Together We Stand Divided We Fall

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Chapter 2
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It took Buffy a week to recover from the attack even with slayer healing powers, but tonight was girl’s night out. Tara, Buffy, and Dawn were out for a movie then dancing at the Bronze.

“So my pick of movies…good?” Dawn asked Tara. She didn’t ask her sister. Buffy always teased the teenager for picking movies that were just ‘teen.’

“I thought it would be bad like that Britney Spears one. But I have to say Mandy Moore was good!” Tara nodded at Buffy to give her sister a reply.

“Yep, really good and funny too,” she shifted from one foot to the other.

“Buffy…sweetie she…um died of leukemia,” Tara whispered to her lover.

“Oh not funny…sad, very sad…big with the sad,” Buffy rambled with a look of guilty surprise.

“You fell asleep didn’t you?” Dawn glared at the slayer.

“No I didn’t…well maybe a little. You know…much healage,” Buffy tried to defend herself.

“You did! How could you…oh hell, Buff, I can’t be mad. You have been working nonstop lately…you know lying around on the couch healing for the last week.” She gave a sarcastic smile.

Dawn ran ahead when she saw the Bronze. “I’ll wait for you old people,” she yelled back to the two women. The teenager laughed to herself while she ran to the door of the club.

“Sure we’re old, she’s technically only two,” Buffy joked.

Dawn was about ten feet away from Buffy and Tara when out of the corner of her eye she saw a man running at her. Before she could react, she was pushed to the ground. The vampire jumped on top of her sinking his teeth into her neck. Two more vampires ran out of the alley. “BUFFY!” she yelled to her sister. Buffy ran at full slayer speed. The vampire was ripped off of the teenager and flew through the air, turning to dust. Buffy jumped and kicked one of the vamps in the back then kicked him to the ground. With another kick to the back of its head she laid him out flat and staked him. She turned to the last vampire and it turned to dust. “Wow, that’s handy. And me slaying the hard way all this time.” As the dust cleared Buffy was face to face with Faith.

“What are you doing here?” The slayer stared at the dark haired girl.

“I was saving your sister’s ass or did you miss that?” Faith snapped. “Sorry, a little after-slayage sarcasm. Is she okay?” Faith asked the Wicca kneeling beside Dawn.

“I think she’ll be fine…maybe going to the hospital would be good,” Tara said while she looked at Buffy. “Baby, she’s going to be fine.”

“Baby? You know how this works B, the kid is going to live.” Faith tried to act like her old self but the concern showed through all her attempts.

“She’s not just a kid, Faith! She’s my sister!” Buffy yelled at her.

“I know Buffy and I’m sorry.” Without another word Faith kneeled down and pulled Dawn into her arms, holding her close to her own body. Then she stood, turned, and walked towards the hospital.

“What happened to her, Buffy?” Tara asked unsure why the slayer would have any of the answers.

“I don’t know but when we get to the hospital we’ll call Giles; he’ll know.” She put her arm around Tara’s waist as they walked behind Faith.

Buffy was in the waiting room pacing when the Scoobies got to the hospital.

“Buffy what happened?” Willow ran to Buffy’s side.

“Vamps attacked her and one of the blood-suckers got her, but she’s going to be fine,” Faith stepped in and answered for the blonde slayer.

“How could you be so sure…wait, why are you here?” Willow wrapped her arm around Amie’s waist waiting for Faith’s answer. The dark slayer shook her head, not quite understanding why the hacker was with Amie.

“She came back for Buffy’s help,” Giles told everyone. “I was going to tell you, but Buffy was hurt and it slipped my mind. Horribly sorry Faith.” Giles put his hand on Faith’s shoulder. “She thought that she could help with the patrol.”

Buffy was shocked to see Faith didn’t jump or shy away when the watcher touched her. In fact she welcomed the gesture and moved closer to the older man. Buffy could see that Faith had changed but she still had her doubts and wasn’t going to turn her back on the dark slayer again.

“Miss Summers?” The doctor walked into the waiting room.

“Yes,” Buffy stood facing him.

“She’s going to be fine but I would keep an eye on that dog if I were you.” He gave her a look. “You can take her home now. Don’t forget to sign her out at the nurse’s station.” Then he was gone.

