Willow's Rescue
by willow
Chapter 9
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Chapter 9...
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Dawn and Buffy were shortly joined by Xander, Faith and Giles, who were all wearing their pissed off faces.
Giles was the first to speak, his face turned to concern, "How is she?"
Buffy sighed, "Not great, but she'll be OK. I think we just need to give her a little alone time." Buffy stood up and leaned against the kitchen counter, staring out the window.
"I can't believe we didn't know something was wrong," Xander said, as he paced back and forth a couple of times, "it wasn't like her not to call or write. Why didn't we see this before?"
"Because she wouldn't let us see it," everyone turned their heads to Buffy who was just staring out the window, "she was just trying to protect her wife."
"Is that what she told you?" Dawn chriped in.
"No, she said she isolated her, which, don't get me wrong, she wasn't lying about... she just didn't give me the whole story," Buffy paused, "she was scared that if she left Kennedy, she'd have no one."
"She'd have us."
Buffy slammed her hand down on the counter and shouted, "Yeah, but she didn't know that, did she," she started pacing just as Xander had done a few seconds ago. "It's not like, before yesterday, that we'd ever made any special effort to stay in touch with her."
Giles tried to calm the slayer, "Now, Buffy, calm down."
"Calm down? CALM DOWN?! DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE STATE SHE'S IN," Buffy ran both hands through her blonde locks. As tears started to fall, she quietly whispered, "she's a wreck, Giles."
The former watcher gave her a fatherly hug, "She'll be OK, we'll help her through this."
Buffy nodded and dried her eyes.
"How bad is it, Buff?" Xander asked, worry sketching his face.
"You'll see tomorrow, I'll try and convince her to come talk to you guys, but I don't know if she'll want you to see her like this."
"OK. Just tell her we love her and we're all here for her," he paused before adding, "and that we've missed her so much."
Buffy smiled at the one-eyed man, "I will, in the morning, though, after she's had a sleep. She needs tonight to sort her head out"
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Later that night, Buffy went to check if Willow was OK. She brought up a plate of dinner and placed it on the bed side table in case Willow woke up hungry. She placed a soft kiss on her temple before turning around and heading for the door. Willow stirred slightly and wiped sleepy eyes.
"Buffy?"
"Hey Wills... brought you some dinner, ya know, in case you got hungry"
"Thanks, Buff," Willow smiled, "I... I'm sorry I shouted early, I just... I'm under alot of stress right now, and my head's all wacky and I sometimes say things I don't mean or, or say them nastly or... "
"Will," Buffy smiled internally at the Willow babble, "it's fine, sweetie. Today must've been so hard on you." Buffy went over to Willow's bed and sat down next to her, "I spoke with the others today, Will. They wanted you to know that we love you and we'll always be here for you," Buffy paused, "we've really missed you, Will."
"I've missed you guys, too," the two shared a smile, before Willow smelt the dinner, "oooh, smells good." Buffy turned around and grabbed the plate of warmed-up lasagne. "Thanks."
Buffy gave her quick hug and said, "I'll see you in the morning."
"'K, 'uff, nigh'," Willow said with a mouth full of pasta.
Buffy smiled and closed the door, then leaned her head back against it. She shook her head and walked to her room.
Inside, Willow felt lonely, again. She should've asked Buffy to stay, but didn't want to seem so needy. She took another bite of her lasagne then put it to the side and snuggled into the sheets.
At least they still smelled like Buffy.
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