Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 36
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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: General spoilers for S5, starting with "The I in Team." Eh, who am I kidding? This is really AU now.
A/N: Thanks to Ivy for pre-reading and Zigpal, Lilly, and KK for the beta. There would be no writing without you guys.
When the Jeep came to a halt, Faith helped Tara out of the vehicle and watched the group mill around. They were here...and no one had a clue where to start. "Where do you want us, T?" she asked. If Buffy and Willow weren't going to step in, Faith had every confidence Tara could.
Blue eyes flickered up to her and then away. Tara spun in a slow circle, examining the large park. "I'll need to be in the heart of the Meadow to do the spell," she announced slowly.
Maybe she should have waited for Buffy. Faith scowled in the dim lighting of the lot. "No place for us to hide, babe. It'd be like putting a big 'free eats' sign over your head." She joined Tara in peering at the park. "Ain't there a little corner by the picnic area that would work? You know the one, B. It's great for a little groping 'cause it's out of the way and hard to get to."
Buffy cleared her throat, and Faith could just imagine her glancing at Joyce and blushing. "Ah, yeah. It's just down that path on the left, and about a hundred yards past the big picnic shelter."
***
As much as Tara wanted to relieve Faith's fears, she couldn't. "I need to use the Meadow, sweetie. We don't have any magical supplies." From the looks she got from the gang, Tara realized that not even Giles understood. "The only way for me to pull in enough power without a formal Circle and the proper incantation is to tap into the ley lines running through the Meadow. If I get too close to the more heavily used places, like the picnic area, the energy will be muddy."
"I can't protect you there." Faith gripped her arm tightly. "You gotta come up with another way."
The grip hurt, but Tara didn't move away. She stared at Faith intently, willing the other girl to stay calm and listen to reason. "Faith, it's the only way."
Faith's hand slid slowly down until their fingers linked.
"Thank you, sweetie." Tara leaned forward and kissed Faith. She could feel the shocked stares from the other four members of the gang. Ignoring the flush heating her cheeks, Tara started for the indicated path. "I'll wait until you tell me everyone is in place before I start the spell."
"What about the Circle? You said we didn't bring supplies. Won't you be vulnerable without one?" Willow inquired softly.
Faith's fingers twitched against Tara's.
Sighing soundlessly at Willow's ignorance of formal magic and Faith's protective nature, Tara responded, "I said I would need the Meadow for more power, Willow. While I can't cast a formal Circle, I can still erect a protective barrier."
"Oh." In the orange glow cast by the path lights, Tara saw Willow chew on her lip until Buffy brushed a finger across the abused flesh. Willow looked better after that.
"While you are preparing, Tara, Joyce and I will take up our positions in the nearest available cover. I believe there are several large stands of trees and shrubbery that will suffice." Giles sounded thoughtful, head bent in concentration. "Buffy, Willow, I think you will be best served if you stay nearest the large playground. It is a bit farther than I am comfortable with; however, I feel certain you will sense Adam in plenty of time to reach the Meadow to assist Tara."
They reached a branching of pathways.
Buffy and Willow drifted toward the one farthest to the left. "Tara..." Willow turned back, green eyes wide and dark. "Be careful." She flew across the short distance and hugged Tara tightly.
"I will." Tara returned the hug. A few tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. "Go on," she urged with a massive sniff. "Faith will make sure nothing happens."
A surly grunt of agreement sounded to Tara's right.
"Go on," Tara said again with more force. She could almost feel Faith's jealousy boring a hole into Willow's head. "I need to get the spell started before we run out of time and the bombs go off."
Arms dropping to her sides, Willow stepped back. Buffy nodded at Tara then took Willow's hand and pulled her down the path.
Giles shuffled his feet and rubbed the back of his neck. "We should be in position in just a few moments. You should be able to start the spell as soon as you reach the clearing." He took a step in their direction and awkwardly stuck out his hand. "Please, my dear, do be careful."
