Potential for Something
by bad shot
The Killer In Me
[reviews]
Chapter 2
Willow wakes up yawning after getting only two hours of sleep last night. Buffy had woken her up twice either shaking, or sweating. She pulled a pillow up to replace her chest which Buffy had been using as a pillow.
Looking down at the sleeping blonde Willow started to have jumbled thoughts again.
'I told you to soon.'
'No it's not. I have the magic under control, and she likes me.'
'Are you sure? Are you sure she is not just some girl who wants you, and doesn't care about your feeling?'
'No, but I can feel that she is different than Tara.'
'Why don't you actually think with your head not with what's in your pants.'
'Shut up! I am thinking with my head. And I know Buffy won't do anything to hurt me.'
'What proof do you have? You are talking about a girl who is a druggie, has no parents, as far as we know is under age. How can you be so sure that she is so good?'
Willow's other side had no comment. At the time.
***
"Are you sure you'll all be all right?" Giles said for what must have been the tenth time.
"You'll only be gone for two days," Dawn said in annoyance.
"I think we've managed a bit longer than that," Faith said.
"Right. Oh, Dawn, Vi's left her notebook on the mantelpiece. Would you mind running it out to the car?" Giles asked.
"Sure," Dawn says picking up Vi's notebook.
"While you're at it, you smack her in the head with it and remind her not to leave it lying around," Giles says.
"On it," Dawn says walking out the front door.
"I'm just a bit twitchy about leaving you alone again here while—while things are in such a state of flux," Giles said while cleaning his glasses.
"I know. But you should go. This trip is important for the girls to understand all the slayer crap, and to know how to use it right," Faith says trying to get him to go.
"Do you think they appreciate the gravity of what we're undertaking? It's frightening, and it's difficult. And then, apparently, someone told them that the vision quest consists of me driving them to the desert, doing the hokey pokey until a spooky annoying slayer arrives and speaks to them in riddles," Giles says eyeing his slayer.
"Hey," Willow says to Faith when she comes down the stairs.
Faith runs over to Willow, and asks quietly, "So how is B doing?" Faith asked.
"Well still you know touch, and go. She woke up this morning just like she was yesterday," Willow whispered trying to make sure no one, but Faith, Giles, and herself knew about the situation at the moment.
"Giles, you might want to get out there," Xander says pointing outside when he comes in.
"Oh, God, what?" Giles says fearing the worst.
"Molly and Rona are fighting over who gets to drive the first leg," Dawn explains coming in behind Xander.
"Bet you wish you renewed that California state driver's license now, huh?" Faith taunted with a wicked smile on her face.
"Rona won. You should probably let Molly out of the trunk. I never actually realized just how compact Molly really is," Anya said thoughtfully coming in after the other two.
Giles sighs, "Please be safe while I'm away."
"You too," Faith says as she closes the door behind Giles.
***
"Hey. How is he?" Willow asks Faith.
"Oh, in the goes part of comes and goes," Faith said pulling a beer out of the fridge, and ripping the top off.
"Well there seems to be a definite lack of screaming. That has to be good," Willow says pouring some more cold water in to a cup.
"You'd think. That for the other patient?" Faith asks pointing to the cup.
"Ya. She is getting through, but I think she is almost done," Willow says hopefully.
Faith gave Willow a small smile, "Lets hope so. Red, remember if you need any help I'm here."
Willow returned the smile, "Thanks Faith," Willow said as she left the room.
"Will, how much do you know about the chip?" Faith asked Willow before she could leave.
"Spike's chip? Well, I remember trying to dig up stuff back then, but, you know, turns out, when a secret government agency studies vampires and puts chips in their brains that keep them from hurting people, they don't really build websites. Why?" Willow finished.
"But even with the chip he still offed all those people," Faith said letting it hang in the air.
"Maybe its malfunctioning," Willow suggested to Faith.
"Ya," Faith says she starts to walk back, "Remember anything I can help with."
Willow gave her a small smile, "Anything."
***
"Hey," Willow says walking in, and pulling the door closed. She set the cup down, and walked into the bathroom to find Buffy heaving what little was in her stomach into the toilet.
When Buffy leaned back into Willow's arms after she was done, she took a couple deep breaths, "Hey Will," Buffy muttered quietly gracing Willow with a small smile.
Willow left a light kiss on Buffy's hair smoothing it away from her face, "Feeling any better?"
"A little," Buffy admitted, "Still have the urge though," Buffy admitted quietly.
Willow frowns a little, but remembers how hard it was on her with the magic, "Don't worry. Lets just get you back to the bed okay."
Willow leads Buffy back to the bed, and sets her gently down, "Willow can you lay with me?" Buffy asks.
Willow smiles at her, "Buffy I have been," Willow stated smiling at Buffy. Willow slipped in behind Buffy spooning the girl to her, "Buffy why did you kiss me?"
