Alex P. - A Higher Power
By Alex P. (keeper444@webtv.net)
Feedback: Please any comments or suggestions to: keeper444@webtv.net
Rating: NC-17 This story portrays a F/F relationship if this isn't your thing or it is illegal where you live please delete it now.
Summary: Ancient forces are forced to take a hand in Buffy & Willow's relationship.
Spoilers: General Fourth Season
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy Willow Giles and any others from BTVS are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy etc. No infringement of any kind intended.
Notes: Willow is worried Buffy has a bad night
Beta'd by Diana Renee Bouvier [DianaBouvier@worldnet.att.net]
Part One
Willow was sitting on the Slayer's bed hugging Mr. Gordo to her chest; her legs were drawn up as she gently rocked staring intently at the door, waiting impatiently for it to open. More worried than usual the hollow feeling in her chest and the lump in her throat telling her that something was definitely wrong with her Buffy. However, the actual nature of the trouble eluded her.
Buffy had been getting back from her patrols later each night. Each night she was exhausted to the point of collapse and though she denied it Willow could tell that she wasn't bouncing back like she should. It was breaking Willow's heart to see the person she cared about more than life itself go out every night to face what the Hellmouth might throw at her when they both knew Buffy was not up to the fight.
Now Buffy was more than 2 hours over due and even though Willow had promised not to go out alone after sunset, she was considering facing her friends anger and going out to find Buffy anyway. She just couldn't get over the feeling that the Slayer was in serious trouble
she thought to herself as a sob escaped her throat
A mischievous smile played over her lips as she thought of her friend's near perfect athletic body.
Willow knew that she really truly deeply loved with every part of her friend body and soul. But, she had never told Buffy about it. She did everything she could to deny the reality of those feelings. Willow thought she had always felt this way about the beautiful slayer, though she tried to deny it during her relationship with Oz. Once Oz left her, Willow had been forced to face the truth-she was totally head over heels in love with Buffy.
It had taken some time, but eventually she learned to settle for the platonic friendship Buffy offered and simply learn to live with the constant frustration of unrequited love. She just knew that it would all work out as long as Buffy never found out.
Willow's thoughts were interrupted as the door to their room flew open, slamming loudly against the wall, revealing a figure leaning on the doorframe to hold themselves up.
Willow gasped when she realized it was her, entire world, her best friend and roommate-
"Buffy?"
Buffy was barely recognizable under all the dirt and blood--her whole body heaving under her effort to breath. Willow jumped off the bed and ran to the Slayer's side. Willow felt a shock as Buffy raised her head and looked into the deep dark green eyes of her closest and dearest friend and smiled weakly.
"Hey Wills!" Buffy whispered, breathlessly, "rough slayage."
The slayer tried to chuckle but was too weak.
Willow pulled Buffy's arm over her shoulders and wrapped her other arm around Buffy's waist and helped her across the room to her bed
Part Two
"What happened?" Willow asked as she carefully helped Buffy sit down on the bed. "Is there some new master vampire or maybe an arch demon from the Hellmouth determined to destroy the world? Just tell me and I'll get everyone together and we'll foil their evil plans! That's what we do, the Slayer and her Slayerettes, guardians of the Hellmouth and defenders mankind! We protect the innocent from the evil nasties that...."
"Please, Willow," Buffy groaned as she held up her hand stop the Witch's nervous babbling. "It's nothing like that."
"Then what happened?" Willow asked suddenly serious. "Who did this to you?"
"Easy Wills don't blow a brain cell," Buffy said with more strength than she really had. "I'm not sure what happened. It was just your everyday regular vamps, three of them; I was kickin' ass when all of a sudden I was so tired. It was like I couldn't hold my arms up, let alone fight."
The blonde slayer paused to take a painful breath then continued. "I got lucky and introduced two of them to Mr. Pointy and the last one just ran away. Good thing, too, cause as soon as he was out of sight I fell, right in the middle of all the blood and vamp dust. I was too tired to get up so I just lay there. I could feel every scrape cut and bruise they gave me plus some I had before I met them. Finally I got up enough strength to get home to my Wills, cause I know she'll take care of me and make my Slayer boo-boos all better."
Willow realized she had been just sitting there holding Buffy listening to her talk. She was rocking the tiny blonde, while completely engrossed in the wonderful warmth of the woman she loved as she leaned against her. The beautiful blonde head resting on her shoulder.
Reminded of her friend's condition Willow gently lay Buffy down on the bed and went to her closet. She rummaged around until she found the first aide box and returned to Buffy's side.
Willow began laying out the supplies she needed to treat her friend's wounds but before she could start tending those wounds Buffy raised herself up with a low groan escaping from deep in her throat.
"Hold on Wills" she said softly. "I've got to take a shower, I mean whoa major stink."
Buffy wrinkled her nose to demonstrate her point causing Willow to giggle despite of her concern for her friend.
"Buffy, You can't be serious!" Willow exclaimed, stunned by her best friend's intention. "You can barely sit up let alone walk to the showers."
"Oh please Willow stop acting like my mother." Buffy wished she hadn't said it the second the last word left her mouth. "Oh god, I'm sorry Wills...I didn't really mean that. I know you're only trying to help. I'm just tired and grumpy nothing a hot shower won't cure."
"But you can't...." Willow began but Buffy cut her off.
"Did you forget?" Buffy said with false bravado and pointing at her own chest. "You're dealing with the big bad Slayer, the all powerful Chosen One, you can knock me down but I spring right back up. Nothing keeps me down for long."
With that Buffy sat up and began removing her disgustingly dirty and torn clothes with some difficulty because of her injuries.
"A little help here, please?" she groaned the pain showing in her voice.
"Oh.... Sure...no prob," Willow mumbled distracted.
She began helping the injured Slayer remove her clothes.
"Just throw them in the trash Wills," Buffy told her friend. "They're shot, D.O.A., deceased."