Before Tara could take his hand, Joyce snorted. "Really, Rupert." Sidestepping him, she hugged Tara and kissed her cheek. "After a good night's sleep in my own bed, I'm taking everyone out for breakfast."
***
Gripping Willow's slender fingers, Buffy led her down the path to the playground. "She's going to be fine, baby. We won't let Adam get to her, you know." She didn't add that if Adam did get to Tara, they weren't going to be around to care. If Adam got to Tara, he'd gone through them first.
"I hate this." Buffy looked sideways at Willow. The blunt and angry comment seemed out of character for her normally cheerful girlfriend.
"Well, I don't know that any of us really like the constant end of the world threats," she tried to joke. Bumping Willow's shoulder, Buffy teased lightly, "I remember offering you an out a few months ago."
Willow bumped back. "Yeah, what was I thinking?"
Grinning, Buffy kept up the lighthearted exchange as they approached the swings. "Um...I'm going out on a limb here. Maybe you were thinking about how hot I am and how cool it would be to date the Slayer."
Giggles wafted on the cool night air.
"Yep. I was right." Doing a little dance, Buffy swung Willow around in a circle. "I knew it."
"I love you, Buffy Summers," Willow whispered suddenly.
The quiet words rang in Buffy's head. "You...you do?" Spinning so she could stare up into Willow's eyes, Buffy felt the Slayer's low growl pressing at her throat.
Soft lips brushed Buffy's. "I do," Willow reiterated.
The growl burst free as Buffy wrapped Willow in her arms and kissed her fiercely. "I love you, too, Willow," she gasped when they broke apart. Tangling her fingers in Willow's hair, she pulled her head down again.
Just before their lips met again, energy flared wildly from the center of the park.
They jerked apart. "Shit. We forgot Tara," Buffy said with a disbelieving shake of her head. She struggled to regain her focus and concentrate on the coming battle. "Come on, Will. We need to find a spot where we can see the Meadow."
Scrambling through the looming equipment and the heavy underbrush until they had a view of Tara, Buffy and Willow dropped to the ground to wait.
***
Faith crouched in a small stand of trees and watched Tara raise her hands to the starlit sky. The words of the spell drifted across the space. Faith didn't understand the words, but the power thrummed through her senses.
Casting her senses out, Faith tried to feel anything in the vicinity. She couldn't. Cursing, Faith wiggled to the edge of her cover. She lay there, tensed and ready to spring to Tara's defense.
Nothing happened.
Tara stopped chanting, and the power build-up stabilized.
It was still difficult for Faith to search for demon activity. She refused to give up. As she strained to scan the park, the Slayer came to her aid. A deep rumble rose up and strength flowed through her. Almost as if the Slayer were holding up a hand to shade her eyes from the sun, Faith felt Tara's power dim in one specific area. It moved as she swept her senses around.
No demons pinged on the radar.
Echoing the Slayer's impatient whine, Faith kept her eyes on a constant circuit around the clearing. Her muscles began to ache from the strain. As she watched, Tara lowered her arms and sagged.
Faith came alert again. Something wasn't right. Opening herself completely to the Slayer, she looked for Adam...for anything. She found nothing.
Tara was on her hands and knees in the clearing.
Wanting to go to Tara, Faith dug her fingers into the grass and mulch under her. Where the fuck was Adam? Had they been wrong?
Something moved at the edge of the clearing.
Heart pounding, Faith's vision changed. The clearing brightened as if she were there in full sunlight. Instead of yellow-tinted illumination, though, her 'day' was tinged in copper. A howl echoed in her head as the Slayer announced the start of the hunt.
It took all of Faith's strength of will to remain in place. Adam wasn't close enough. If she broke cover now, he'd have time to duck back into the trees and disappear. She had to wait.
Each of the hybrid's arrogant and stiff-legged strides enraged the Slayer further.
The sight of his smile shattered the tenuous hold Faith had on her primal instincts. The howl in her head suddenly tore from her throat. She sprang from her hiding place and dashed across the clearing, one word repeating over and over in her mind: Mine!