Buffy suddenly stiffened in her arms, "I... I just... I like you I guess," Buffy said looking at her nails like a child, and picking at them, "If you don't its okay I just thought?"
Willow silenced Buffy by rolling her over, and planting her lips firmly on Buffy's. Buffy reacted immediately her tongue dragging across Willow's bottom lip Willow opened her mouth, and their tongues met.
They both moaned at the contact. Willow slipped a hand into Buffy's hair.
When they pulled back Buffy got a scared look in her eyes, and tried to pull out of Willow's grip, "What?" Willow asked.
"Where did Willow go?" Buffy asked.
Now Willow was confused she was right here. Right? "Buffy what do you mean its me Willow," she said pointing to herself.
Buffy yanked hard, and rolled straight off the bed. She landed on her bad arm, and let out a groan of pain.
Willow jumped up, and went to Buffy's side, "Are you okay?" she asked concern showing in her voice.
Buffy looked up at Willow right in the eyes, "Willow is that really you?" she asked reaching out, and touching Willow's face.
"Why would it not be me?" Willow asked back in confusion.
Buffy looked at Willow in confusion as well, "Because you're a guy," Buffy stated tracing Willow chin.
Willow jumped up leaving the blonde on the floor, and ran to the mirror, "Oh no. Oh no. OH NO! Not Warren why him?" Willow whined, and ran downstairs.
Buffy weakly got up to follow her.
***
Willow/Warren comes down the stairs. Xander, Anya and Dawn are in the living room.
When Xander, Anya and Dawn see Willow/Warren, they gasp and stand, positioning themselves defensively.
"Guys—" Willow/Warren says defensively.
"Get Kennedy. Get Kennedy. Tell her the First is back," Xander says to the others.
"No, I'm not the First," Willow/Warren says.
"We're not interested in any of your evil lies. We've heard 'em all," Anya says trying to appear brave.
"No, guys it's me," Willow/Warren says trying to get them to see she was Willow.
"I'm me. I'm Willow. Guys, come on. Ask Buffy," she points to Buffy who was barely holding herself up at the top of the stairs, "she was there."
"It's Willow guys believe me. I know you don't know me that well, but trust me," Buffy says wincing in pain when she tries to move.
Carrying a bowl of food, Andrew walks into the living room. When he sees Warren, he freezes in place, dropping his bowl it shatters to pieces on the ground.
"No... No. You're back," Andrew cries.
"No, I'm not. It's not— I'm not it. Listen to me," Willow/Warren says empathetically.
"No more listening. I know who you are now. I know what you made me do. Your promises of happy fields and dancing schnauzers and being demigods won't work on me anymore," Andrew says bring himself up to his full height.
"Kennedy!" Anya yells.
"The Bringers are coming too," Xander whispers to Anya.
"No, I'm not the First," Willow/Warren says desperately.
"You made me do things. Things I can never take back. Ever," Andrew snaps back.
"I'm not the First," Willow/Warren says strongly.
"What the hell is going on here—?" Kennedy says. She scowls when she sees Warren, and punches him in the nose. He falls to the ground, writhing in pain on the floor, "Ow!"
"Wait," Anya says.
"But if he's the First..." Dawn states.
"I'm not the First," Willow/Warren says exasperatedly.
"You're not the First," Xander says.
"I know," Willow/Warren says rising back to her feet.
"Oh, my God! You're back," Andrew says hugging Warren from behind, his hands touching Warren's chest.
"Hey, bad touching!" Willow/Warren says throwing his hands off her.
Spike wanders around, holding his head, moaning in pain while everyone stares at Willow/Warren.
"Everyone please stop it," Willow/Warren says.
"It's Willow," Buffy says from her position half way down the stairs.
"I'm Willow," Willow/Warren states.
"Are you sure?" Xander asks.
"There are other stories from kindergarten. Non yellow crayon stories in which you don't come out in such a good light," Willow/Warren says to Xander, "An incident involving Aquaman underoos, for example. You want me to start talking?"
"Hey, Willow!" Xander says smiling, but blushing a little.
"What happened?" Anya asks. Everyone inches closer to Willow/Warren.
"I don't know. We were there, and then I looked like him," Willow/Warren says trying not to give up to much information.
"Oh, like a glamour," Anya says suddenly.
"Maybe, but I probably brought it on myself," Willow/Warren says gloomily.
"What makes you think that?" Faith asks walking into the room.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time. I have a history with my witchy subconscious making things go kerfloopey. Remember the wacky "I can't see you, you can't see me" spell?" Willow says remembering when she came back to Sunnydale. While Willow/Warren's talking, Dawn touches his shoulder, Andrew touches his chest and face.
"Guys!" Buffy says now at the bottom of the stairs.
