Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 6
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and lots of people in expensive suits. I'm not making any money here, just trying to create a happier Buffyverse for my favorite characters.
Spoilers: Big alterations ahead for S5 starting with "The I in Team."
A/N: Thanks to the best beta crew: Zigpal and Zenithar. There would be no writing without you guys.
"You're saying Maggie Walsh set you up?" Giles asked, disbelieving.
"Hello, Giles!" Willow commented. "I've been saying all along something was wrong with her."
The older man regarded her sternly. "Willow, I don't think now is the proper time for you to say 'I told you so.' Buffy, why would Professor Walsh try to kill you? She just offered you a position on her team."
The filthy blonde tried to run a hand through her hair and grimaced. "We so need to talk this over, Giles, but could we maybe hold off long enough for me to clean up?"
"Of course, Buffy." The ex-Watcher gestured to the stairs. "Go ahead and use my bathroom. I'll search around for clothing you can use."
"Thanks." Moving slowly, the Slayer climbed the stairs to the second floor.
"Willow, perhaps you could contact Xander and Anya while I get Buffy something to wear?"
"Sure, Giles." Checking to make sure Tara was resting comfortably, she bounced up and grabbed the phone. Punching in numbers from memory, the witch considered the news Buffy had brought. New, magic-wielding demons, computer chips...
"Yeah?" Xander's grumpy voice barked into the phone.
"Oh, hey, Xand. It's Willow."
"Really? Cause I thought it was Brooke Shields," the boy said sarcastically. Then he sighed. "What's up, Will? Another Apocalypse that just can't wait a few more hours til morning?"
"Um, maybe." The redhead didn't bother with a long explanation. She could see Tara stirring in the chair. "Look, we found out some scary stuff about the Initiative. We're at Giles' and could use your help with the research and all."
Through the phone, the witch heard sheets rustling and a female voice in the background. "An wants to know if she should come, too." The flood of talking in the background nearly made Willow laugh. She wondered exactly what the ex-demon had really said.
Despite her dislike of Xander's outspoken girlfriend, the witch knew they could use her expertise. "Yeah. She should come. We're trying to identify a new demon."
"OK. We'll grab some sugary sustenance on the way." He hung up and Willow wandered back over to the couch.
The blonde witch regarded her friend wearily. "I don't feel the trace anymore. What happened?"
"I did this really cool spell Giles had to disrupt your power signature. It must have worked, because no creepy demon guy showed up." She grinned. "I can't believe I did it — and it worked."
A crooked half-smile worked its way across Tara's lips. "You just needed some confidence in your magic."
They both turned as Giles came back downstairs. "Well, she might not be as fashionable as she prefers, but at least she won't be covered in demon remains," he commented. "Are you alright, my dear?" he asked Tara
"I'm f-f-fine, Mr. Giles," the blonde stuttered and then blushed.
Sensing her discomfort, the Englishman patted her hand gently on his way to the couch. "Willow tried to describe what happened, but could you give me details about the demon you saw? The one with the magic?"
"Good idea, but let's wait until the rest of the Scoobies are here," Buffy commented from the top of the stairs. The Slayer made her way downstairs without her usual grace. She wore a pair of her ex-Watcher jeans. Even belted and rolled up, she kept tripping over the excess material. An old sweater covered her top. It, too, was drastically too large, and the shoulders of the grey cashmere rested at the blonde's elbows. Seeing the mischief sparkling in green eyes, Buffy glared at her best friend. "Don't say it, Will."
"Say what, Buffy?" the witch replied innocently.
"Oooh, like I believe that act, Rosenberg." Finally reaching the couch, the Slayer flopped down at the far end and dropped bare feet into the redhead's lap. "I take it Xand and Anya are on the way?" At the trio of nods, she smiled. "Cool. Full house for the party. Although, Willow, it might be nice if you introduced me to your friend." She slanted an eyebrow at Tara.
The blonde in the recliner blushed as everyone in the room looked at her. "Oh, sorry," Willow gushed. "This is Tara. She's a witch I met at the campus Wicca meeting. Only, she's a real witch, not like the rest of the wanna-be's."
The shy blonde nodded, but didn't say anything. "So, you're here to what? Help with the magic stuff?" Buffy looked at Giles. He seemed calm, which was unusual. Normally, bringing in a new Scooby caused her father figure to freak.
"I h-helped Wil-Willow try to identify the demons at the Initiative last night." Tara glanced at her redhead companion.
Seeing the look, Buffy's eyes narrowed. *Is she checking Will out?* the Slayer asked herself. It certainly appeared that way. The taller blonde stared at Buffy's best friend with longing in her eyes. *Whoa! How did I miss this?* She glanced at Willow. The redhead seemed oblivious to Tara's intimate regard. *Huh,* she thought with an inner smirk, *I'm not the only one missing things.*
Xander and Anya interrupted her thoughts, bursting into the apartment. "Hey, guys!" the brunette boy announced, holding two boxes of doughnuts in the air. "Food's here."
"Great," Buffy said. "Let's get down to business, then."
