Brown Eyes Blue

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Chapter 13:

Where Do We Go From Here?”

Willow takes a few nervous steps towards the Summers’ house but she’s still more than a mile away from safety. She begins to chant and a light swirls-but just as the Bringers move closer it begins to fade. “Damn!” She starts to talk to herself. "Calm-focus-try again. You can do it." She chants again and the light returns-it flies out and hits a Bringer knocking it to the ground. She moves cautiously toward home knocking down the Bringers as she nears them. A few blocks from home the exhausted witch, her green eyes now black, can no longer fight. Her power and magicks are now gone from over use. As she struggles to stay on her feet a Bringer grabs her from behind. “No!” she screams.

On her way toward home Buffy searches frantically for the redhead, “Damn-where are you Will?” She turns thinking she heard a scream and runs at top speed in that direction. “Hang on Willow!”

As the Bringer starts to pull his knife across the drained witch's neck Kennedy jumps from out of no where and drops him to the ground. His knife comes free and she picks it up, slitting his throat as he had planned to do to the redhead. Looking around at the others approaching her Kennedy picks up the fallen witch and turns to face them. As they encircle her Kennedy prepares to protect the girl at all cost. Suddenly they part and she sees Buffy and a bleach blonde man fighting feverously, the Slayer yells- “Get her out of here!”

“You don’t have to tell me twice-” she runs toward the house with Willow in her arms. She slows when she sees porch lights and then Tara standing on the steps. The blonde witch meets her on the walk. “Is she hurt?”

“I don't know-no blood but-I don't know,” they walk in the house together and she puts the redhead on the couch. “You got her?” Tara nods. “Buffy needs my help.” She leaves without waiting for a response.

The Slayer, the vampire and the Potential fight until all the Bringers are dead or fleeing. The three warriors stand, hearts pounding, breathing ragged- “What was Red doing out after dark?” Asks Spike. Kennedy looks away- Buffy looks toward her and Spike simply starts to walk away.

“Spike-” Buffy starts to speak and he stops and turns toward her. “What you did-thanks.”

“You need to keep a better eye on her Slayer,” the vampire says and without waiting for an answer he leaves.

Buffy shakes her head, “Arrogant pain in my a-”

“Who is he?” Ask the Potential.

“Nobody.” The Slayer walks down the sidewalk toward home. Kennedy follows silently, her mind filled with thoughts of Willow.

At the house Tara is watching the redhead as she remains on the couch unconscious. She touches her cheek, “Please sweetie-be okay.” The blonde Wicca tries without success to keep tears from falling. They trickle down her cheeks as she tightens her hold on her lover’s hand. “Will-” her words stop as she sees her girl’s eyes flutter and then open. What she sees scares her-instead of Willow’s soft green, the blackened eyes of dark magick remain.

“Tara?”

“I’m here-” she forces a smile.

“How did I get-I can’t remember,” Willow's tears begin to fall.

“No-shhh-you’re okay,” she presses a kiss to her forehead.

“I can feel the dark-” the redhead sobs out.

“We’ll fix it-rest and then we’ll do the cleansing again.”

“We shouldn’t have to so soon-why Tara? What’s making it-” again her words stop but this time it’s because of Tara’s soft lips on hers.

As they pull out of the kiss for air the blonde Wicca sits beside her redhead on the couch. Her hand gently strokes Willow’s cheek. “We’ll figure it out-it’s what we do.” She forces a smile and the witch nods at her words. “Okay?”

“Okay-” before she can say more the door opens and she turns to look that direction fearing the worse.

“Tara-” Kennedy’s voice sounds nervous.

“In-in here-” answers the woman. She sees the young would-be Slayer enter the room followed by Buffy.

“Will-?”The Slayer speaks.

“Buff-I’m all right.” Her eyes are closed as she speaks.

Buffy looks at Tara for a truthful answer, “She will be,” says the Wicca.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” Buffy’s words are harsh.

“Hey-back off!” The teenager’s words are just as unkind.

Buffy looks at her unsure and then speaks, “You stay out of this.”

“Buffy let’s not do this now,” Tara’s words are gentle. “It’s late and everyone’s-tomorrow-okay?”

“Yeah-okay.” She turns and looks at Kennedy, the brunette stands her ground. “You shouldn’t have been out there either.” Not waiting for an answer the Slayer goes toward the stairs.

“Where does she get off-” Kennedy starts.

But Willow interrupts, “She’s the Slayer and she’s right. I shouldn’t have been out and you shouldn’t have gone out looking for me.” Her eyes remain shut. “But I’m glad you did.”

“Had to-it was my fault I had to fix it.” Kennedy looks from Tara to the redhead.

“Why don’t we talk about that tomorrow too-Will really needs to rest?”

“Right.” Kennedy takes a step towards the stairs.

“Kennedy wait-please.” The girl nods and Tara leans down to whisper in her witch’s ear. “Can you make it to the room?”

Her eyes open and the black remains, “Not sure,” she sits up slowly. Kennedy watches nervously. Finally with Tara’s help the redhead gets to her feet. She takes a few tentative steps leaning on her blonde. “Can’t baby-” she stops.

Kennedy walks to them, she looks at Willow and is shocked by the eyes-she turns to Tara, “Let me.” Tara nods as she battles tears. The young would-be Slayer picks up the weak redhead.

“Tara?” Willow is unsure.

“I’m right here sweetie.” She takes Willow’s hand.