"It's so real," Andrew says as he stops touching Willow/Warren.
"I'm all too aware," Willow/Warren says. She brushes Dawn's hand away.
"OK, say you're right, and you did do this to yourself. Why would your subconscious turn you into Warren?" Kennedy asked.
"Obviously because I feel bad—about killing him," Willow/Warren says.
"We'll deal. We'll get help," Faith says.
"No, I can handle this," Willow/Warren says.
"On your own? Why?" Kennedy asks.
"I did it. I'll fix it. I don't want you seeing me this way anyway," Willow/Warren says walking toward the door.
"It's kinda a little late for that," Kennedy says with a trace of sarcasm in her voice. Spike's moaning in the background.
"Seriously, I'm not posing any big threat to the world. Looks like you've got your hands full already," Willow/Warren says. Faith looks around, and sees Spike lying on the floor moaning and twitching.
"I'll go, I'll handle it, I'll fix it, I'll be back before you even know I'm gone," Willow/Warren says, "Promise," as she leaves through the front door. Buffy silently limps out after her grabbing onto things to keep her balance.
***
Willow/Warren's walking purposefully down the street. Buffy walks up to her holding her stomach, surprising her.
"You didn't think I wouldn't come did you?" Buffy asks barely being able to stand by herself.
"Go home," Willow/Warren says, "You need to rest more."
Buffy shakes her head, "Willow I won't. I was there too. Maybe this is all my fault who knows? So I want to be there with you to help."
Willow/Warren gives her a small smile, and nods. Buffy lets out a sigh. She starts to collapse, but Willow/Warren catches her, "But when we get home you are going straight to that bed."
***
A group of ten women is sitting in circle formation with candles lit in front of them and glowing crystals hung around their necks.
"Instill us, oh, great one, with peace, with strength, with compassion, with hope. The path we seek is yours. Keep us on that path," the leader says.
"OK, wow, this is new," Willow/Warren says from the doorway that Buffy is now leaning on.
"Um, hi, we're," the leader says.
"Oh, hey. I'm sorry—Willow. We actually met when I was a Freshman. And also not a boy. This is Buffy," Willow/Warren says pointing to Buffy.
"Hey," Buffy says slightly out of breath.
"You're Willow?" the leader asks disbelieving.
"Yeah. Wow, look at you guys. Campus Wiccans. Guess you got past the whole bake sale phase," Willow/Warren says.
"Uh, no, we still do that too. Second Tuesday of every month. I'm sorry, I'm kind of having a hard time with the whole guy event thing..." the leader says.
"Um, it's actually her. I can tell. I know her," Amy says standing up.
"OK. Whoa..." Willow/Warren says crossing her arms.
"OK, here's the thing. Hi. Here's the thing. I'll just get this out of the way. I'm sorta screwed up, but I mean you already knew that 'cause you lived it. Gotcha," Amy says in a soothing voice.
"But she's doing so much better now. Amy..." the leader says.
"It's OK, Vaughne, I wanna do this. It took me a long time to really see myself. But I did. Because you know that's the crazy thing about hitting rock bottom, you get to relive all the crappy things you did. And I wanted to come find you and tell you that I was here working on things with these guys. And that they're good. And that I'm sorry. But you're here, looking like— Wow. How did this happen?" Amy asks.
"That's what we're here to find out," Buffy states starting to sweat a little.
"I got hit with this, like, glamour thing, and I can't seem to shake it myself. I was hoping someone here might be able to help," Willow says hopefully/
"Yeah, see the thing is we're more about healing spirits and nurturing our life force here,"Amy says.
"Oh..." Willow/Warren says dejectedly.
"But we'll try."
***
Kennedy and Vaughne are sitting in chairs watching Amy and Willow/Warren do a spell at the front of the classroom.
"Her spirits true, its shell a lie..." Amy chants.
"What if she can't handle this?" Buffy asks concerned, but happy that she is able to sit down.
"We draw upon your very light," Amy continues to chant.
"Do you have a better idea?"Vaughne asks back.
Give back the form the soul requires. See that the balance is put right," Amy finishes chanting. Willow/Warren is holding a crystal as Amy performs the spell, holding her hands underneath Willow's. As Amy completes the spell, the crystal glows and becomes hot. Willow/Warren screams, drops the glowing crystal, and stands.
"It didn't work?" Amy asks.
"No it didn't, you dumb bitch!" Willow/Warren yells slapping Amy across the face.
"Willow!" Buffy yells starting to try, and stand up.
"You slapped me!" Amy yells.
"No, I didn't. It wasn't me. It was Warren," Willow/Warren says shocked.
Amy's holding her face where Willow/Warren slapped her. Willow/Warren runs out of the room.
"Willow..." Buffy yells finally standing up.
Willow/Warren runs out into the hallway, followed by Kennedy.
