." She focused all of her attention back to her slumbering lover, and saw the pain and suffering that she was going through, and all Willow wanted to do was stop it. However, she wouldn't stop it if it meant...no, she wouldn't even think like that. They would just wait until Buffy woke up, and then they would know what course of action to take.
"You are an amazing young woman, and your father would be more than proud of you." Ethan placed a gentle hand on her hand, and once again, Giles was taken aback by the sincerity of his chaos-worshipping, former friend. Willow smiled through sad eyes, and sighed again. It was all just too much to take.
"Willow, I assure you this is the best course of action. We might not have much time, and if you want for Buffy to get better, then we should administer the serum now. For all we know, she may not wake up. We may not have the luxury of waiting." Giles went into his patronizing mode, and let the redhead know that she may not have a choice if she really wanted to fight for her life.
"Giles, I know that. Don't you think I know that? More than anything, I want for her to get better...you remember what it was like with Fred, and then Tara...and now...I just...if Buffy dies, then I die right along with her. But there's no way I'm going to go behind her back, and do something that she may not want at all!! I love her too much to betray her like that, even if...even if it means she'll stay with me." Willow turned her teary cries of anger towards Giles, and he sighed, rubbed his rubbed, and nodded mutely. "Now, let Buffy sleep, and when...WHEN she wakes up, then we'll know. Okay?"
"Right. Then, I shall be off for the night, little one. You take care of her, and call me when you have answers." Ethan embraced Willow, and grabbed his satchel to leave. Willow walked him down to the door, and showed him out, while Giles stayed on, and studied the sleeping girl on the bed. The thrashing, harsh sweats, and slight convulsions that racked her body even in sleep were too much for anybody to bear. Making up his mind, he placed a sterilized needle into the tiny bottle, and before inserting the serum into the blonde, he squirted the air bubbles from the tube.
"I'm sorry, Willow but Buffy looks like she doesn't have time. At this rate, she'll not make it to the morning." With that, he administered the relaxant, and finished placing the package in his tweed coat pocket just as Willow came bounding back in the room.
"I'm sorry, Giles. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
"It's perfectly alright, dear. Now, I believe that the flight has left me rather tired. Would it be alright if I..." Giles stood from the bed, and met Willow in the doorway.
"Of course. You don't even have to ask that. You remember where the room is from last week, don't you?" Willow gave him a shimmer of a mischievous grin...but the full effect was hidden behind the worry, pain, and hope. Giles nodded, and showed himself out, while Willow moved back to the bed, and laid down beside Buffy. Kissing her on the forehead, she moved the matted locks behind her ear, and then laced their fingers together before falling asleep next to her.
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Is the text thing still confusing?? Let me know b/c I still haven't mastered it, and I'm still not sure how to work the whole adding text, and separating paragraph for paragraph. Just let me know, so I can start to fix the problem if there is one.