One Last Shot
by Whedonist
Chapter 24
[reviews]
Chapter 24
Willow reached for her purse and dumped the contents out; she scrambled around looking for a bottle of aspirin she usually kept. "Damn! Jimmy hang on." Her head swam with emergency first aid procedures, but she was drawing a blank on heart attack victims. She looked up at Jimmy as he shook once and then went unconscious. She felt for a pulse and couldn't find one. Buffy was on the phone with dispatch and hung up as soon as Willow had started compressions.
"Breathe into his mouth when I tell you to." Willow counted out 15 compressions and yelled, "Breathe." Finding a rhythm the two worked for what seemed like forever before they heard the ambulance coming. Willow glanced back and saw the EMT's unloading a gurney and equipment.
"Grab the crash box. His heart stopped." Willow yelled.
The youngest of the two looked at her and than ran back to the rig. The other came up and moved Buffy out of the way so that he could bag the detective.
"How long as he been out?"
Willow looked up at him and couldn't get words to form.
Buffy stepped in and said, "Since I hung up with dispatch."
"7 Minutes. Jose, are those charged?"
"10 seconds." Jose said. He moved Willow out of the way and attached the gel pads to the cop. "Alright." Jose grabbed the travel paddles and hit the body with a shock. Jimmy arched up and then fell back down. Willow watched as the two worked on her friend and went over to Buffy. The witch heard another "clear" and then the sound of Jimmy falling back to the ground.
"Wait, we got a sinus rhythm. Let's go."
Buffy watched as they stabilized and loaded her partner on to the gurney and then ran to get in. Jose stopped Willow from following the slayer.
"One person can go."
"You really want to try and stop me." Willow leveled a glare at him and he stepped back.
"No, no ma'am. Get in."
They climbed inside and sat before the ambulance lurched forward then took off.
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Buffy and Willow had been waiting in the halls of the hospital for the last hour. Both were a little dirty from the building dust, but they were extremely tired. Willow's head pounded from the exertion of the spells she had used and her body ached with such intensity that she felt like passing out right then and there. Buffy had tried sitting with the witch, but found that she had way too much nervous energy to sit. Willow had given her a small smile when she resumed her movements. They both looked up when the doors opened up at the end of the hall. Buffy noticed her boss's long stride and went to go meet him.
"Any word?"
Buffy shook her head.
"What happened?"
The blonde summarized a non magical version of the day's events and waited for his response.
"So the guy got away?"
"Yeah."
"It's alright. We'll get him eventually."
"Hey did anyone call Jimmy's family?"
"No, I just got down here as soon as I heard."
"It's okay. I'll call." Buffy turned to leave and was stopped by her boss's voice.
"Hey kid. Don't okay. Not your fault."
"I'm not." Buffy turned and walked down the hall to go sit with Willow. "Hey." She said when she reached the bench her girlfriend was occupying.
"Hey back. Who's that?"
"Our boss. He just popped in to check on Jimmy. It's not like there's a whole lot of information about what's going on though."
"I'm still not sure if quick is good or not. Did anyone call Susan or Junior?"
"No, I don't, what do I tell them?"
"I've got Jimmy's number. We kinda had a bonding walk last night. I'll call and tell him. Stay here. The rest of the gang should be here soon." Willow stood to leave and Buffy held on to her arm.
"Wills?"
Willow looked down into hazel eyes.
"I just...getting us out of there today was wow worthy. Thank you."
Willow leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on her slayer's lips.
"Never thank me for that. I love you." Willow straightened and walked down the hall and out to make a phone call.
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It had taken three hours in surgery to complete an emergency single bypass. The heart attack was bad timing and partly stress induced. The entire gang plus his two children were in the ICU waiting room. No one would let anyone see the detective and Buffy had nearly driven her fist through three of the walls in the place. The only thing that stopped her was Willow. She sighed and began pacing again. Her family was here. Her love was here and so was Jimmy's kids.
She was turning again when Giles and Xander both caught her eye. She nodded and motioned for them to follow her. Stepping into an empty room, they talked quietly. Buffy recounted the happenings of the day and what she had seen in the warehouse.
