Willow's Rescue
by willow
Chapter 18
[reviews]
Chapter 18...
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A week later, the scoobies were gathered at the Summers household for dinner. Willow was already settling in well with help from both Buffy and Dawn. It was killing the slayer inside to hear the little witch's cries in her sleep but she never let it show on the surface. She had to be there for Willow, be strong for her, be her rock. Yesterday, Willow had managed to eat all three meals without throwing them back up again. They were small meals, but meals nontheless. This was a great relief to Buffy. It was a first step on the road to recovery for Willow.
Buffy and Dawn were washing up when Xander came in. "Her bruises are healing well," he said in monotone.
"Yeah, she's eating much better, too," Dawn chirped, "she managed all her meals yesterday."
Buffy didn't contribute, she just kept her eyes fixed on the dish she was cleaning. This made Xander feel awkward, so he just replied to Dawn. "Good... that's good," he paused for another awkward second. "She sleeping OK?"
"Kinda, I guess... I mean with everything she's been through it's a wonder she's sleeping at all. She's being really strong."
Xander smiled. "Maybe she'll get through it faster than we thought, she'll be back to her old self in no time."
Buffy lost it and threw the dish across the room. She glared at Xander. "ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID?" she screamed at him. "YOU THINK THREE YEARS OF BEATINGS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TORMENT IS GOING TO GO AWAY JUST LIKE THAT?" Buffy said as she clicked her fingers in the air, sarcastically.
Dawn tried to calm her sister. "OK, Buffy, back off, take a deep breath..."
"NO, I'M NOT GONNA 'back off and take a deep breath'," she immitated her sister, both Summers' girl's eyes filled with tears. "YOU CAN'T HEAR HER CRY HERSELF TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT, YOU CAN'T SEE EVERY LITTLE DETAIL ON HER SCARS... IT'S TIMES LIKE THIS WHEN THESE HEIGHTENED SENSES SUCK ASS!"
"Buffy." The slayer spun round to see the witch standing in the doorway, tears in her eyes. She looked to Dawn and Xander and smiled weakly at them. "Is it OK if we have a minute?" Dawn went to speak but Xander grabbed her arm gently and led her out.
Buffy and Willow were left alone. The slayer turned back to her washing up duties. "I didn't see you," she said, quietly.
Willow took a couple of steps closer. "Buffy, you can't blame them for what happened," her voice cracked slightly, "it wasn't their fault."
"I know," it was barely a whisper. Buffy turned to face Willow, revealing the shedded tears. "It was mine," Willow opened her mouth to speak, "DON'T SPEAK, JUST LISTEN," Buffy shouted. Willow stepped back a couple of paces. Buffy ran her hands through her hair. "God, Will, I'm sorry, I'm still in attack mode. Please, just sit." The slayer pulled out a chair by the kitchen island for Willow to sit on. The tiny woman didn't know whether to take the seat or run for the hills. In the end, she took the seat.
Buffy began explaining. "As soon as I set eyes on Kennedy, I knew there was something not right about her." Willow frowned. "I mean, she was great for you... she really was, at the beginning... I mean... she helped you through a lot," Buffy said, a little bitterly, "but something in me kept saying 'don't trust her, don't trust her'... and now I know why I guess." Buffy sighed before continuing. "I shouldn't have let you move to England with her that fast... and it took all my strength to stop myself from telling you not to go... I mean, you're your own person, I couldn't stop you from moving in with the woman you... loved," she sighed and took Willow's boney hand, "and... now with everything that's happened, I know I should've trusted my instincts."
"Buff..." Willow stroked a couple of tears away, that Buffy didn't even realise had slipped down her face and held a cheek in her hand. "You can't seriously be blaming yourself for this," Willow's lip began to shake, "there's only one person responsible for this and that's Kennedy." She said through small sobs. Buffy looked at the witch with concern in her eyes. It must've been so hard for her to talk about her wife like this, "It's no one's fault but hers." The two were silent until Willow burst into tears.
"Oh, Will," Buffy brought her head to her to her shoulder, "it's gonna be OK, I promise."
Willow looked up at the blonde. "What's gonna happen to Kenn?"
"I'm not sure, sweetie... but, Giles is going to have to tell the council."
"Why?" Willow was shaking slightly.
"Just to alert them of a dangerous slayer..."
"SHE'S NOT DANGEROUS!" Willow pushed herself away from Buffy and walked to the other side of the room.
"Will, look, she should be in jail," Buffy tried to move towards the witch, "if the police aren't going to do anything, than the council will."
"Buffy, please, just leave her alone, I'm gone now, she can't hurt me, just leave her." Willow looked at her with teary, pleading eyes.
Buffy looked down, avoiding the eyes that were making her feel guilty. "Giles has already spoke to the council," Willows eyes turned from pleading to pissed off.
"When?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"A couple of days ago."
Willow started to cry silently, again. "Does Giles know what they've done with her?"
Buffy looked back up at the devastated witch. "I don't think so," Willow sank to the floor and when Buffy went to comfort her with a hug she was pushed away. "Will, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
"Sorry? SORRY? BUFFY SHE COULD BE DEAD!"
"Will, they won't kill her," Buffy placed a hand on Willow's shoulder and rubbed gently, "they prevent that kind of thing, remember?"
Willow broke down in tears. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I-I didn't want to bring it up and upset you," she bent down to look Willow in the eye, "I'm sorry, Will, I really am."
Willow flung herself at the blonde and held on tight, Buffy just stroked her hair. "Shhh, it's gonna be OK, Wills, it's gonna be OK."
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Willow and Buffy were sitting opposite each other on Willow's bed talking.
"Well, I'm gonna head off to patrol, I'll be back soon, OK?"
"OK, be careful," Buffy smiled at her.
"I'll be fine, Wills, see you later."
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Buffy came back from patrol and peeked in at Willow. She was having another nightmare and fitfully twisting and turning in her sleep.
"NO!" Willow sat up in bed, breathing raggedly and sweat dripping down her face.
Buffy was by the bed in a second and hugged the girl tight to reassure her she wasn't on her own. "Shhh, it's OK, honey, just a nightmare."
Willow burried her face in Buffy's neck. Buffy's arousal was building from Willow breathing hot air on her neck, so she took slow, deep breaths. "OK, ummm... Will, I'm gonna, *oh God*, just... head back off to bed."
"Wait," Buffy looked down, "please, just... don't go just yet."
Buffy nodded, "OK."
Buffy lay down and brought Willow with her. She stroked her hair until Willow fell asleep in her arms once again.
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Reviews, pleeeeeeeeeease.
You're gonna have to give me a couple of days to update again, I'm afraid.