by Dazed and Confused83 » Sun Dec 04, 2005 1:28 am
First off, I want to apologize for not having had an update since July or so. I had alot of spare time over the summer to work on the fic, but then the school year started and I was WAAAAAAAAAAY busier than I expected. Not only is it my senior year in college, but I'm already working on finding a job for after graduation. So...I hope you'll forgive me.
Lonewolf22: Thanks for the comments, I decided it would be just too much to make Willow's parents keep up their not-so-niceness, so it was time for them to come around. I'm sure we'll see more of the Willow/Tara connection in the fic, but I don't think it's going to play a primary role or anything.
Erin: Not all guys are jerks... but these ones certainly are. Thanks for the comments.
sadie: Thanks for your feedback...hope you like the update (If you're still reading it, that is!)
sam: Glad you liked it! Hope you continue to... Thanks for your feedback.
Russ: Wow..what can I say...Thanks so much for your extensive feedback. I like hearing from readers that my ideas as a writer for the story are actually effective (or if they aren't, so I can change things!) I'm sorry for making you wait so long for the next update, and I hope you're still around to read it.
melmac: Thanks for your comments. There are several reasons why I didn't detail the crime as it happened, some of which I've already talked about...I don't think I'm as good at writing scenes like that, and also I think the way I went about it ended up being more effective. Hope you continue to like the story, if you're still reading.
lottagay: I guess this doesn't qualify as "very soon"... sorry about that. Hope you like the update if you're still reading and that you found other great stories to fill your fic withdrawals between then and now!
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Okay, that's all my thanks... now, Onto the story:
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Title: Only Love
Part: 5
Author: Tiffany
Feedback: Pretty Please???
Distribution: I'll most likely say yes, but let me know first.
Pairings: W/T (They're the main focus, but some X/A may sneak in)
Rating: R
Content Warnings: While there is no explicit depiction of what goes on in this chapter, it deals with the consequences of some very serious and disturbing violence. If you’re bothered by that kind of story, then this might not be for you
Disclaimer: Willow and Tara and all the other Buffy characters belong to Joss Whedon and the gang... I swear I'm making no money and I promise to give them back after I'm done playing with them!
Notes: This is a somewhat short update, but I have Christmas break coming up and plan to work on this big-time.
And now... onto Part 5!
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Chapter 5
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Willow felt as if she had been dreaming for weeks on end, an endless stream of images, sounds and feelings. She had been trying to wake up, but it was as if she were a puppet trapped in a freaky nightmare world. Some of the dreams had been pleasant, dreams of the Scooby gang in happier times, of her and Tara and what their life would be like when they were still together in ten or twenty years. But there had been many upsetting dreams as well; one in particular that had occurred over and over again. It was a nightmare in which she and Tara were attacked. Sometimes she died, sometimes Tara died, and other times they both did. Anytime one of those dreams took place Willow tried so hard to wake up or snap out of it, but always to no avail.
Tick-Tock
Tick-Tock
Tick-Tock
The sound of the wall clock in the room was the first thing to really penetrate Willow’s consciousness. As Willow’s awareness slowly came back to her, it occurred to her that she was lying in bed. Her muscles ached in a way almost reminiscent of when she slept in way too long on the weekends. Her eyes fluttered open and Willow suddenly found herself lying in a room that was not her own.
White walls, mass-produced watercolor paintings, extremely uncomfortable bed...it all clicked into place. She turned her head to the right and saw her Tara, her beautiful Tara sleeping with her leg up in a contraption. her mind couldn’t keep from informing her.
As soon as it really registered in Willow’s brain that in order for Tara’s leg to be up in traction, she had to have been hurt, she tried to sit up. The pain that shot through her torso caused her to cry out. When Willow’s cry shattered the silence of the room, Tara immediately woke up with a start, jarring her leg and causing her a slight shot of pain as well. Tara immediately looked over toward her girlfriend, and seeing her awake, she called out Willow’s name.
“Willow!” Tara felt more relief wash through her than she had expected when she heard Willow answer back.
“Tara...What...What happened? Her voice was dry and scratchy, but it was obvious that Tara had her Willow back. Trying to fight back tears at the fact that she couldn’t even hold Willow’s hand, Tara pushed the button for the nurse and tried to soothe Willow.
“Shh...I’m here baby. I’m s-sorry I can’t come to you. I’m so happy you’re awake. Don’t try to move too much until the doctor comes in”
Willow was feeling something akin to panic as she realized something major had happened, something she couldn’t quite remember. “Tara, why are we here? What happened?”