"Yeah, sure," Willow stammered slightly afraid to trust her voice. "In the trash they go."
The red-haired woman swallowed hard and tried to stop her hands from trembling as she helped reveal Buffy's warm soft skin. Willow could barely contain her urge to lean down and kiss that inviting white skin just to find out what it tasted like.
Buffy was watching her out of the corner of her eye. She could see the emotions plainly showing on her roommate's face. She sympathized, but she couldn't allow anything to happen between them.
When all Buffy had left on was her underwear she stood up slowly and broke the contact between herself and Willow.
Willow couldn't stop her eyes from wandering over Buffy's body drinking in the intoxicating beauty before her.
She took an inventory of every cut scrape bruise and scar on the Slayer's body and recalled in flashes of memory the story behind the worst of them. It was easy she'd been there for most of them.
"Hello? Earth to Willow," Buffy called to her distracted friend, "Could you give me a hand with my robe?"
"Huh...yeah sure." Willow said coming back to reality "Here you go. Give me a second and I'll come help you."
"No, I'll be alright," Buffy said as she put on her soft terrycloth robe. "The Slayer should at least be able to clean herself. I won't be long."
She picked up her shower bag and walked out of their room, making sure to hold her "strong" pose until she was sure that there was no way Willow could see her. Once she heard Willow close the door Buffy slumped against the wall and using it as brace as she limped slowly down the hall. She let all the pain and exhaustion show now that her best friend wouldn't see it.
Buffy had long ago figured out how Willow felt about her, it was easy she felt the same way about her beautiful red-haired friend. However she also knew she could never tell Willow how she felt.
If Buffy had learned only one thing after spending all these years as a Slayer on a Hellmouth: it was that if she showed any kind of real love for anyone, that person became the target of every nasty slimy evil thing that crawled out of the place.
Her proof was when Angelus figured out how she felt about the shy compassionate hacker; he had made her his main target because he knew that hurting Willow would destroy Buffy. There was no way she was going to put her beloved, little, green eyed, witch girl in that kind of danger again.
It was bad enough that she ran around playing research girl for the gang and the danger that entailed, to expose her to any more would be unthinkable.
She knew that if she'd allowed Willow to come to the showers with her there was no way she could have controlled herself. She had to avoid Willow finding out her true feelings. So, she took a chance that by hurting her beloved Witch if it would keep her Wills safe. Buffy always refused to let her best friend help her, even when her need was obvious. The pain in those incredible green eyes had torn Buffy's heart out, but it had to be done.
The badly injured Slayer eventually made it to the showers, thankfully they were empty probably due to the late hour. She stepped into the nearest stall and carefully shrugged out of her robe and hung it on a hook. It took several minutes for her to get her out of her underwear; the effort left her out of breath and more than a little dizzy.
She turned on the water adjusting the temperature to just below scalding. Buffy leaned against the wall, letting the hot water spray over her battered body. As she stood under the spray she noticed her vision blurring around the edges then her stomach did a slow forward roll and she felt light headed.
That was the last coherent thought that went through Buffy's mind before everything faded to black and she collapsed in a heap on the shower stall floor.
Part Three
Willow sat on the edge of her bed eyeing the door, anxiously waiting for Buffy's return. She chewed on her bottom lip nervously, and her mind wandered back to the vision of Buffy standing there in her bra and panties, looking so battered and hurt. Yet, at the same time, acting so tough and Slayery that all Willow wanted to do was to take Buffy into her arms and kiss her. She wanted it so bad it hurt.
Suddenly a blinding white light burst into Willow's mind blocking out all of her other thoughts.
She knew instinctively that Buffy was in trouble. Without the slightest hesitation she launched off the bed and out the door.
Slamming through the shower room door Willow began searching the room for her friend, while calling her name.
Panic began rising in her when Buffy failed to answer. Then she heard the water running. Hurrying toward the sound she called to her missing friend, getting no answer Willow pushed open the shower stall door and froze. A horrified gasp escaped her throat when she saw Buffy lying motionless on the floor.
Willow jumped into the stall, after shutting off the water she knelt down next to the unconscious Slayer.
After unsuccessfully trying to rouse her by calling her name and shaking her Willow decided to move Buffy out of the confined area. Some how she was able to get Buffy's unconscious body out to one of the long benches and began to gently dry her friend off and get a robe wrapped around her.
She still couldn't wake Buffy and she knew there was no way she was going to be able to get her beloved room mate to their room without help. So she ran down the hall and got their old friend Larry and had him carry Buffy to their room.
"You want me to call 9-1-1," he asked as he carefully laid Buffy on her bed.
"No Larry I'll handle it from here " Willow said sounding more confident than she truly felt. "Thanks for your help"
"Hey no big, Will" Larry said glancing worriedly at Buffy's unnaturally still form. "If you need me for anything at all call me you have my phone and pager numbers."
"Sure Larry don't worry we'll be alright." Willow said giving him a hug.
Without another word she turned around and began fussing over her friend, Larry quietly slipped out of the room.
*****
After a brief struggle Willow finally managed to get Buffy into a nightshirt and some panties.
While she was dressing the unconscious girl she noticed a long partially healed gash on the inside of Buffy's upper arm. She also noticed that the flesh around the gash was swollen and a dark angry red.
After getting Buffy dressed Willow called Giles and filled him on the situation. He assured her that she had done the right thing and he would be there as soon he picked up some things he felt were necessary to take care of the Slayer.
Hanging up the phone Willow pulled a chair over to Buffy's bed and sat down to wait and watch over her best friend.
Willow let out a sigh and took Buffy's limp hand and held it between hers.
Willow closed her eyes and said a silent prayer to the Goddess on behalf of her beloved.
Part Four
Buffy's eyes fluttered open and her first sight was the angelic vision of her best friend. Willow was looking down at her and the light shinning from behind her was reflecting off her red hair causing a halo effect that made Buffy's heart skip a beat.