“Thank you Doctor, he won’t be hurting anyone,” Buffy called after him before turning to the gang. “Dog…what dog…we don’t have a dog,” Buffy’s eyes were fixed on Tara.

“I didn’t know what to say…dog was the first thing that came to mind,” Faith offered the truth to the slayer and Scoobies.

“Good thinking…dog…never thought people really believed the ‘dog bite’ story,” Willow shook her head.

“Well when people can’t take the truth they will believe anything…I could have told him she was attacked by goldfish and he would have believed it,” Faith stated as she walked to the door.

“Where are you going?” Xander asked the dark slayer.

“I don’t know. I feel like patrolling so I’ll see ya later, B.” Then she was gone as fast as she arrived.

“She’ll be back and then we can help her!” Giles told the slayer.

****

That night the five girls sat in the Summer’s living room.

“I can’t believe Faith is back,” Dawn said as she yawned.

“I know. How weird is that...I mean I knew she was with Giles but I didn’t think she would come back here,” Willow said as she pushed up and walked to Dawn. “Okay Dawnie, its dream time for you.” Willow put her arm around the teenager’s shoulder.

“I don’t know if I can sleep…will you and Amie stay over?” She looked at Tara knowing that her request could be unwanted. “I mean if it’s okay with everyone,” Dawn added.

“It’s fine with me.” Buffy took Tara’s hand and smiled.

“Sure, why not…I’m going to bed,” Tara gave Buffy a smile that said I don’t like it but who am I and pushed up and ran up the stairs.

“Willow, you can sleep in your old room,” Buffy said as she took her sister up to bed.

“Okay thank you…we’re just going to clean up before going to bed,” Willow smiled.

Buffy walked into the bedroom without closing the door. She sat on the edge of the bed and took off her boots.

“Are you okay?” Tara was already in bed.

“No…I don’t know,” Buffy couldn’t get the sight of Dawn being attacked out of her mind.

“Is there something I could do?” Tara sat up and wrapped her arms around her lover’s waist. She started to kiss her neck.

Buffy’s eyes closed tight as she felt the heat rise in her body. “Tara please…I can’t.” Tears fell from the corner of her eyes. “It was like losing Dawn all over again,” she explained.

Tara let her head fall. “I’m sure you were scared then too…I can’t remember. I know how I felt when Glory took my mind. Thought I would never see you again.”

“Tara, you were with Willow then, how could you be worried about me?” she asked her girlfriend.

Tara looked at Buffy and held her a little tighter. “Buffy, I always worried about you. You were the only person that was in my head…and cats…lots of cats.”

Buffy turned to look at Tara. Her needs got the better of her. She wrapped her arm around Tara’s waist pulling her closer.

Tara dropped to her knees and moved to Buffy’s side before she straddled Buffy’s hips. She was dressed in only her panties and a button up nightshirt. Buffy slid her hands up the front of the shirt towards Tara’s soft breasts. “Oh Buffy,” Tara moaned. She moved closer to the Slayer’s body, rocking her hips, pushing their bodies together.

Buffy unbuttoned the shirt. As it fell to the floor, she pressed her mouth around a soft breast. She sucked hard and ran her tongue over Tara’s hard nipple.

Tara moaned loudly as the hard sucking became more then she could handle. She pressed her hand into Buffy’s hair, pulling the slayer closer to her breast.

Buffy sucked even harder and thought of how this was new to her. Tara never showed a liking to pain before. The harder she sucked, the louder Tara’s moans became. She rocked her hips even harder; the wetness grew between her legs. “Oh Buffy…Please touch me,” Tara panted.

Buffy moved her hand down between Tara’s legs and without warning she curled her hand into her panties and pressed three fingers up into Tara’s hot body. As Buffy thrusted into Tara she could sense someone walking in the hallway. Buffy pushed the thought out of her mind; she wouldn’t stop making love to deal with the person in the hall. She knew it could be Willow and she knew that the witch still wasn’t over losing Tara to her best friend, but Buffy would never turn away from the goddess in her arms.

“Oh Buffy!” Tara called out loudly in a husky voice.

Amie was walking to Willow’s room when she passed the lover’s open door. Without saying a word she moved her hand in the air. The door closed. Amie had used magic so that the two women would not be disturbed. No one but Willow knew she was a witch. She felt slightly guilty about possibly giving away their little secret, but it was better than Willow seeing such a personally painful sight.