"And you say that those marking's were familiar?"
"Yeah, but Giles I can't remember. I mean it's just not happening."
"Alright. You need to come back and look at some texts. Something there might jog your memory."
"Not leaving. No way, no how."
"Buffy please be a little cooperative. We need to stop this thing."
"Well hey Buffster why don't you just draw a picture. I think we've gotten by on less."
"Xander please..."
"Giles that's not a bad idea. I'm not leaving. I'm setting up Camp Buffy until they let me see him. You guys can go and be research fiends."
"Fine. Come on then let's go and find something to draw on." Giles muttered and mumbled, "I swear how the world is still in working order after having her as a slayer for 9 years is really beyond me."
"Hey I heard that!" Buffy pouted from behind.
They entered the waiting room and Buffy sat next to Willow and Dawn while she tried to draw the pattern. Ever the curious one, next to Willow that is, Dawn peered over her sister's shoulder as she drew the design that was on the floor. The younger Summers cocked her head to the side and gasped.
"Buffy, why are you drawing that?"
"It's what was on the floor of that warehouse. What's the big?"
"That's the secret slayer gift from Wood's mom."
"Eh, what? And vague that up some more. I'm feeling blonde."
"That thing that sent you to that alt..." Dawn stopped talking and looked at Jimmy's kids. "Ah, Will, Buff come on." The three stood and left the waiting room. Once outside and alone she continued, "that little shadow toy that sent you to the alt. Dimension. Where you were gonna get super slayered. Remember?"
"Yeah, I do." Buffy thought back to the design on the floor and let the memory of being chained to the shadow men's posts come back to her. The image flashed in her mind and she finished drawing the picture.
"Why was that on the floor?"
"I don't know. Wills, any ideas?"
"Nope. I knew that stupid thing looked familiar."
"Will would you say there were five piles of dust at the point of each corner of the pentacle?" Willow nodded and Buffy continued, "So then there was vamp dust, ritual markings on the floor and the creepy warlock guy. Okay and the clues still add up to a big huh."
Willow began pacing and looked past Buffy. "He's trying to reverse it."
Buffy grabbed Willow's arm and stopped her. "Wills, if you have an idea please share with the rest of the class."
"I, it's just a theory, but I was, when I was visiting the Devon coven about six months ago, I came across some small bits and pieces of lore that may have been prophecy, but may not have. It outlined a way to unmake a slayer. It was really poorly written and who ever translated it did a piss poor job. I couldn't really make heads or tells of it for the most part. I just got the gist. You need to find a complete slayer, whatever that means, and undo what the shaman's did to the first girl."
"Okay, that makes no sense." Buffy said.
"Willow is there anyway you could get those books? Maybe I can translate them better." Dawn offered.
"I don't think so. Maybe. I'll have to call Althea and see. Maybe she can overnight them, but the coven doesn't really like their books leaving the grounds."
"Make the call Wills. We may need them."
"K, I'll be right back."
She came back in the waiting room thirty minutes later. Buffy looked up before she entered and smiled when her witch finally walked through.
"So do we have books?"
"We do. They are going to overnight them today. I should have them by noon tomorrow. Giles they are billing the Council."
"That's fine."
"Hey guys I dunno about you, but I can't sit here anymore. Xand and I are gonna go back to the apartment. Call us when there's more info B."
"I think Faith's got a point. Dawn you want to go?" Kennedy asked.
The brunette nodded at her girlfriend hugged her sister and Willow goodbye. Giles stood and excused himself.
Willow was rubbing small circles in Buffy's back and trying to remember the rest of the book.
Jimmy looked over at the two lovers and smiled. He had called his partner about an hour ago and declined the offer of having Tim come and sit with him. He sighed and went to make a phone call. Susie just sat and stared at the TV. She had quit trying to watch it when Paris Hilton came one with that other girl she hung out with.
"Susan?"
The girl looked up and saw Willow looking at her.
"I'm going to the cafeteria, get some coffee and bring back edible something. You want anything?"
"Ah no I'm good thanks though."
"Alright, Buff, what do you want?"