Willow's brow was furrowed with worry and her incredible green eyes were filled with concern and compassion. In all it was the most beautiful sight Buffy had ever seen.
"Hey you," Willow said softly. "Just rest, Giles is on his way. And I AM taking care of you," Willow paused, as if expecting Buffy to protest, when none came, she finished, "so don't worry."
"No worries, Wills," Buffy said weakly as a slight smile played across her lips. "See, I knew if I could get home my Willow would take care of me."
Before Willow could respond the door slammed open and Giles came rushing into the room, followed closely by a tall dark man she had never seen before.
Giles went straight to Buffy's bed and sat down on the edge across from Willow. He immediately began asking questions of his surrogate daughters trying to assess the extent of Buffy's illness.
"How long have you had this?" Giles asked sternly after Willow called his attention to the wound on Buffy's arm.
"Oh, I don't know...about a week," she replied weakly, barely able to speak. "I got it the night I fought that slime demon the vamps had called up."
"Yes, well, you know must keep me informed when this kind of injury happens." Giles scolded his Slayer quietly, "how am I supposed to know what you need if you don't keep me apprised "
"Giles," Willow growled menacingly. "Not now." "Yes...well...ah...quite right." Giles stammered cleaning his glasses surprised at the normally shy, quiet hacker's intensity and more than a little embarrassed by his insensitive lecture.
The forgotten stranger clearing his throat and calling to Giles interrupted the awkward moment.
"Ah, who is he?" Willow asked quite defensively, "and why have you brought him here?"
"Yes, where are my manners?" Giles began, "This is Dr. Jeffery Fallon, I've known him for several years. He is a fully qualified physician, but has made caring for supernatural beings his specialty. I am sure Buffy's injury falls into that category."
The doctor bowed to Willow in recognition of her relationship to the Slayer and set his bag down on the bed next to Buffy. When Willow refused to move out of the doctor's way he looked at Giles for help.
"Perhaps we should step back and allow the good doctor room to examine Buffy," Giles said, laying his hand on Willow's arm.
Willow shot Giles a threatening look, normally she trusted Giles completely but this was Buffy and that changed all the rules. She tightened her grip on Buffy's hand, silently challenging the two men.
"It's all right Wills," Buffy said softly, knowing how Willow felt since she felt the same way about the Witch. "You know Giles would never hurt us." She finished the weakness in the Slayer's voice causing it to fade out.
"Quite so," Giles said firmly.
Reluctantly, Willow released Buffy's hand and moved back but only as far as her own bed. She sat tensely, watching the doctor's every move--muscles coiled ready to jump to Buffy's defense at the slightest provocation.
The doctor examined Buffy thoroughly, most of the things he did and the equipment he used Willow recognized as normal medical procedure but some of it looked like it was straight out of one those cheesy sci-fi movies Xander was always watching.
After what seemed like an eternity to Willow the doctor straightened up and started to put his equipment away.
As soon as he moved away from Buffy, Willow was back sitting besides her holding her hand.
The doctor and Giles walked over to the other side of the small room and began quietly consulting. They were making Willow nervous by the way that every few minutes one or the other would look over at the two young women. The young Witch did her best to ignore the two men by concentrating on Buffy. The little Slayer seemed to be fading in and out of awareness-unable to stay completely conscious for more than a few seconds at a time.
"Thank you, Jeffery." Giles said shaking hands with the doctor. "Be sure to give my regards to the Abbot."
The man held up his hand, then turned to the two young women, bowed, and to Willow's immense relief left closing the door quietly behind him.
Giles returned to Buffy's bedside carrying a small package the doctor had given him. He opened the package and pulled out its contents; an antique glass syringe with a long thin needle and a vial of green fluid that glowed eerily in the dimly lit room. Giles filled the syringe with the thick liquid and began swabbing the helpless Slayer's arm with alcohol-when he heard a low growl.
He looked up at Willow to see her glaring threateningly at him. Her green eyes glowing with a feral gleam that made him feel like they were drilling into his soul. He shivered slightly as he felt a twinge of guilt knowing that the girl was recalling his part in the Slayer's test. Plus, for the first time since he had known the shy young Witch he also felt real fear-the person before him was not the Willow he knew-the person before him would do anything to protect her.... Friend.
"It is a compound." He began to explain sheepishly, "it is to enhance her Slayer healing abilities." The green eyes continued to bore into him, "I would kill myself before I would ever hurt her again! Willow you simply must believe me." He pleaded.
"Yeah? What ever," Willow snapped. Giles taking that as permission carefully slipped the needle into his daughter's arm and gave her the injection. Shuttering at the memory of doing this same thing to her at the councils orders-what a fool he had been.
*****
Willow shocked herself with those possessive and violent thoughts.
But, her attention was immediately drawn back to her love when Buffy sighed deeply, Willow could tell the Slayer was falling into a soft peaceful rest.
Both the Watcher and the Witch kept a loving eye on her until they were sure she was safely asleep.
"She should rest now." Giles explained, "the doctor said that it appears to be some sort of demonic infection. She shows all the symptoms of a high fever and an elevated white cell count but physically she has neither. It apparently attacks through her metaphysical abilities."
"What can we do?" Willow implored the ex-watcher. "There must be something I can do instead of just sitting here holding her hand."
"Actually that is exactly what she needs," Giles informed her. "I tried to contact her mother but Joyce is on some business trip for the gallery and will out of communication for a week or more. So sitting here letting her know she is not alone is as important as any other thing you could do. You know she would rather have you here than anyone else."
"If you say so Giles," Willow said softly. "I will take care of her. Will you please inform my professors that I'll not be in class until further notice and to send me any required assignments via e-mail?"
"If you wish, Willow," Giles said realizing that any argument would be futile. "I will come by or have Xander come by later to give you a break."
"No," Willow said flatly. "Just bring me food. I'm taking care of Buffy; I don't trust anyone else. Don't let anyone come, besides you Giles, I'll won't have patience to deal with Xander and his inane babble."