Tara pulled closer to Buffy and began riding her hand. She hadn’t expected Buffy to act this way but she wasn’t going to complain. Tara has always been a shy and quiet girl, but she wasn’t in lovemaking. At times she could lose her self-control that she felt she had to hold onto daily. The blonde loved the way Buffy could bring that side of her out, but this was different and Tara knew she would lose more then just her self-control. She was going to let go and let Buffy take her whole.

Buffy had started a rough and uninhibited lovemaking. This was new to her. The way Tara responded to her made the slayer want more. Buffy removed her hand from Tara’s body placing both hands on her waist. She moved back onto the bed lying down on her back. She ripped the panties from Tara’s body and moved her lover up to a sitting position on her face.

“Buffy…are you sure…I mean…” Tara was unable to finish her question when Buffy slid her tongue into her body.
“Oh yessss…Buffy!” Tara moaned louder then she had before.

She lay on her back and ran her hand into Buffy’s pants. She then turned her body so she was on her stomach. Tara pressed three fingers into Buffy’s awaiting body.

“Oh Gods yes…Tara, Tara!” she moaned loudly. Buffy then replaced her fingers and pressed hard into Tara while dancing her tongue on her lover’s bundle of nerves.

“Harder, harder,” Tara panted.

Buffy did as she was asked and pushed harder into Tara. With her hand slapping hard into the Wiccan’s body she could feel her pants being ripped off of her.

“Oh Buffy…harder, faster…push harder, baby!” Tara was now yelling her demands.

“Oh Tara,” Buffy moaned her lover’s name as Tara pushed harder into her. She knew that she was too close to release to stop.

“Oh yes, oh Tara!” Buffy hit her climax hard and loud, rocking her hips wildly.

“Oh don’t stop…please…I need…more!” Tara panted. She was close to orgasm and she wanted more.

Buffy pushed Tara to her knees and pressed harder into her. “Oh Goddess yes!” Tara yelled. Her breathing became rough and she thought she was going to faint.

Buffy pushed harder and faster until she felt Tara climax around her fingers. This was where she would usually slow things down but this time she just pushed harder.

Tara felt herself lose all control and began to rock harder. “Oh yes, baby, fuck me,” she cried to Buffy.

Buffy was surprised at how her lover responded but pushed even harder.

“Oh fuck yes…oh Buffy…BUFFY!” Tara yelled so loud that her voice echoed in the hot room. She then collapsed onto Buffy.

“I love you,” Buffy ran her free hand down Tara’s back soothing her as she removed her hand and pulled Tara to her side.

Tara looked into hazel eyes. “I’m sorry, did I get too excited?” She curled close to the Slayer.

“No you were…wow.” Buffy panted as her body slowed down back to normal.

Buffy lay on her back and played with Tara’s hair. “Tara are you jealous of Amie?” She then sat up so Tara was sitting next to her. “Is that why you don’t like her?” Buffy was scared that the answer would be yes and she would lose this wonderful woman who had stolen her heart.

Tara locked eyes with the younger blonde. “Buffy I’m not jealous of her...I just don’t trust her.” She moved so they were across from one another. “You know she used magic tonight...so when was she going to tell anyone she was a witch? You see, I could tell she had the gift but I didn’t know she knew.”

“So if you didn’t know, then Willow doesn’t know or she would have told us...no secrets!” Buffy pulled the covers down so they could go to sleep. “Second rule of the family...no secrets!”

Tara moved under the covers and cuddled closer to her lover. “I love you...what’s the first rule?” she asked as she closed her eyes.

Buffy kissed her on the forehead. “I love you too baby... the first rule is Don‘t Die!” Buffy chuckled as she fell asleep.

***

The next day Dawn stood in front of her mirror looking at the bite marks. “Now I’m a real Scooby,” she said to herself rubbing her hand over the fresh marks. She ran out of her room to Buffy’s. Pushing the door open slightly, “Buffy, Tara, are you awake?” she whispered.

“Dawn…what’s wrong?” Buffy jumped out of bed and stood in front of her sister.

“Well, I wanted to talk to you…but now I want to run screaming.” Dawn looked at the slayer standing before her with no clothes on.

“Oh, Buffy…” Tara tossed Buffy her robe. “Sorry, Dawnie.”