Later Tara holds the redhead in her arms as she watches her sleep. The cleansing was hard on both of them but the Wicca can’t bring herself to close her eyes afraid Willow will wake and she won’t hear her. Her mind races with thoughts and none of them good. She would have to tell Giles about the need for the additional cleansing. They had to find the cause of the dark magic-why it was now trying to control the redhead’s magic. She hears her girl mumble and then whine, “Shhhh-it’s okay sweetie.” She presses a kiss to her temple.

In Kennedy’s borrowed room the teenager isn’t able to sleep either. Her mind keeps replaying first the kiss and then the look on the redhead’s face. “What have I done?” She stands and goes to the dresser. She opens it and starts packing her clothes into a duffle bag. “I can’t do this-I can't let this happen.”

The next morning Willow is the first to awake. She stretches and smiles as her eyes rest on her girl. She reaches out and trails her fingers along her bare shoulder.

“Mmmm-” is the blonde’s only response. The redhead gets a playful look and follows the same path with her hand. “Nice,” whispers the Wicca.

“Like that?” asks Willow.

“Definitely-” her blue eyes meet green and her smile grows. “Can I wake up like this always?”

“Always,” assures the redhead as she kisses her lips. A soft knock on the door interrupts their plans. “Go away,” whines Willow.

Buffy’s voice is heard from behind the door, “We really need to talk.”

Tara kisses her girl on the lips and then starts pressing kisses behind her ear, then down her neck, “Buff-” the redhead’s words short, “If this is about-” another kiss only lower, *Goddess hard to concentrate*, thinks the witch. “Last night I was wrong-” she bites her bottom lip to stifle a moan as lips nip at her breast, “never hap-happen again-swear.”

“Willow-it’s Kennedy-” in the hallway Buffy holds a note in her hand worry covers her face. The door opens and the blonde Wicca and her redhead still trying to compose herself stand in front of her wrapped in sheets.

“What’s wrong?” asks Tara.

“She left,” states Buffy as she hands the blonde the note.

“Just left?” Willow doesn’t know what to do-her eyes rest on Tara and then she moves to read over her shoulder. “She can’t just-” Tara takes the girls hand, “It’s not safe.”

“We’ll find her,” assures Tara.

“And when we do, I’m gonna kick her ass. What is she thinking?” Buffy almost growls.

“She’s not-” concedes the soft-spoken blonde. “And the angry isn’t gonna help her.- I’ll call her dad, maybe she went home.” She goes back into the room and a quiet Willow follows. Buffy watches the door close concerned.

It is hours later and still nothing. Her father hasn’t heard from her and her credit card hasn’t been used. Willow is pacing and Tara isn’t much better. Buffy, Xander and Giles are confused by their behavior-unaware of how she fits into their lives. Dawn watches Willow- “Maybe you could do a locater spell?” The redheaded witch stops in her tracks and looks at the teenager. “I know she’s not a demon but-maybe.”

“Maybe,” nods Willow she looks at Tara who has moved to the shelf looking through the rows of books.

Tara speaks- “A human locater spell- I’m not sure,” she begins to read.

Later we find the scoobies sitting around the table in full research mode. Giles stands and tells the others. “I’ll go to the Magic Box, get the necessary supplies. I won’t be long- Willow you should start the circle.”

“No-” Tara’s voice surprises them all. “I’ll-” her eyes meet Willow’s and she sees her girl nod. "I'll do it."

“She’s right it should be her-” admits the redhead.

“Will you’re way stronger-” says Buffy. “This needs power right?”

“It needs a connection,” says Tara her head lowering. Willow takes her hand and squeezes it. Their eyes meet as Tara looks up and she sees her girl’s smile.

“Whatever,” Buffy still oblivious, but Dawn seems to catch on. “You guys run the magic side of this operation-I’m just the muscle.”

“Do you need help?” asks Dawn.

“Why don’t you help Willow set up-I need to talk with Giles.” She follows the man out the front door and they stop on the porch.

“Tara?”

“When this is over and we find her-I need you to know something. Will’s magic it’s been-lately-” she stops. “When you get back.” He nods and leaves.

Inside Willow and Dawn set up the map and the crystal. They go over the casting and then the teenager looks at the witch. “You okay Willow?”

“Peachy-with a peach and an -y and why?” She playfully says.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Tara’s connection with Kennedy?” The teen nods. “It’s hard to explain but I -Tara and I, we’re okay.”

“No fighting? Cause fighting it makes my tummy all with the grumble-y.”

“No fighting-” she smiles able to hide her sadness. Dawn smiles too.

When the spell is done they stand staring at the lighted portion of the map. “Where is that?” asks Xander.

“A cemetery I think-” says Dawn.

“But she’s inside something,” says Tara.

“I’m certain she isn’t-” starts Giles.

“It’s a crypt-Spike’s crypt. Son of a bitch!” Exclaims the Slayer as she starts for the door picking up her crossbow on the way out.

“Wait for us-” Tara and Willow follow.

“If he’s getting staked I want front row seats,” says Xander as he leaves too.

Giles and Dawn follow too, “You don’t think he’ll hurt her?”

“He can’t Dawn-the chip.” Giles reminds the girl.

“Then way was Buffy all with the crossbow action?”

Giles pauses at her words and then cleans his glasses as he starts to move again, “Surely-no-oh good lord.”







Hope you liked it! Let me know what you think. And I promise lots of surprises in the next few chapters.