Giles looked deep into those green eyes and saw the love in them. Willow's feelings were pure primal instinct and he knew better than to doubt what she was saying.
"As you say, Willow." Giles said softly and handed her a small black box with a red button. "This is an emergency pager, if you need me for any reason press that button. I will be here as soon as I possibly can, I will even sleep with it."
"All right, Giles." Willow said then grabbed his wrist with a surprisingly strong grip and looked into his eyes, "please find a way to make her better. I can't loose her I can't live without her."
"I will. I promise." Giles whispered, almost reverently.
Normally he would have scorned such theatrics but he knew Willow well enough that he believed every word she said. He quietly left the room. As he closed the door he took one last look and saw Willow lean forward and gently kiss Buffy's forehead then settle back into the chair still holding her hand.
"I will find a cure Willow" Giles promised under his breath inspired by the beautiful young woman's devotion to her friend. "Even if it kills me, I will find it. I will not be the cause of you losing your love."
Part Five
Giles slammed the ancient book shut in anger, and in frustration he threw the tomb across the room. It had been nearly a week and still Buffy was no better despite the injections, in fact she was getting progressively worse.
His inability to help her enraged him and the look of fearful agony in Willow's eyes every time he failed to report a cure was killing his soul.
"Damn it! He raged, "all that great watcher training was worthless. All these fabulous resources and I can't even find cure to a simple bloody bug."
He glared at the stack of books he had already gone through with disgust. For moment he wanted to set fire to the entire lot of them.
Giles took off his glasses and began cleaning them, then with a sigh of resignation he turned to a stack of books he hadn't checked, chose one and returned to work.
He had to succeed; there was no alternative.
Willow wept quietly as she watched over the frail body of the person she loved most in the world. Buffy was just lying on the bed wasting away. So far no one had been able to help her.
The young Witch wiped at her tears, stood and walked over to the window. The sun had long since set and soon the full moon of the equinox would rise.
Willow remembered for a fleeting moment that this was a rare and powerful convergence when the full moon and the Vernal Equinox occurred simultaneously.
At the fringes of her mind she seemed to recall an ancient Celtic legend involving this occurrence and a sect of Druid warrior priests that were also powerful wizards. She tried to recall he story if for no other reason than to occupy her mind.
All other thoughts were erased from her mind when she heard Buffy begin to moan and thrash weakly.
"It's all right Buffy," Willow said softly. "I'm right here."
She gently brushed a few wayward strands of blond hair from her patient's forehead. Touching the Slayer seemed to quiet the agitated girl.
Soon Buffy seemed to fall back to sleep so Willow was able to relax enough to go back to the window and observe the strange weather. The sky was crystal clear with the stars shining brightly. The full moon was rising in the black velvet sky, its mystical light turning the dark night almost into day.
But, what drew Willow's attention were the flashes of blue-white lightening that streaked the across the brightening sky. Witch felt a faint tingle of some indefinable, though familiar, energy teasing her senses.
A sudden and shocking clap of thunder shook the dorm--rattling the windows.
The distraught slayer sat-up screaming, her eyes searching the room for Willow.
"Willow!" she cried in an anguished voice.
"I'm right here Buffy," Willow said. She reached out her hand to touch the slayer on her shoulder, trying to reassure her friend. "Your Wills isn't going anywhere"
"No! Wills, they know!" The delirious Slayer said panic rising in her voice. "They found out and now they're coming."
"Who Buffy? Who found out?" she asked patiently. "What did they find out?"
"Oh Wills," Buffy cried. "I tried so hard to hide it from them but now they know and they're on their way here now!"
The lightening was striking faster and closer. The moon was nearing its zenith illuminating the room with its soft light.
"I've got to stop them," Buffy cried desperation and panic causing her voice to rise up an octave.
"Who is it Buffy?" Willow asked in a soft soothing voice. "Tell me who it is that's coming."
"All of them." Buffy said tears beginning to flow from her eyes. "The Master, Angelus, Spike, the Mayor, all of them "
"But, Buffy they're all dead or gone." Willow tried to convince her friend "Why would they come back?"
"Oh Wills they've come back because they know how to hurt me." Buffy sobbed, fear and panic pushing her tears. "They know I love you and they're coming after you. They're going to get you because they know I love you. I've got to stop them!"
Willow was so stunned she was unable to speak or react. After all this time of trying to hide her feelings for fear of rejection she finds out now Buffy felt the same way? And she the only reason she found out about Buffy's true feeling because she was so sick that she was delirious!
"It's alright Buffy I l-love you, too." Willow said softly her voice quivering.
"I know Wills, I've always known," Buffy stated. "I couldn't tell anyone not even you, because if anyone knew about my feelings you would've been in more danger! Oh God, I can't lose you."
Willow was stunned, all this time her friend had not only felt the same urges and desires as Willow but she had known all along how Willow would have returned her feelings. She didn't know whether to be angry or sad.
Even though it angered her that Buffy had known all along and had denied the love she ached for--she also knew that meant the Slayer had been forced to deny herself the happiness they could have had together.
Tears filled her eyes of how many times Buffy must have yearned to seek comfort in Willow's embrace only to force down her feelings to protect her friend.
"Willow you've got to hide!" Buffy implored, still deep in her delirium. "They're coming. I don't know how they found out. Angelus knew he must have told them."
Willow tried to push her seriously ill friend back down on the bed. For a few moments Willow forgot that a sick Buffy was still a very powerful Slayer.
Without warning Buffy exploded out of the bed unintentionally knocking Willow across the room. Before Willow could react Buffy was swaying in the middle of the room searching the corners for demons.
"Got to stop them before they can hurt my Wills!" Buffy cried, I can't see them! Where are they!" She then ran from the room before Willow could react.
"Buffy no!" Willow yelled as her friend disappeared out the door, the Slayer, either not hearing her or ignoring her all together.
