It's Only Blood
by Red
Chapter 2
[reviews]
It's Only Blood (Chapter 2)
Red
Joss' folks.
F/T, B/W, An/X, J/G, H/S
Summary: When Tara's family comes to town, all hell break loose.
WARNING: RAPE AND VIOLENCE.
Joyce looked at her daughter, sitting in the corner, her arms wrapped tightly around Willow. The slayer's mother could only imagine what her daughter would do were she in Faith's boots...and the mere thought chilled her to the very bone.
"Xander made it to the house alright," Giles announced, returning from the payphone and taking his seat next to Joyce. "He and Anya will stay as long as needed, not to worry."
He put an arm around Joyce and hugged her tight, a move Joyce most greatly appreciated.
"Why?"
Willow's single word, tho' spoken as a whisper, echoed loudly in the still room, prompting all Scooby eyes to turn to her.
"I don't know, baby," Buffy quietly replied, holding her witch tightly. "I don't know why."
"Any word from Faith?" the Englishman asked.
Joyce shook her head. "Nothing since they went back. Rupert, what could have done this? I know the evil that is out there...the vampires and demons...but I've never known any of them to do something like this. This, this is a human evil."
He tightened his embrace on her.
"I know, luv."
"Did Xander have any luck locating her family?" Buffy inquired.
Giles shook his head.
"No one answered at the motel. He said he would keep trying."
Buffy started to ask if anyone wanted more coffee, when the doors opened and Faith emerged. All eyes looked to the raven-haired slayer, whose eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"Oh Faith," Joyce began, thinking the worst. "She didn't, she's..."
"She's gonna be ok," Faith said, running a hand through her hair. "I mean, it's gonna take some time...the bruises will fade...her ribs will heal...they wanna keep her but she wants to go home. I don't think the dorm is a good place, Joyce, do you think that maybe we could..."
"Of course, absolutely...I'm sure Buffy wouldn't mind you 2 camping out in her old room."
"I think it's a great idea," Buffy concurred. "She needs a place she feels comfy at."
Faith nodded. "Yeah and since you're kinda, surrogate mom to all of us..." She wiped her eyes. "Thanks."
Joyce stood and moved to the slayer, wrapping her arms around her. Faith, tough as she was, broke down, falling into the embrace and sobbing. Buffy held Willow tighter, the redhead leaning into her slayer's arms and Buffy could feel her trembling.
Giles stood and cleared his throat. It was taking every ounce of willpower he had to maintain his calm, but he knew he had to. This was his family...they needed him strong and in control.
"I'll call Anya...tell her we're coming," he said, going down the hallway to the payphone once again.
Faith pulled herself together and wiped her eyes, then looked at Buffy. Buffy nodded, knowing full well what her sister slayer was saying...they were gonna find the thing that did this and make it pay.
+++++
"Come on, Spikey, you know Joyce loves this stuff."
Spike rolled his eyes as they made their way up the Summers' walk. Halfway there, he stopped.
"Spike, it's ok that it's late...she knows we do our socializing at night."
She stepped up onto the front porch and rang the bell. Spike hurried after her and when Xander answered the door, he took one look at the boy's face and knew he was right.
"The blonde witch is hurt."
It wasn't a question. Xander opened the door and let them inside.
"Tara's hurt? What happened? How did you know, blondie bear?"
Normally, Xander would have had a field day with that, but this time, he merely led them into the kitchen where Joyce and Giles were.
"How is she?" he asked, after Giles finished telling the story.
"Pretty bad shape," Joyce replied, sipping the scotch Giles had poured her. "The doctor said she was...she was..."
"Whatever did this wasn't gentle," Xander finished, his tone bitter. "They beat the hell outta her then raped her six ways from Sunday."
"Oh gawd...gawd."
Spike reached over and took Harmony's hand, squeezing it gently as he forced his demon back.
"I'm gonna get Anya home. If anyone needs anything...call, ok?"
Giles nodded and Joyce thanked him. Xander bent down to hug her, holding on a little tighter than usual, then said his good byes, carefully picked his sleeping ex-demon up from the sofa and carried her out to the car.
"She's upstairs, with the slayer?" Spike asked.
"Faith hasn't left her side," Giles noted, refilling Spike's glass.
"Think I'll go up, sniff a bit, see if I can get a hit on what did this...that be alright?"
Joyce looked to Giles, who nodded.
"Just be...quiet about it. Faith is in protective mode," the Englishman stated.
Spike nodded as he stood up. "As well she should be. Be right back, pet."
He placed a soft kiss on Harmony's head and disappeared up the stairs. Harmony, remembering the bag filled with lotions and bath oils by her side, picked it up and handed it to Joyce.
"Wanted to surprise you...bad timing."
Joyce took the bag, looked inside and smiled.
"Thank you, Harmony...and the timing, not so bad."
The blonde vampire returned the smile. "Maybe Tara would like some...maybe it would make her feel a little better."
Joyce's smile grew.
"I think she would very much like some."
+++++
Spike stood in the hallway outside the bedrom door inhaling deeply.
"Bloody hell."
+++++
Buffy grabbed the blanket from her bed and climbed back in behind Willow, wondering in her head why the heat never seemed to work in the dorms.
"You ok, baby kitten?"
Willow nodded, thankful her back was to Buffy so her slayer couldn't see the tears.
"Not nice to lie to your slayer," Buffy purred, leaning down and kissing Willow's tear stained cheeks.
She carefully turned the redhead so they were facing each other, her thumb caressing Willow's face.
"Talk to me, Will...don't let this eat you up inside, please."
"I know, we see evil all the time...horrible things, death, blood, guts...literally...but I've never...this..."
She attempted to sniff back the fresh wave of tears.
"I know, baby, I know," Buffy gently said, pulling her witch close, slayer arms holding her protectively. "I'm sorry I can't protect you from this, Will...sorry I couldn't protect Tara, Faith...I hate it...it makes me sick."
"Not your fault, Buffy, you do the best you can, which is amazing and beyond." She looked up into her slayer's teary hazel eyes. "Goddess, please tell me you aren't blaming yourself for this."
"No...and yes."
Willow's reslove face snapped into place faster than Buffy had ever seen.
"Stop right now, young lady, or I will witch spank that bum. No way is this your fault...it's noone's fault, except the thing that did it...understand me, slayer?"
She eyed Buffy hard.
"Understand, witch." She placed a soft kiss on Willow's nose. "I love you, Will."
Willow smiled. "I love you, Buffy."
+++++
The bedroom door opened and a rather irrate looking slayer emerged.
"Spike," Faith said, her voice low. "What are you-you heard."
He nodded. "I'm sorry bout' what I heard, luv...she doin' ok?"
"Doc gave her some strong ass meds...thank GOD...I'm seriously thinking about taking a few myself." She ran a hand through her long dark mane. "She was brutalized...not one inch of her not bruised or bloody. When I find this thing, I swear-"
"Not a thing, pet." Spike's eyes held hers, his voice low. "It wasn't a thing that hurt her...it was human."
"What?"
"Why I'm up here...thought I could pick up a scent, help find the creature...not a creature, human, man..." He paused a moment, wanting to be careful with the next part. "It was her father, pet...I recognize his smell from that dinner Joyce had the other night. I got here just as they were leaving, but I got his smell...it's all over the witch...even with the shower you gave her, I can smell him."
Faith was numb...her brain frozen...her whole system in shock...so much so, she didn't even feel it when her fist went through the wall...
To be continued.....