"Coffee, maybe a donut, jelly if they have it."
"K." Willow placed a kiss on top of Buffy's head and walked out the door.
The two remaining girls just looked at each other.
"So, ah..." Buffy let the sentence die and just leaned back in her chair.
"My thought's exactly. So you want to tell me what all the hush hush stuff was about?"
"No hush hush. Just trying to stay on top of this case is all. They help out."
"Rriiigghht and I'm the queen of England."
"Really, that's all."
"Buffy look I don't know what exactly is going on, but I know there's more than what anybody's telling me. My dad doesn't take to partner's. He doesn't let them stay in his house and he doesn't treat them like he's treated you. So tell me what the hell is going on with you and my father?"
Buffy let the confusion show on her face. She really had no idea what the girl was talking about. "Susan I, I, I'm confused. What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you and your girlfriend being attached at the hip to my father. I'm talking about my dad never being close to his other partners. I mean growing up with the guy I never once heard him mention his coworkers and then he's letting one of said coworkers stay at his house. On top the fact that you have a girlfriend and both of you seem awful cozy with my dad, just like he seems way to close for comfort with the two of you. He's not a warm and fuzzy guy okay. So what are you two to him?"
"Okay I'm sure there's a specific question in there somewhere, can you maybe identify and then reword said question?"
"Are you and the redhead fucking my father?"
Looking back on that moment, Buffy was sure that she could have been knocked over by a feather. She kinda felt like Wyle Coyote after a crate of ACME dynamite had exploded in his face. She struggled for words, she tried to form sentences, but her brain was just stuck on the question. It was like the tape of her life was stuck in the VCR from hell and had gotten jammed and just looped back to that one moment. Her, Jimmy, Willow, naked in the same bed. She finally got her brain working again and shuddered visibly.
"Tell me you're joking?"
"I'm serious. He's way too comfy with you two for this to be just a working relationship. Hell he didn't even treat our mom as good as he treats you two. So just tell me if you guys are screwing my father. It's the least you could do."
Buffy's mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish and she still couldn't form a response. Finally she choked out, "No, emphatically not! Besides even if we were," Buffy had gotten up and began flailing her arms about, "what would it matter. I mean we're not, but I...what would make you think that?"
"The way he looks at you two. That's why. The way you two go out of your way to make sure he's okay. The way he laughs when you guys are around. That's not my dad. That's a man I don't know."
"You can't be serious. Jimmy and I are friends we work together and yes we've gotten closer over the past few months, but nothing is going on. He doesn't want anything to go on and I certainly don't want anything to go on. I'm younger than you for hell's sake. Are you out of you mind? You know what I'm done with this conversation. Your crazy and ewe just ewe. Your dad's not a bad looking guy, but I'm involved and ewe, he's like my big brother. Ewe. Did I say ewe?"
Willow came into the room carrying drinks and donuts just as Buffy finished her ewe speech. She looked between slayer and daughter and raised an eyebrow in question.
Susan looked at the redhead and just went for it, "Are you fucking my dad?"
It took a moment for the question to register, but when it did, Willow turned a bright red and stammered, "Huh? Did I miss a big conversation while I was away? Buffy?"
The blonde smiled at Willow and shrugged. She waved her hand in Susan's direction and said, "Miss. Gargantuan Chip on her Shoulder thinks 'cuz we are chummy with her father that we are in a threesome."
"I have no words." Willow sat down in her chair.
"You and me both."
"You two are so full of shit."
Jimmy chose that moment to walk back into the waiting room with a medium sized man in tow.
"Who's full of shit?" He asked.
"They are. They can't even be honest with me."
Buffy spun around, "Honest, what honest? There's nothing to be honest about!"
"Please." Susan said folding her arms across her chest and leaning back in the chair.
Junior stopped both of them, "Okay I obviously missed some vital conversation. Sis, fill me in."
"I told you they were screwing dad."
"Oh jesus, you're not on this again are you?"
"Don't. I'm serious."
"So am I Susie-Q. They aren't ok trust me. If you would spend five minutes talking to them instead of being Miss Bitter you would see that they are pretty cool people. Dad just likes 'em, like as a friend like's them."