“Oh shit…sorry Dawn.” Buffy put the robe on. “What do you need?” the slayer asked, blushing.

“I just wanted to let you know I’m okay.” Dawn looked at the floor. “Do you think you should find Faith?” the teen queried.

“I was thinking about calling Giles, but it’s too early.”

“Is noon too early for a watcher? I mean it was noon two hours ago!” Dawn laughed at her sister’s reaction.

Buffy stood in the middle of the room and began to run in place. “Oh shit, I told Giles I would be there at ten o’clock.” She ran to the door. “I have to go, he’s waiting.”

“Sweetie, don’t you think you should get dressed?” Dawn using the Wicca’s pet name. “I think he would notice that you weren’t ready and you can get arrested running through town like that!” The teen laughed at her own joke.

“Funny…go to school,” the slayer snapped at the teen.

“It’s Sunday. I don’t have school.” Dawn snickered.

“Then go to Sunday school…I don’t care, just go away smart ass,” Buffy laughed. “Dawnie, I love you!” The blonde pulled her sister in to her arms.

“I love you too, sis.” Dawn ran out of the room. “Willow, you would never guess what Buffy did!” she yelled as she ran down the hall.

“When she heals I’m going to gag her,” Buffy turned to her lover with a big smile.

Buffy sat on the bed and called her watcher. “I’m sorry I overslept. I had a long, loud night.” She gave Tara a knowing grin. “Okay. I’ll be right over.”

Tara sat up holding the sheet to her chest. “Is he really mad?” the Wicca murmured as she stroked her lover’s hair.

“No. He said that Faith has been pacing the floor and she wants to talk to me. She has the attention span of a crack baby.”

“I take it she’s not one for waiting.” Tara smiled and let her hand fall. “I guess you should go…or you could make her wait a little longer.” The Wicca’s smile became bigger.

“I wish I could…if Anya was still a demon…never mind I have to go.” Buffy leaned over and kissed her lover. “Sorry darling, I have to go.”

***

“So what’s the dire?” Buffy asked as she walked into Giles apartment.

“You know I don’t ask…and it has taken me a long time to ask, but I need help B,” Faith paced the room as she talked.

“What…I’m sorry I meant to say WHAT!” The blonde slayer smiled wildly.

“When I killed that guy, you tried to help me but I was too stupid at the time to ask,” Faith said, still pacing.

“I wouldn’t say stupid…okay yes I would,” The blonde slayer giggled.

“Buffy!” Faith stopped pacing. “I need you…I need to be you!”

“You already did that; you tried to kill my mother and then took the only two things that were mine. You took Angel and you slept with Riley! How can I trust you?” Buffy was all but yelling at Faith. “Are you after Tara too?”

“I can assure you that she does need help and is willing to accept it. She has come a long way Buffy, and in the short time…Tara, what do you mean Tara...I knew nothing about you and...”

Buffy interrupted Giles, “How can you know this isn’t one of her games? She hasn’t been ‘Miss Stability’!” looking at her once watcher. “Tara is my girlfriend, get used to it.”

“I know that in the past I did things that I can’t take back and I’m really so…”

“What, sorry for months of going behind our backs and trying to kill us…”

“Bloody hell, Buffy! Can’t you see she wants your help?” Giles yelled.

“Why…Why now? What happened that made you think I would help you?” Buffy turned to walk out.

“Because you died,” Faith stood in front of the fleeing slayer.

“What?” the blonde slayer snapped.

“I don’t know how to say it,” Faith’s eyes became misty.

“Try just saying it,” Buffy noticed the way the dark slayer reacted to her question, and watched for any sign that she was faking.

“I knew I fucked up as the stake went into his chest but I couldn’t stop! No, that isn’t it Buffy. I loved you and I loved the gang but I could never be one of you. Not while I was so fucked up. You can believe me or not, but you saved me when I was you. I felt what it was like to be ‘good’ and I fought for so long to change. Then when you came to L.A. I knew I could. I have changed but now I’m coming to you B…Buffy I need you,” Faith let the tears fall down her face as her thoughts rambled on.

“Okay. Say you have changed, what can I do to help? I don’t know where to start…I’ll help you if you tell me how!” Buffy took her chances and held her arms out for Faith. The dark slayer never thought twice and filled the gap that was offered. Buffy held Faith until she was done crying.