"Willow! OK, you're upset," Buffy says limping after Willow/Warren.
"Upset? Upset! Are you just tuning in? Did you not see that? I'm turning into him. It's not a trick, it's not a glamour. I'm becoming him. A murderous, misogynist man. I mean, do you understand what he did? What I could do? I killed him for a reason," Willow/Warren says.
"Willow you don't know how much I understand about killing someone."
"Shut up. Just shut up!" Willow/Warren yells, and throws up a magical barrier so Buffy can't follow.
***
Willow/Warren's walking down the alley. She stops behind the dumpster and rests her head against the wall. She sinks down to the ground, crying, hiding her head in her hands. Then, as Warren, she starts, looks up, and starts talking to herself.
"Look at me. Crying like a little girl," Willow/Warren says. Willow/Warren stands and walks purposefully down the street.
***
"Where'd they go?" Buffy said limping back into the room.
"They took off. It was a little too creepy, even for us. You're really worried about her. Look, she's gonna be fine, really. She's good at this. She's strong. And she's dealt with a lot worse. Long before she ever went out and found herself a big old potential slayer bodyguard, OK? Just have a little faith in her," Amy says.
"Hey! How did you know I was a potential slayer," Buffy stated.
"Oh, no, I think you did. When you first got here, you told us—"
"No, I didn't."
"Oops," Amy says smirking.
***
Willow/Warren's looking into a glass display case, grinning.
"So, same model as last time? How'd that work out for you?" the shop keeper asks.
"You'd be amazed," Willow/Warren says grinning.
***
"Tell me why you did this to her," Buffy says angrily. Buffy lunges forward, but Amy waves her hands causing Buffy to be magically thrust across the room where she lands among the chairs.
"What did you do to her?" Buffy says trying to stand up, but finding it extremely hard.
"What, to Willow? Oh, just your standard penance malediction is all," Amy says nonchalantly.
"Okay, and you think I know what that means why?" Buffy asks.
Amy smiles, "I put a hex on her."
"Well isn't that just great little Amy can do a spell," Buffy said giving her a small clap.
Amy scowls, and sends her flying up in the air, and down to the floor in front of herself.
She bends down to Buffy's level were she is groaning in pain on the floor, "I think Willow wants to talk to you know," Amy says as she snaps her fingers.
***
"You think you can just do that to me?" Willow/Warren said holding the gun up to Buffy.
"Woh Willow put that gun back down," Buffy said in a soothing voice.
"No I can't. This is your fault you made me lose Tara. I won't lose her again. She is mine!" Willow says pointing the gun menacingly at Buffy.
"Willow don't shoot. I can help you with this."
"Help? Help! Ya right. If you can go back in time that can help. You think I could ever love you. Tara is my only true love, and you are just a little drug addicted potential slayer."
Buffy slowly pushed herself to her feet ignoring the pain in her head.
"It's too late for help. This is what I am. I made it happen, and I'll make it stop."
"Willow, what did you make happen?" Buffy asks.
"You were there, bitch! You saw it!" Willow/Warren yells, "I killed her."
"Her. I thought you killed Warren?"
"Her, him," points gun at Buffy again, "You know what I mean."
"Willow you said her."
"No, that was Warren."
"No, no it wasn't. You said I was there. Who did you kill, Willow?" Buffy asks.
"It was your fault, slut!" Willow/Warren yells, "You tricked me. Got me to forget."
"Tara...." Buffy says dejectedly, but quickly hiding it.
"Shut up! Shut up! You do not get to say her name. Offering it up to whoever's there. Tricking me into kissing you. I didn't—I didn't mean... what I'm saying, I—I can't make— Buffy, I can't hold on... he's winning."
Buffy limps over to Willow/Warren, "Hold on Willow. Your strong. I love you just hold on."
"I'm being punished. I k—I kissed you just—just for a second, but it was enough. I let her go. I didn't mean to. No, she was never gone. She was with me. We should have been forever, and I—I let her be dead. She's really dead. And I killed her," Willow/Warren says going to the ground in tears.
"Please, baby, I'm so sorry. Come back. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Come back..." Willow/Warren says. Buffy falls down next to Willow, but manages to bring her into her own arms.
"Willow. I know you loved Tara, and I know you always will. I'm willing to accept that so I can even have one more kiss," Buffy says leaning forward, and bringing their lips together.
"It's—it's me? I'm back? Oh, God..." Willow says finally back in her own body.
"Are you all right?" Buffy asks concerned.
"I have no idea. I'm so tired," Willow confesses. She looks at Buffy for a second, "You need to sleep too. Remember you made a promise that if I let you come along you would."
Buffy smiles at her, "Okay. Okay lets go," Buffy said as they both support each other into the house.
A/N: Anyone catch Buffy's little slip earlier on in this? But this is for Rin who thought the last version was a little rushed.