Susan didn't say anything she just grabbed her purse and coat and walked out of the room. The four sat there a little stunned and let the silence wrap around them.
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Thirty minutes after Susan stormed out, Jim's doctor entered the room. The prognosis was fair, but the heart attack was caused more by stress than a blockage. The man had question's surrounding the incident and was told the edited version. Jim would have to stay for observation, after he recovered, for at least forty-eight hours if everything went well.
"When can we see him?" Buffy asked.
"ICU is very strict on visitors Detective Summers. I can allow two in at a time. 5 minutes per visit and a max of 4 visits per day. You need to understand that Mr. McAllister needs to recuperate, if it hadn't been for the people that started CPR when they did, he wouldn't be here. You may decide who goes in and just be sure to let the nurse know."
"Thank you." Junior said and let the doctor leave.
The air in the room decompressed at the information and the three plus Tim worked out a visiting schedule. Buffy and Jim went in first and came back shortly after.
"How'd he look?" Willow asked as soon as they stepped into the room.
"Okay," Jimmy offered and took a seat by Tim.
"He looks like I did after my first..." Buffy stopped the analogy and just smiled.
~He looks like I did after my first fight with Glory. Wills I'm worried, he was pretty unresponsive. He wouldn't even look at me.~
~It's okay. We'll have him fixed up in no time, but I need you to go in with me.~
~You have another plan?~
Willow stood up and offered Buffy her hand. They went to the nurses station and then to the room.
"Heya Red," Jimmy rasped out "Cupcake your back. Sorry about a minute ago, I was kinda out of it. Nurse came in asked if you and Jr. were an item." He took a pull from a cup of water, "I think maybe I scandalized you."
Buffy smiled at him and shook her head no and choked back the relief that washed through her.
"Good, so why you two here? We got a killer to catch. I'm laid up so Blondie it's all on you."
Willow carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, "No need to worry about that we are covered. You on the other hand have us worried. I want to try and help heal you, but I don't have much time and I need your help."
"Heal how?"
"Just some magicks, nothing dangerous."
Jimmy looked from slayer to witch and nodded his consent. Willow looked to Buffy and grabbed Jimmy's hand with her left and Buffy's with her right. The slayer mirrored Willow's posture and heard the slow chant she began. Much like the last time Buffy had helped Willow heal, warmth spread through and around her. The energy flowed from, through and out her hands. She heard Jimmy's sharp intake of breath and shot a look to Willow who was lost in a trance. She relaxed as she felt Jimmy loosen up and let Willow work the mojo. She couldn't tell how much time had passed, but she did feel a shift in energies as Willow broke the connection.
The redhead looked down at Jimmy who had a goofy smile on his face and smiled at the slayer. Sweat had begun to rundown Willow's face and she used the back of her hand to wipe it up.
"Better?"
"Better, hell kid I feel 22 again. What did you do?"
"Mended the damage or as much as possible. With any luck your doctor will think you're a freak of nature and have you out of here by tomorrow."
"Blondie, you didn't tell me your girl was one of the handiest people in the world, why not?"
Buffy beamed at both of them, "Well that's just the charm of Ms. Rosenberg; she surprises you everyday."
"Hot Damn. So while I was out of it, did you guys learn anything new?"
Before either of the girls had a chance to answer, the nurse stepped in a glared at both girls, "Ladies, the detective needs his rest, I need to ask you to leave."
"Sure, one more minute please?" Buffy asked.
"Fine a minute and not a second more." She turned and left the three alone once again.
"So you were saying cupcake?"
"Nothing you need rest, we'll be back in the morning." Buffy looked at Willow and let the corner of her mouth turn up. At the same time, they leaned down and kissed the man on either cheek. They pulled away from him sputtering his displeasure.
"Cupcake, Red," The tone of his voice was playfully annoyed and he swiped at his cheeks. "What will the staff think?"
Buffy raised her eyebrow and waved goodbye. "See you tomorrow old man. Behave while you're in here."
Willow waved goodbye and followed her girlfriend out.