Buffy held the broken slayer for what felt like hours. Then Faith was able to put her scrambled thoughts into words. “I took your trust and used it against you. I let the Mayor seduce me with a father figure. I hated you for killing him, but I didn’t know what was going to really happen. Angel told me that the mayor would have killed me in the end,” Faith leaned in the blonde slayer’s arms as she spoke.

“Faith, you don’t have to open old wounds to explain. I knew all along that you had to find your own way. The mayor cheated you by letting you think I was out to hurt you,” Buffy tried to ease her pain, but Faith interrupted.

“Opening old wounds…never closed...wide open for the world to see. I was too blind to see…to face them…not blind…scared,” Faith opened herself to the blonde slayer in hope of forgiveness.

“Look, I’ll help you but you have to be straight with me!” Buffy pushed up off the couch.

“I’ll be straight if you are!” Faith gave her a sarcastic smirk.

“Nice to see a good sense of humor…don’t remember one before!” Buffy shared the sarcasm.

“Well you know, part of the change…like menopause just not as slow,” Faith gave another sarcastic smirk.

“Okay there’s my girl! Faith it’s going to take time but I’m going to be here for you. You said that you loved me…well I never stopped!” The blonde slayer smiled.

“Great when do we start?” Faith jumped to her feet.

“Not to sound Special Ed…but start what?” Buffy stood with a confused look.

“Training, B! Getting me back in the game…you know getting the vamps and dusting the hell out of them…you know we are Slayers, B, that’s what we do!” Faith was in the middle of the room doing her old dance as she spoke.

Buffy shook her head as she walk to the door. “Let’s go to the Magic Box…do you think you can make it…I mean you’re quite excited!” the blonde laughed.

“Sure, I’ll make it and dry!” Faith gave a knowing grin to Buffy.

***
That day when Buffy was out, Dawn put her plan to work. She set out to find Willow. The teen could get Willow to see her way even if it wasn’t right. Dawn sat in her room thinking of how she was going to get Willow on her side. She then looked at the tattoo on her leg and she knew she had her. Dawn went to the kitchen and found Willow sitting at the island reading what looked like a cookbook. “Hey Wills, whatcha doing?” she asked the hacker.

“Well Dawnie, I think I’m reading. What do you want?” Willow cut right to the chase.

Dawn went from one foot to the next. She wasn’t ready to be found out this soon. “Okay, you play that way then here it goes. I want you and Amie to come home. I’m tired of my family not living together.” She was just about to give all the reasons to have them there when Willow cut her off.

“You know I think that would work. I really don’t think Giles likes his new apartment. And Amie and I really don’t like my house. And we’re here all time anyway...” Willow babbled.

“Willow, remember me, the one that was going to convince you...I was going to use my tattoo,” she smiled at the witch.

“Well now you don’t have too...That tattoo is to stay between us!” she said as Dawn skipped out of the kitchen. “Now how do we get Buffy and Tara to buy this?” she asked herself.

That night the two slayers went back to Buffy’s after patrol. Everyone was there and surprised that Faith came home with Buffy.

“Tara, I have to talk to you upstairs, please,” the blonde slayer turned and walked up to their room.

“Are you okay sweetie?” Tara slowly walked into the room closing the door behind her.

“Tara, I thought that maybe Faith should stay here with us. She could take the room in the basement. I would feel better knowing where she is and can keep an eye on her,” Buffy sat in the chair by the window.

Tara stood by the bed with a look of complete love. She knew that her lover couldn’t turn her back on the dark slayer. She also knew Faith was out of her element and need a family to care for her. “You should ask Dawn and the rest as well. They would want to know. I know you need her here as much as she needs to be here!” She went to Buffy and leaned down and softly kissed her.

Buffy broke the kiss and smiled. “You know this will make a full house but maybe she’ll feel more comfortable in Willow’s old room…after she gets used to being here that is.” She took the Wicca’s hands into her own.

“Well she could, but I think Willow and Amie want the room b-back,” she stuttered a little.

Buffy jumped up in pure joy and hugged Tara. “They want to come home…wait what about Willow’s house? What are they going to do with it?”