Willow leapt up from the floor and pressed the button on Giles emergency pager then ran after her friend as fast as she could. As she ran down the stairs Willow heard the exit door slam shut.
"Oh goddess protect her," Willow prayed as she sprinted down the stairs and as she went out the door the young witch began chanting a tracking spell.
A flash of white let Willow know the direction Buffy had taken into the woods-it was toward the center of the Hellmouth. A faint blue glowing line showed her Buffy's trail as the result of her spell.
The lightening flashed wildly across the crystal clear sky and Willow noticed a thick unnatural fog rising from the ground. As Willow followed the trail that was leading her to Buffy she wondered how Buffy could run so fast through these thick woods without hurting herself.
Soon Willow could hear the unmistakable sounds of fighting. She burst out of the trees into a clearing that was brightly illuminated by the huge full moon. She gasped in horror when saw what was happening. In the middle of the clearing was Buffy fighting three vampires and she wasn't doing so well. She was doing her best but the Slayer was simply too weak from her prolonged illness. It was a credit to her skills and training Buffy was able to 'dust' two of her supernatural opponents. But the third one struck her from behind sent her sprawling across the clearing hitting the ground hard and stunning her. Seeing that the Slayer was unable to get back up the vampire let out a roar of victory and launched itself at its unmoving prey.
"NO!" Willow screamed and nearly flew across the grassy field to help her injured friend.
Willow moved faster than she thought possible and reached Buffy seconds before the charging vampire without thinking she threw up her hand.
"STOP!" She commanded and the vampire stopped as if he'd hit a wall.
Out of the corner of her eye Willow noticed the clearing was enclosed in wall of thick white unnatural fog.
Buffy moaned softly and tried to get up but she only succeeded in distracting Willow causing her to lose the barrier that held back the vampire. The night creature sensed the absence of magic and started to spring on its vulnerable victims.
"Hold demon!" a deep commanding voice boomed across the clearing.
A blinding bolt of bluish white light streaked through the air and struck the vampire enveloping him in flames. The vampire screamed in agony just before exploding into a cloud of dust.
The bright explosion blinded Willow, but as her vision cleared she saw three figures standing patiently in front of her.
They were wearing gray robes with vests of heavy black leather and cowled hoods. Each carried an ash staff covered in Celtic runes and long daggers hung from their braided cord belts. They were surrounded by brightly glowing lights that flashed blue green then red.
When they reached the two friends they pulled back their hoods revealing their faces. There were two beautiful women that Willow guessed were about 25 or 30 the third figure caught and held her attention. It was a man he wasn't tall or particularly handsome but Willow found him irresistible and there was an ageless quality about him. He had long brown hair and a full beard streaked with gray. He wore a slight smile that seemed permanent but his most arresting feature were his kind hazel eyes that seemed to glow with alight of their own.
"Who are you?" Willow asked finally, her voice squeaking from a mixture of curiosity and fear. Buffy was once again unconscious so it would up to her to defend her helpless friend.
"Relax little Wiccan, " the man said, his deep resonant voice wrapping around Willow like a warm comforting blanket. "Our people have been caring for your kind since the age of Chaos."
Willow didn't know why but she felt safe and secure. Her eyelids became heavy and she wondered at it. Just a few moments ago she was ready to do battle for her Buffy....
Now she couldn't keep her eyes open, she knew it must have been some kind of spell but the darkness began to over ride her thoughts. She felt strong soft arms catch her and lift her off her feet. She felt so safe in the arms that had exact combination of Buffy's strength and gentleness.
"What about the wizard?" Willow heard one of the women ask as her eyes closed.
"He still denies his true nature," the man's voice answered sadly. "We will have to return another time for him. They need us now and I fear we may already be too late."
That was all Willow heard.
Part Six
Giles had fallen into an exhausted sleep at his desk; it was the first time he'd closed his eyes in nearly a week.
It had been at least 4 days since he'd showered or shaved.
The only time he'd left his research was when he went to check on Buffy's condition and to give the Slayer her injection.
His concern for Buffy was balanced only by his admiration of Willow. This crisis had certainly brought her out of her shell. The situation had revealed strength of personality that Giles' hadn't known existed in the little hacker.
She'd always been caring and compassionate but now she was also strong and fiercely protective of her seriously ill best friend. The down side was she was also suspicious and unforgiving of anyone that had ever hurt Buffy.
Giles knew she basically trusted him on one level but on another more instinctual level he sadly fell into the second category. He could see her distrust of him in her eyes every time he gave his Slayer the injection; he had made one mistake he'd followed the Council's orders. And that would condemn him to live forever without the Witch's trust. The Ripper side of him wanted to scream and rage at Willow that he would never hurt Buffy again-but the other side, the ashamed side of him, felt he deserved her fury.
A loud obnoxious beeping jolted him out a slumber he hadn't realized he'd fallen into, making him growl with irritation. He sat up pulled off his glasses before his sleep addled brain connected the beeping to his pager-the very same pager her had given Willow for emergencies.
"Oh my god," he groaned. "How long has that been going off?"
He grabbed the pager shut it off then hurriedly phoned the girls room. Panic started to rise in him when no one answered. He snatched up his keys and grabbed a well-worn leather jacket, putting it on as dashed from his apartment.
He reached the dorms in record time, slamming the old car into park he launched himself out of the door before the car had stopped rolling.
Giles burst through the doors of the dorm ran up the steps taking them two at a time. When he reached the girl's floor he ran down the hall and came to a sliding stop in front of their door. An icy hand griped his heart when he saw their door open.
He knocked on the door pushing it open further, "Willow... Buffy is every thing all right?" Giles asked as he stepped into the room. "Oh god no."
He froze for a second when he saw the empty room that in and of it self was bad enough, but as he surveyed the room he saw clear evidence of a violent struggle.
"Where are they?" he asked himself out loud. "The Hellmouth!"