“Just rest now Sweetie...the nurse will be here in a minute. We can talk about it later, okay baby? Goddess, I love you.”
A second later the nurse walked in. Right as she was about to ask Tara what she needed, she saw Willow’s eyes and let slip a surprised “Oh!” Glancing at the two girls she exclaimed that she would get the doctor immediately.
Dr. Keller came strolling in with a bright smile on her face. “Willow! I’m so glad to see you awake.” She took the glass of water that the nurse brought in and offered it to the redhead, who gratefully took a small drink. Once the liquid slid down her throat, she heard the now too-familiar words spilling from her mouth. “What happened?”
Dr. Keller looked over at Tara, unsure of what she should say. Something in the blonde’s eyes told her to avoid answering Willow’s question. “Let’s hold off on the questions for a bit, okay? The nurse has called your parents and they should be on their way. Right now I need to give you a quick examination, all right?” Willow nodded, but was frustrated about the fact that no one would answer her questions.
For about ten minutes the doctor poked and prodded Willow, asking short questions. When she was finally finished, the doctor stood back, jotting a few notes in a chart and talking softly with the nurse.
Willow looked across the room and her eyes met Tara’s once again. Her stomach lurched and she couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong. “Tara...baby...are--are you okay? I mean, no one’s telling me anything but I know I can feel all my limbs and all my senses seem to be functioning. But...but...What happened??! Why are we here??” A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Tara tried hard to fight the tears she could feel welling up, but between the sheer reality of the situation and Willow’s confusion and anxiety on top of it, she knew it wasn’t much use. She closed her eyes, praying for a moment for strength from the Goddess.
“Will, first I want you to know that we’re both okay. We were all a little worried about you for a bit, but you’re awake now and nothing’s happened that we can’t recover from.” She could see that her girlfriend was still frustrated. “What is the last thing you remember?”
Willow had been listening to Tara wishing she would just spit it out. She felt as if she were stuck in a bad soap opera. She closer her eyes and thought back to see what she could remember. “I--I remember coming out to Mom and Dad...It didn’t go well. We-we went out that night, and I vaguely remember the new club, but that’s it.” After a few moments of silence, she spoke again. “What happened Tara? I--I can tell you don’t really want to talk about it, but I need to hear it, no matter how bad it is. Was the club attacked? A near-apocalypse? A demon? Were we attacked by vamps?? Please Tara...The fact that no one’s talking scares me more than being here does.”
Tara took a deep breath and wiped away the few tears that had gathered. “We were a-attacked...w-walking home that n-night. No monsters...w-well, not technically. I-It was two men.”
Willow’s mind started whirling. That nightmare... the one she’d had over and over. It wasn’t a nightmare; it was real. Her heart sped up and she felt herself getting clammy.
Tara saw Willow zone out and she became concerned. “Willow? Willow...Love...answer me!” When Willow didn’t react, she hit the button for the nurse and doctor who had stepped out the room.
It was only a few moments before they rushed in. “I--I don’t know what’s wrong! She won’t answer me!”
Dr. Keller sat on the edge of Willow’s bed and after a quick check of her vitals, she took Willow’s hand. “Willow, sweetie. You’re having some kind of panic attack...but you’re okay. You’re in the hospital. You’re safe. Tara’s here, and I’m here. You’re parents will be here soon.”
Someone was stroking her hand. Willow could feel her fear lessen slightly as she heard the gentle words being spoken to her. “Tara?” She blinked and looked up, but saw it wasn’t Tara but the blonde doctor from a little bit ago. “I-I...I’m sorry. I-I’m tired.”
Dr. Keller stood up. “Go ahead and sleep Willow. You need rest.” Turning to Tara, she took a few steps and squeezed the girl’s hand. “If either of you need anything, don’t hesitate to ring for the nurse, okay?”
Tara nodded. After the doctor left the room, she stared at her now sleeping lover and felt her heart break yet again at the pain etched into Willow’s features. As she lay there waiting for Willow’s parents, she realized her pain meds must be kicking in, because she felt her eyelids become too heavy to keep open any longer.
***End Part 5***
Hope you all liked it...I won't take as long to post the next part, but it'll probably be a few weeks at least.
-Tiffany
::Edited to fix some minor typos::
. I'll just read any update I can get, I'm to impatient to wait for completed stories 