“Willow thought with the baby, Xander and Anya would want it, and Mr. Giles would take Xander’s apartment. He doesn’t like his, so it would all work out. I think having Amie here would be good. I can watch her closer.” Tara’s heart filled with joy to see the slayer happy!

“So we get Dawn and ask her right?” Buffy asked like a child asking for a piece of candy.

“Of course! I think Dawnie is going to so happy to have everyone home again…including Faith.” The Wicca rushed to the door in fear that Buffy was going to rip it right off its hinges.

Tara called Dawn up to the room as Buffy called Xander, Anya, and Giles over for the meeting. She thought that everything could be talked out at once.

Tara and Dawn were in the teen’s room when Buffy came in. “I called the others. They are on the way.”

“Dawnie, how would you feel if Faith moved in? Buffy thought it would be easier to keep an eye on her, thought it would help her living here,” Tara told her.

Dawn took in all the information. “I think if it would help her then why not, but where is she going to sleep? I thought Willow and Amie were hinting that they wanted to move back.”

Buffy looked up at her. “Well, the only other place would be the basement room. I don’t think she would mind it; she likes to be somewhat out of sight. Plus it has a door to the outside and she can come and go if she wants.” She took her sister’s hand. “What do you think to a family meeting?”

***

After asking Dawn they all thought that a family meeting would be the best way to get everyone’s input on the matter. The teenager ran down the steps hitting only every other one. She wanted to announce the meeting.

Xander and the rest of the gang had come in as the three girls were walking around the corner.

“Family meeting now…come on family we need a meeting…I said family!” The teen was so excited that she missed the last step and ran into the front door.

“Whoa, look at that, flying teenager. Are you sure she’s not part Slayer, B?” Faith was at Dawn’s side before she could fall completely to the floor. “Are you okay?” the dark slayer giggled.

Everyone watched Faith as she let her guard down and broke into a loud giggle.

“So what’s the meeting topic? We have a big bad to kill?” Willow slipped into Scooby mode, running off to get her laptop.

“No sweetie…we just want to ask you all a few questions,” started Tara, speaking to everyone at once.

“I swear we only patrolled! Nothing happened…you know the old just friends’ line was used!” Faith joked again and everyone stopped and stared.

Tara smiled at the dark haired girl. “Okay I believe you…nothing happened.” She gave Faith a look that told her that the Wicca really cared.

“What we want to ask is…oh hell…we want you all to move in!” Dawn told the rest of the family.

“Oh Buffy, could you give me a ride to the motel?” Faith asked, as she didn’t catch on.

Willow sat straight up in her chair and smiled widely. “Faith, I think that includes you too!”

“Oh no, I’ll be fine at the motel.” The dark haired girl gave her best fake smile.

“Fuck that, Faith! You’re going to stay here with your family…got it!” Dawn used shocking language to get her point across. “Don’t piss off the flying teenager!” She giggled in spite of Tara’s glare of disapproval in her choice of words.

“Buffy is that true? I mean I’m five by five with the whole motel thing.”

Buffy looked at her lover. “No, we all want you here!” With a knowing grin she turned to Faith. “We’re family,” stating the now famous statement.

“Ok, I’ll take the basement; I mean it can’t be that bad,” Faith said as she accepted the invite to stay.

Willow chuckled a little. “Sure the basement is fine when Buffy isn’t being all crazy.” The hacker gave Dawn a playful look.

“Crazy?” Faith quizzed.

“Sure you know…insane.” Dawn played along.

“Crazy how?” Faith, now confused, asked. “You mean bitchy crazy?”

“Not so much bitchy crazy as losing her mind crazy,” Tara chimed in.

“More like homicidal maniac crazy,” Willow filled in.

“What made you freak?” Faith asked the now blushing slayer.

“It’s a long story,” Buffy tried to side step the details as she glared at the room of people teasing her.

“A demon cast a spell making her think none of this was real,” Dawn gave the facts in a nutshell.

“But obviously not that long…you know normal day on the Hellmouth.” Buffy shrugged and turned to walk away. “Dawn sometimes makes it so no one can leave the house.” With a smile at her sister Buffy walked into the kitchen.

“So we’ll get everyone’s things moved in…and do a patrol.” Faith said shaking her head. “I asked for help from the sick slayer and her sneaky sister…what the hell was I thinking?” she mumbled as she moved to the door.