In an adrenaline rush Giles charged out the door and ran down the hall to the stairs. He barely touched the stairs as he ran down them and out the back door unknowingly following the same path the girls had taken.
When he got outside his naturally magic sensitive eyes picked up the pale blue glow of Willow's tracking spell. Recognizing it for what it was he immediately started following it.
"Bless you Willow and your Wyccan skills." Giles muttered as he entered the woods. He knew he was following the right path thanks to his favorite red headed witch.
When he reached the clearing the smell of blood, death, and ozone nearly over powered him. He could tell his girls had been there and had fought some kind of battle. Giles searched the clearing frantically for evidence of their whereabouts. He found the evidence of a vampire attack--the three mounds of dust--but no other sign of his daughters.
Willow's spell obviously ended here and he could tell that no one had left the clearing by conventional means. So where were they? Giles fell to his knees in pain and horror realizing they had simply disappeared from this spot and it took something a lot more powerful than a vampire or demon to do that.
"Oh god please," Giles moaned in total despair. "Have I failed them again."
He fell the rest of the way to the ground, his mind numbed with guilt and self-loathing. Giles lay in the grassy field for hours berating himself for his lack of talent and his inability to properly care for the two young women who fate had placed in his charge.
Just before sunrise Giles felt a gentle warm breeze brush his face and his nose picked up the sweet spicy smell of the Slayer's perfume combined with the subtle earthy herbal scent that Willow wore.
For some reason Giles knew he could trust the voice completely and his spirits rose with the sun. He got to his feet went home and after a long needed shower and shave he collapsed into his bed and fell into a deep dreamless sleep
Part Seven
Willow's eyes opened slowly, her mind was a complete blank. She yawned and stretched feeling rested and completely relaxed for the first time since Buffy got sick.
"Oh no Buffy!" Willow gasped and bolted up remembering her best friend's serious condition and the shape she was in when Willow saw her last.
"Be calm little one," a soothing female told voice her, as warm soft hand touched her shoulder. "Your beloved is resting quietly in another room. The sister of my soul watches over her."
Willow felt a warm comforting feeling spread throughout her body from the hand. She looked over and was mesmerized by what she saw. Seated next to the bed was the most serenely beautiful woman Willow had ever seen. She was wearing white gown with an emerald green cloak held by a pair of silver swan clasps at her throat. Her long softly shining blonde hair hung to her waist. She had flawless soft white skin and wore a compassionate caring smile on her full sensuous red lips. But it was her eyes that held Willow's attention. They glowed with pale grayish blue light, like the water in a crystal clear pool. Willow felt drawn into them letting them wash away all her cares and sorrows. The woman had an air of grace and elegance about her that made even the simple rocking chair she was sitting in seem like a throne.
"What? Where? How?" Willow stammered confused.
"All fine questions." The woman said with an amused smile. "And they will be answered soon, but first rise and refresh yourself. We have replaced your soiled apparel and when you are ready I will take you to see your beloved."
"Ah...okay," Willow said stunned.
Willow slid out the bed followed as the woman showed her where the bath.
"Pull the bell cord when you are ready and I will return to take you to the one you wish to see." The woman said and then left.
Willow heard the door close and looked around the large bathroom amazed by what she saw. Everything was exactly the way Willow had it at home only on a larger scale.
The tub was already filled with hot scented water that had the perfect combination of oils and herbs in it. Even the soaps and perfumes were all Willow's favorites. It was kind of spooky but not in a bad way.
When Willow was finished she reentered the bedroom and found a new set of clothes laid out for her on the bed. As she put them on, Willow couldn't help but be impressed by the quality and the intricate workmanship of each article. There were, of course, the normal undergarments but the rest were anything but normal, at least for Willow's century.
There was a long dark green velvet gown that nearly reached the floor, a pair of soft leather slippers, and a long green cloak like the woman had been wearing but with pentagram clasps instead of swans. To her further surprise everything fit perfectly.
Willow couldn't help it she just had to look in the mirror. She almost didn't recognize her own reflection; she looked like a picture out of one of Giles' medieval books.
She stopped staring at herself and forced herself back to the matters at hand. She pulled the bell cord she'd been shown and almost instantly there was a knock on her door.
"Come in " Willow called out.
The door opened and the woman stepped in.
"Is everything to your liking?" she asked.
"It's perfect." Willow replied then added "except for one thing."
"What is that?" the woman asked with genuine concern.
"What do I call you?" Willow asked "I mean 'Hey you' just doesn't seem right and after all you've done for us 'ma'am' seems a little too impersonal."
A smile lit up the woman's face and her lyrical laugh seemed to fill the air.
"I suppose we have not been properly introduced, but in truth we have done little for you," she began, then paused as if considering the best way to phrase her answer. "However to answer your question at the time of my calling I was known as Brigit. Though I have not heard that name for quite some time but it will do for now."
"Okay, Brigit," Willow said. "You did say something about going to see Buffy."
"As you wish." Brigit said then warned, "before we go you should know we are unable to cure the Chosen One. We have halted the progress of the ailment and she is sleeping peacefully, without pain, but she is no better and her infirmity is apparent so do not be shocked by her appearance."
"Ah...okay so can I see her now?" Willow persisted.
"Certainly little one," Brigit said calmly. "Come with me."
She led Willow through the door and down a long marble hallway. After passing several large iron bound doors Brigit came to a stop at huge door with an intricate silver hexmark on it.
She knocked and ushered Willow through the somewhat intimidating doorway announcing their arrival.
Willow looked around the room amazed at its size. But her gaze stopped when it reached the over sized bed in the center of the room.
Lying in the middle of the bed propped up on pillows was the center of Willow's universe.
Buffy was covered with a large fluffy looking bright red and silver comforter. A heart-wrenching sob escaped Willow's lips when she saw how small and frail her normally strong and healthy friend looked in the huge bed.
