Holiday Blues
by bad shot
Chapter 16
[reviews]
Chapter 16
"Geeze! Angel the door is open just come in!" Dawn shouted getting tired of hearing the thunderous knocks on the door.
"You know I would already be in there if you invited me in!" Angel yelled from the door. He had already tried to get in thinking that he was still invited.
Dawn smacked herself on the forehead, 'Oh ya. I forgot we put the spell on the house to keep, any Vamps out.' She ran downstairs practically hopping down the last few steps. She threw open the door revealing Angel, Cordelia, and surprisingly Wesley. (Who thought he owed Buffy something, somehow)
The three burst in past Dawn. Angel carrying a huge trunk full of what Dawn guessed were weapons. Cordelia being herself walked into the living room, and sat on the couch, and began buffing her nails making smart comments about every little thing that Wesley or Angel did wrong in her view.
Dawn walked into the kitchen were it was at least a decibel quieter than any other place. She looked at the phone for a second contemplating how mad or happy Giles would be that she called Angel. She knew Xander would be obviously uncomfortable towards Angel. Anya really hadn't met Angel, but she would probably be just as annoying as always. She decided to call Xander, and Anya so as to kill two birds with one stone, "Hello."
"Hey Dawny what's up," Anya's voice came over the phone. Dawn rolled her eyes hating it whenever any of the gang would call her by a stupid name like that. She was teenager after all not a puppy, or a three year old.
"Dawn can you tell Xander something?" Dawn asked trying to make this as easy on herself as possible. She heard Anya on the other side of the phone closing a door.
"This better not be something bad. Because I am so not good at delivering bad news," Anya said nervously in a hushed voice obviously trying not to let Xander overhear.
"To him it might be," Dawn said cryptically. When Anya made no move to ask further questions she sighed, and told Anya, "You know Angel right?" Anya made a little, 'yes,' and Dawn continued, "Ya well when I came home I didn't find Buffy or Willow anywhere, or any trace of them except a spot of blood. So... I kinda panicked, and called him over here."
"Wait you called Buffy's ex over? You know she is with Willow? Don't you? Do I need to have a talk with you about your sister's sexuality? Is he over there right know?" Anya questioned. To Dawn it seemed like Anya was interrogating her, and not questioning her.
"Okay one question at a time Anya. Well he is here already..."
"What!" Anya yelled over the phone. Dawn heard Xander's voice on the other side of the phone calling Anya's name only to be shrugged off by Anya, "So knowing about your sister you called her ex. And they say I screw things up," Anya said the last part to herself of course.
"Anya... Anya!" Dawn cried, but was met with a dial tone mostly meaning to Dawn that they were probably rushing over Anya explaining everything to Xander.
"Problems?" Angel asked coming into the kitchen holding a paper bag most likely containing a couple packets of blood.
"Just a couple," Dawn said putting the phone down only to remember she had to call Giles, "Just trying to call the gang, and get everyone over here." Angel smiled in sympathy for her, and opened up the fridge shoving in five packets of blood.
"So Xander taking it badly?" Angel asked catching on to her crappy mood immediately. He walked over to her, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder appearing sympathetic. He was cut short by Wesley rushing into the room.
He was shortly out of breath as he came into the room, "Sorry just really needed to get away from Cordelia," Wesley explained looking out into the other room at Cordelia who was watching her soap on the T.V almost crying at a sad scene in it.
"Guys could you... You know leave for a second?" Dawn asked politely saying 'Get the hell out.'
Angel, and Wesley. Well mostly Angel complied. Wesley wined about having to hear Cordelia cry because Anton was marrying the wrong girl. She rolled her eyes, and let out a sigh dialing in Giles number.
"Hello," Giles said in an annoyed voice having been woke up at twelve.
"Giles I need to tell you something," Dawn said knowing Giles would at least be a little intrigued by her vague comment.
"Okay. Please continue Dawn," Giles said instantly slipping into 'watcher' mode. She could practically hear him cleaning his glasses, and sitting down in a chair bringing out some heavy old book.
"Giles don't worry it is nothing demony or something. Well it might be I don't know yet," she said giving in to Giles stare that she knew was on his face, "But that is not the reason I called you. I called you to tell you that Buffy, and Willow were gone when I came back so I called Angel so he could help us out with getting all this behind us."
"Dear lord!" Giles exclaimed in a strained voice.