A few minutes passed while everyone grabbed doughnuts and drinks. When they were all settled in the small living room, Giles kicked things off. "Tara, my dear, why don't you tell us what you and Willow discovered with your spell last night?"
Although uncomfortable being the center of attention, the older witch nodded. "Sure. Willow and I tried to find out how many demons the Initiative was holding and what types they were." She smiled at the redhead. "It didn't work out the way we planned."
"Yes." Anya said. "Willow's spells never work right." She glared at Xander when he poked her. "What? Have you forgotten what happened when Oz left?"
"Be that as it may," ever the peacemaker, Giles tried to redirect the conversation, "I believe we need to listen carefully to what Tara has to say."
"Sorry," Xander apologized for himself and his tactless girlfriend.
"It-it's OK," the blonde mumbled. She pulled into herself, arms wrapped tightly around her middle. "The faeries went to the base and came back to show us what they'd found. They pinpointed demons in a book Willow had." She took a deep breath, shaking off the memory of the demon-man she'd glimpsed. "One of the faeries was killed and its companions showed me what happened."
"Yes, Willow mentioned a demon that could do magic," Giles said. He apparently wanted more information and less background.
"I'm not sure it was a demon. Well, not entirely a demon," Tara tried to clarify. "It looked like a man, but it had patches of green skin mixed with normal skin. And," she shuddered, "there were metal plates and things on its on head and chest."
"Professor Walsh built it," the Slayer stated.
A silent group stared at the blonde in horror. "Are you sure, Buffy?" Willow finally asked.
"Pretty sure. I overheard her talking with another scientist about using part of a Polgara demon for something." She turned to the witch in the recliner. "The patches of green skin you saw, could they have been demon skin?"
Eyes widening at the question, Tara nodded jerkily. "Yes. Yes, it could have."
"So the Initiative built whatever it was you saw," Willow said. "Buffy, do you think it might be the 314 Project?"
"I don't know, Will." The Slayer started to pace. "It makes sense."
"You know, Buffy, this is all your fault." Anya pointed out. "I mean, you seem to have absolutely tragic taste in men."
Looking confused and a touch defensive, Buffy looked at the ex-vengeance demon. "What does my taste in men have to do with this?"
"Oh, really-" the blonde next to Xander began.
Leaning forward, the brunette Scooby slapped a hand over her mouth. "Nothing, Buff, just ignore her. We didn't get enough sleep and it always makes her cranky."
"I am not cranky," Anya protested, moving away from her boyfriend. "Well, OK, maybe a little, but only because Willow interrupted us in the middle of having orgasms." Everyone in the room flinched. "But, Buffy, you don't really think Riley was crocheting booties for your future children while you were off getting trapped in the sewer."
Shocked hazel eyes swept the room. Although no one else had spoken, the Slayer saw silent agreement in three sets of eyes. The fourth pair belonged to Tara, and she hadn't been one of them long enough to have an opinion. "You guys think Riley had something to do with this?"
"Probably not," Giles assured her, tidying up the cluttered room. "But," he turned to lean against an end table, "we would be remiss if we didn't think on all the possibilities"
"Right. Remiss," Buffy parroted. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she dropped her eyes. It wasn't Riley's fault he worked for a mad, power hungry scientist. A small hand touched her shoulder, and the Slayer looked up into sympathetic green eyes.
"Stop it, Anya. It isn't Riley's or Buffy's fault. They didn't ask the Initiative to come here." The young witch glared at Anya. "We need to stop pointing fingers and come up with a plan. Tara's a powerful witch and that demon was still able to sense her magic and track her."
"Then we need to do a little recon," Xander commented. "It's the only way to find out what's going on underground." He held up a hand when Anya started to complain. "Don't, An. This is serious. I know I promised not to do any of the dangerous stuff, but I can't just sit and do nothing. I'm the only one with military knowledge."
He stood up and met Buffy's eyes. "It's time to go undercover." He returned the Slayer's smile. "Will, is there a way to get us in?"
"Yeah, Tara and I were talking about a glamour to fool the sensors, and..."
"Will, we don't need magic." Buffy grinned at the witch standing at her side. "I don't think the Professor's had a chance to remove my security clearance." She sobered. "We need to get the rest of you to a safer location, though. Giles, they're going to be looking for us. Is there someplace you can all go? They'll look in all the places we normally hang out."
The ex-Watcher thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose we could use the safe house the Council maintains here in town." He seemed very uncomfortable with the thought.
"Oh, yeah." Buffy's voice was flat. "The house where they had Kralick try to kill me and Mom." No one said anything as Watcher and Slayer faced off over the memory. "Good idea, Giles." The blonde shook off the lingering resentment. "Can you swing by the house and pick up Mom? I don't think the Initiative would hurt her, but..."
"They might try to use her as bait." Tara ended her silence. "I think it would be good if Willow went with you, Buffy. You might need some magical protection if you run into the demon. I'm still too wiped out and my power is unstable." She smiled fondly at the younger witch. "She's good. She'll be able to help."
Buffy wanted to argue, but the other blonde had a point. "OK, Xand and Will, you're with me. The rest of you, go with Giles."