Her skin was pale and drawn making her bones protrude and her cheeks looked hollow because the circles under her eyes were so dark it looked as if someone had beaten her.
Willow ran to the bed.
"Oh Buffy what have I done?" Willow sobbed, "Why can't I heal you?"
"Perhaps that is something we should discuss." A man's deep voice said from behind her "Among other things."
Willow turned and came face to face with the man from the night before. He was still wearing the long gray robe and was still as impressive as he had been the night before. . Those shining hazel eyes seemed to look straight into her soul and saw her every secret.
"Who are you?" Willow demanded, amazed at her own audacity.
He smiled at her.
"All will be answered soon my child." he said his warm soft voice filling her mind "Come with me and we will explore your questions and possibly find the answers you seek."
Part Eight
Willow tore her eyes away from the man's hypnotic gaze and looked back at her unconscious friend.
"No," she said adamantly. "I won't leave my Buffy." It was a statement of fact, not an argument or request.
"I will care for your other half," replied a husky female voice.
Willow turned toward the new voice and was stunned to silence by the woman's beauty. The first thing Willow noticed, as the newcomer stepped out of a shadowed alcove, was her fiery red hair. It fell in a wild cascade of waves and curls to just past her shoulders. The next thing Willow noticed were the woman's smoky green eyes; they seemed to be aware of everything in the room and yet they never broke their contact with Willow's.
After a few moments the Witch was able to pull her eyes away from the older woman and finish her appraisal--she was wearing a black leather tunic trimmed with silver Celtic knot work over a dark blue knee length dress and knee high leather boots. Lastly, hanging from her belt were two long silver dirks, their handles looked worn with constant use.
The erotic beauty combined with the cat like grace of the woman's movements, and the flash of strong white teeth gave her the look of a feral predator--the exact opposite of Brigit.
"We must talk," the man said. "We won't go far I promise. Nothing will happen to her with Morrigan watching over her."
Willow looked from Morrigan to Brigit to the man and back again, she was confused and very worried about Buffy.
"I give you my oath; nothing will happen to your other half while she is under my protection," Morrigan said quietly, with a steel edge voice.
The young girl's mind suddenly flashed on an image of warrior standing tall on a battlefield-but instead of Morrigan's face the warrior had Buffy's.
"I guess that's okay," Willow said, stunned by the image and still unsure of the trio's intentions. But something in the back of her mind was screaming at her to trust these unusual people and that voice had never been wrong, so she nodded her assent.
"Good, please come this way," he said. "We will be just outside in case your friend needs something."
He led her outside, into a large tree filled courtyard with a small fountain surrounded by stone tables with benches. He chose bench on the sunny side of the fountain and sat down. At his gesture to join him, Willow sat down opposite of him and then looked around in wonder.
There were trees and flowers of all kinds around them. There were birds and other wildlife that came so close Willow could see the marking on their feathers. The young girl realized with a start of recognition that some of the animals gathered in the courtyard were extinct.
The man lifted his arm, waving a greeting and a huge raven flew down and landed on his shoulder. The bird blinked a greeting to Willow and bowed its head in acknowledgment to her then hopped to the ground and wandered off.
Willow sat quietly for a few moments drinking in the peaceful beauty of the surroundings trying to store the memory away for later less turbulent times. Her worry for Buffy clouding all her thoughts and emotions. Still, something kept tugging at the fringes of her mind; there was something familiar about these people and this place.
Just as she was about to confront the man Brigit came out caring a large silver tray loaded down with fresh fruit, three cups, and a pitcher.
"Eat child, enjoy the Earth mother's gifts," he said as Brigit handed her a plate full of the fruit.
"Drink the meade too, little one," Brigit added. "It will strengthen you for what lies ahead."
"Thank you," Willow said, taking a tentative sip of the potent liquid. "This is really good."
Willow savored the sweet honey aftertaste as the warmth of the meade flowed through her body. Brigit smiled at her and she felt the warm spring sunshine in that smile.
Brigit sat down at the end of the bench and Willow gasped when a huge shaggy gray wolf padded over sat down next to the woman and began nuzzling her hand demanding attention.
"Now is the time little one," Brigit said absent-mindedly scratching the wolf's ears. "Ask Lugh your questions."
At the mention of the mention of the man's name Willow's mind clicked and she remembered where she'd heard the names before.
"Lugh?" Willow choked out, her eyes wide with surprise and disbelief. "That means...you are...this is...you can't...."
The man she now knew as Lugh smiled at her surprise and confusion, he held up a hand to stop her verbal melt down.
"You are remarkably well informed child," Lugh began. "You apparently have heard of us."
"Heard of you? Yes!" Willow blurted out. "You're legends...gods even!"
"No child not gods," Lugh assured her. "We are as human as you and your friend. We are merely well educated and trained in the ways of our kind."
"What is your kind?" Willow asked a little calmer. "Are you immortals? I've heard of them."
"No, not immortal." Lugh said smiling at her. He was amused at the girl's undeniable curiosity. "It is this place. Long ago our people saw the need for a sanctuary away from your world. So using ancient and powerful magicks and combination all our talents we created this place." He paused to take a drink of his meade before continuing, trying to gage the girl's level of understanding. "It does not exist on your plane it is adjacent to your world but only we know how to part the veil that separates our planes allowing us to go back and forth as needed."
Lugh stopped and again took long drink from his goblet. It had been a long time since he had talked this much and his throat was parched. It had been a long time since someone from the otherside of veil had visited and had been able to understand what he was talking about.
"Others have created many legends and folk tales about us, I have heard a good many of them, the truth however is much more mundane." He continued, "It seems that when we created this place there was a side effect no one had anticipated."
Lugh stopped, Willow could hear the strain in his voice.
"You see time as you know it does not exist here," Lugh resumed. "We have done many tests, some with dire consequences, to learn the laws that rule this plane. Here we do not age. So when the time comes for those of with the calling must enter your world we have not changed. People misunderstood and thought we were more than we truly are. Eventually superstition being what it is people came to think of us as gods, a title we neither seek nor want."
