Dreams and Wishes
by VeronicaUK
Chapter One
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I don't own them.
I need a beta. If anyone can do it please contact me at veronica_uk@verizon.net
Dreams and Wishes
Chapter One
"Buffy you simply have to concentrate on the dream and tell us about it before we can help you," Giles said, standing up from the table and walking over the whiteboard on the wall. Willow sat in the corner of the room, trying not to make any noise as the drama played out before her. Buffy looked so small and fragile sitting by herself at the huge conference table. The dark circles under her eyes made them appear bruised. Willow knew that the Slayer was nearing the end of her rope emotionally and that they had to find out the reason behind the nightmares soon.
The first time Buffy had the dream the Slayer had played it off as just a bad dream. Their relationship was still so new to the both of them that they didn't want anyone or anything to interrupt it.
Now, each time Buffy had the dream she became more withdrawn from everyone around her, especially Willow. As much as she tried to talk herself out of it, she had to admit that it hurt. The redhead might be the most powerful witch in over a thousand years but she was still that shy hacker.
"I can't Giles!" Buffy yelled, standing up and slamming both fists on the table. Willow was shocked when it held firm and didn't collapse under the assault. "Please don't make me," the slayer whispered falling back down into her chair. The first rays of the morning sun shining into the window highlighted her golden hair. They were alone in this wing of the Cleveland school; the baby slayers had long since gone to bed along with the resident Watcher.
"Buffy," Giles said softy, sitting down next to the Slayer and taking her hands into his. "We need more details about the dream to be able to help, I fear that this is portent of some kind, and we have to be prepared."
She looked up at Giles with such pain in her eyes that Willow ached with the need to take her into her arms. After Sunnydale they had all gone their separate ways for over a year, Xander to Africa, Dawn and Buffy first to Rome, and then Dawn to Oxford and Buffy to Cleveland when Faith decided to settle down to have babies.
Willow and Kennedy didn't last a month after Sunnydale because the redhead stopped denying that she was in love Buffy. That she would rather be a friend with the blonde slayer for the rest of her life than to be lovers with Kennedy. So Willow had followed Buffy to Cleveland and within a week the oldest living Slayer had confessed her love to the witch and her fear about losing their friendship. They had taken things slow at first only one night Buffy nearly didn't make it home. Willow refused to take no as an answer from that point on and before the cast was off of Buffy's broken leg they were lovers.
"I know and I'm trying Giles," Buffy said, slowly taking her hands out of his and covering her face with them. "You don't understand the evil I feel in the dream, the evil is in the air, it's in the clothes, it's just a big evil soak fest." She glanced up at Willow and tried to smile however it turned into a grimace instead. "Its as if the very ground is permeated with evil!"
"You've said that before, maybe if run through how you are captured again?" Giles continued to push and Willow could see the slayer's shoulders stiffen.
"Giles, lets give it break for a little while," Willow voice was horse. They had been locked in the main conference room since Buffy's dream. They hadn't eaten because the sight of food seemed to upset the slayer's stomach. "I need a break," the witch said, hoping that the Watcher would get the hint and let Buffy go back to bed. What they were doing wasn't working and they needed to figure out something different. Plus Buffy needed to get some sleep. She was supposed to lead the latest newbie slayers on a training mission to take out a vamp nest later in the day, a mission that Willow knew Buffy wouldn't cancel.
"Very well," Giles readily accepted Willow's word when it came to the Slayer. Willow stood and stretched tired, cramped muscles. "However Buffy I want you take the medication prescribed to help you sleep without dreams."
Willow glanced up in time to see the thunderous expression begin form as fire burned in the Slayer's hazel eyes. Even with Giles' back to her the redhead could imagine the stubborn concern in his eyes. The witch only had a second to decide whether to back Giles or to let him be blasted by Buffy's formidable temper.
"I agree with Giles," she said softy. Both sets of eyes suddenly shifted to her and she felt battered by each other them. It didn't change her mind; it just made her feel...bad. "Buffy you are insisting on leading the baby slayers to take out that nest this afternoon, despite the fact that the only thing we know for sure about this dream is that you are captured in a Cleveland graveyard."
"At night, Will." The witch held up her hand to forestall the argument.
"Yes, so you say," Willow suddenly couldn't breathe, she had to stop and close her eyes as the thought of losing Buffy overwhelmed her. The fear grabbed at her heart and started to squeeze it, crushing her it in its cold hand. The idea that Buffy could be taken away from her now was unbearable. Willow heard the slayer moving towards her and she again held up her hand to stop her.
Warm arms wrapped around her and she wanted to protest, wanted Buffy to stop holding her so that she could make her understand how stupid it was for her lover to leave the protection of the compound until they knew the cause of the dream. Willow felt herself being lifted and she knew that Buffy was going to carry up the stairs and then she knew that the slayer would lay awake until it was time to the newbie's out.
"No!" Willow didn't mean to shout, only she did, and Buffy stopped.
"Will?" The slayer sounded so uncertain.
"Sorry Buffy," Willow was finally able to catch her breath enough to speak. Was able to open her eyes. "Take the medication, please?" Buffy's eye grew hard and the witch rushed on before Buffy could protest. "Or let me put you to sleep with magic? Please?"
"Will I have to be...." The blonde started to protest only this time Willow wasn't taking no.
"You need to be rested or one of the newbie's, the babies you who your swore to protect could die." Willow said harshly, beyond the idea that she was fighting dirty. She felt slightly guilty when Buffy flinched as if struck. The witch knew that was the slayer's weakness, one other thing that was a hold over from Sunnydale, the pain Buffy felt at each death.
"Giles bring the pills to our bedroom," the slayer ordered and then turned on her heels and marched out of the conference room leaving Willow staring at her back.
TBC