"I just need you to get over here soon. So not wanting to have to sit with Cordelia right now," Dawn said in all seriousness. Giles muttered a quick 'Give me a minute,' and she was done calling the others.
Willow's head bobbed up, and down as she started to come back to consciousness. She opened her eyes, and felt a white hot pain lance through her head, "Buffy," She cried out trying to find out if her girlfriend was close.
She heard a small rustle from another corner of the room, and again tried to open up her eyes. She let her eyes adjust to the darkness even though it hurt like hell. She saw another form in the corner, and tried to move over there.
She fell back down as she pulled on the rope tied around one ankle. She fell back, and began to think. Obviously this had something to do with Amy, but she knew Amy was only a puppet no way she could have all the resources she had if she just got back from a rat.
"Your beginning to put the pieces together aren't you?" a voice said from a chair set up on by of the walls. Willow squinted at the figure but was blinded when said figure flipped on a light switch.
She let her eyes adjust again to the change in light, and found herself looking at a woman with curly brown hair, and a sun dress, "Who are you?" Willow asked not having seen the woman before.
"Glory get to the point, and ask her," another voice said to the woman who Willow know knew as Glory.
"Ben will you shut the hell up. I am trying to get to the ritual but if you keep talking I will get seriously mad," Glory said to Ben silently shooing him out of the room. With a scowl Ben left leaving them alone again, "Now where were we? Oh yeah I was about to threaten you to help me."
"With what?" Willow asked curious about what was happening but trying to get as much information as she could.
"Well I need you to do the ritual to help me open the Hellmouth," Glory said as if it was nothing.
Willow stood aghast. This woman talked about opening the Hellmouth as if it was a trip to the beach, "Why would I help you with this?" Willow asked not really finding a way she would help her. At least non that she liked.
Glory smiled a huge smile, "I was hoping you would say that," Glory went over, and picked up a cattle prod that was a glowing red with heat on one end.
"You should know I won't break if you do that to me?" Willow said trying to appear brave.
"Oh I know. I know that eventually you would break, but I found a faster way," Glory said moving over to the other figure who she could now recognize, and plunge the cattle prod's hot end into Buffy stomach. As Buffy screamed out in pain Glory looked over to Willow who cringed in mental pain for her girlfriend.
Chapter 16B
Willow crawled over to Buffy's still figure calling out her name as she made her way slowly over to Buffy. She was able to get over to Buffy only because Glory had added more rope on the her ankle, and did an anti-magic spell in the room. She pushed the blond hair out of her girlfriends eyes trying to avoid any of the numerous burns on her face.
"Mmmm," Buffy mumbled in her sleep flipping over to face Willow, even as she was holding her stomach. She opened, and closed her eyes a couple times only able to keep them open because Willow held her hand. Offering what ever strength she could to Buffy, "W-Willow, I'm sorry."
Willow was shocked she had been blaming herself for the whole time, "Buffy how could this be your fault? If it was anyone's fault it would be mine," she said trying to get whatever blame Buffy had, and take it away from the already overburdened girl.
"Willow. I came without leaving a note or even calling Giles. It is my fault. I am the slayer I should know better. Maybe the council was right, and I never should be allowed to love," Buffy said using most of her strength just to keep talking to Willow.
"Wait," Willow said catching on to one word she had never heard the council say that to Buffy, or to one of the group, "When did the council say you couldn't love?" Willow asked having heard the council say the slayer shouldn't have family, or friends involved. She had never said them say that she couldn't love someone.
"Nothing Willow just forget I said anything," Buffy said rolling back away from Willow with a wince of pain.
Willow rolled Buffy back onto her back, and kissed her for all she was worth. The kiss lasted for a minute only breaking for air. Willow dug beneath her shirt pulling out the necklace Buffy had gave her, "Buffy! You gave me this as a sign of love, and I want this believe me, but I need you to tell me the truth. Always! I need you to love me so that I can love you. I need you to be strong so I can be strong for you. I need you Buffy because I love you."
Both girls were in tears by the end of this speech. Buffy reached up, and took Willow's hand that was grasped around the necklace Buffy had gave her, and said, "Willow I will always love you," Buffy said putting her arms around her neck, and kissing Willow again.
A/N: Just thought that chapter 16 needed a better ending. Hope you like, and remember to review.
A/N: Hope you liked it but like I said earlier happier times are ahead. Remember to review, and I will be able to get this out even faster. Hope there are not a lot of spelling errors. I lost my Beta, and am trying to find a new Beta reader.