"Okay so this place must be...." Willow began knowing but not believing.
"Yes child we have brought you and your friend to Teach Tu Danann" Lugh told her.
Willow speechless, she had read some obscure legends of this place, never much because of the lack of written history about the Druids and their beliefs.
"I never had any idea this place could possibly exist." Willow said once her brain began to grasp what she'd just been told. "Everything.... All the writings were so vague."
"That was not an accident my child. We did not want to give the outside world too many clues and it worked." Lugh sighed softly, "but now we have been forced to once again to come into direct contact with your world because of you and the Chosen One."
"Why? What can you do to cure her?" Willow demanded hopefully, "is that why we're here?"
"All in its time child." Lugh said cryptically.
"Lugh! Really were you never young?" Brigit scolded him softly then explained to Willow. "No little one we can not cure her. We can only halt the progress of the affliction the demon caused. We have saved her life but we can not cure it and what you must know is that it has progressed much further than we knew. If a cure is not given soon her soul will be released and with that the fate of your world will be sealed."
"Quite true," Lugh interrupted. "Let me explain a little history and maybe you will better understand our dilemma."
"All right, I'm listening." Willow said with far more confidence than she felt.
They all took a deep drink of the potent meade then Lugh looked deeply into Willow's eyes capturing and holding with his eerily glowing hazel orbs.
"Since the best way to spin a tale is from the beginning that is where I shall begin." Lugh said, his deep voice and lyrical accent reassured Willow and helped her relax and absorb what he was saying. "Let us begin with the dawn of creation."
Part Nine
Lugh's voice filled Willow's mind with pictures of times long past as he continued the history lesson.
"From the beginning there have been two forces ruling the natural universe," the Druid began. "One is Light, representing order and conformity. The other is Darkness, representing chaos and change. They fought each other for control. The Old Ones kept them at bay until the younger gods of man came and exiled the Old Ones to another plane. Since they understand nothing about balance man and their gods aligned themselves with either the Light or the Darkness. The people who could walk in the day began to fear the dark of the night instead of knowing it was just a time of rest. They ascribed all sorts of dangers to the night. Finally, the balance was completely lost and a war began with each side trying to subdue the other. Some of us however remembered the teachings of the Old Ones and knew that a total victory for either side would mean the end of the world.
You see if the Light wins there is complete and total order and the world would stagnate and die and if the Darkness wins the resulting total chaos and destruction would send the world reeling into oblivion. Our kind has sworn to maintain the proper balance between them. It's a simple equation, actually, in order to have peace and civilization you must have order however you must also have a certain amount of chaos so man will progress and evolve to his next level."
Lugh stopped to take a drink, he had not talked this much in a very long time and it was exhausting. He only hoped it was worth the trouble and the young witch would understand what he was trying to tell her.
He was beginning to become fond of her. She reminded him of young Brigit with her soft gentle ways, the intelligent light in her eyes, and her brave and noble spirit. He chuckled as he remembered the way she had rushed to her friend's aid without regard for her own safety.
"Okay I understand so far," Willow said filling the silence. "But what does any of this got to do with us."
"Fair enough." Lugh began again; Willow could hear the strain in his voice. "I will skip over several thousand years of Druid history and as you put it 'I'll get to the point.' In order to limit the destruction caused by their eternal conflict the Old Ones laid a geis on the Light and the Darkness so that they can not confront each other directly; they must use champions...."
"Right, so Buffy is the Chosen One, the champion of the Light. I already knew that! So how do we fix her?" Willow demanded.
"Patience child" Lugh said deflecting Willow's questions, trying to impart some of his wisdom to her. "You see the two powers are allowed to endow their champions with incredible powers both on the physical and spiritual levels. The problem is that all that power forced into one lesser being--warped and twisted that being's soul turning them into babbling lunatics. Darkness' answer was to dole out a certain amount of power to many warriors.
Light on the other hand decided to give a few of its followers half the power--either they got great physical prowess or tremendous spiritual gifts. The physical half are always female; the other half can be any gender." Lugh could see the light of comprehension in Willow's eyes. He smiled to himself, maybe this young Witch could understand after all?
"That is correct my dear you are the Slayer's other half."
"That is the truth little one." Brigit added, "just like Morrigan and I are, the ancient name, is 'sisters of the soul'. "
"B-but how?" Willow stammered surprised but at the same time knowing it was true. Knowing it she and Buffy were connected in the deepest parts of their being.
"Most of it is fate, that is what brought the two of you together, and your intertwining destinies," Lugh explained. "However between the taboos placed upon you by your rather cold and narrow minded society made of Light, and the forces of Darkness have combined to keep you from acknowledging each other and bonding as it was meant to be."
"We would have watched and waited for nature to take its course, as is our way," Brigit interjected. "But when your other became so ill and we discovered her intention was to die before she would acknowledge her love-we knew must take direct action. She fears her love for you will lead you to your death. So we came to get you, although we were nearly too late."
"I'm grateful for the rescue and I don't mean to sound disrespectful," Willow interrupted desperate to understand. "What does all that have to do with curing Buffy?"
"Think little one," Brigit instructed. "She has a demonic infection, that is an affliction of the soul, she can't cure it on her own, she needs her spiritual half to help."
"But I've been here all along! I've loved her all this time!" Willow sobbed afraid they were wrong, it couldn't be this easy. "Why didn't she get better? Why did she get sick in the first place?"
"I can explain this Lugh," Brigit said taking Willow's hand into her own soft warm ones. "She's sick and not recovering because you have both denied you true feelings each other for so long you've become blocked. You must confess your feelings for each other and embrace your fates, together. Only then will you be able to cure her and restore her strength, only then will you both be able to protect each other and the rest of mankind."
Morrigan came up behind Brigit and wrapped her arms around her; Brigit leaned back into the emb