A Witch In LA

“Fuck me!” Faith growls loudly as she gets hit in the side by Caleb.

“You are a whore and deserve to die!” Caleb yells as Faith kicks him hard in the chest, making him fall back for a moment.

Buffy quickly swings her sword around, taking out three Bringers in one swipe. “Damn it! We’ve got to get the hell out of here!”

“Not before someone grabs that little treasure they’re trying to keep us from.” Faith pants, ducking Caleb.

“Hit the ground, Faith!” Tara yells loudly, sending a spell towards where Faith and Caleb are fighting, teleporting the ex-minister out of the building.

“Damn good timing.” Faith grounds out, quickly hopping up, wincing at her broken ribs before quickly taking out a few more Bringers. “B, grab that thing and let’s get the fuck outta here!!!”

“Need a little help, ladies?” Spike growls roughly, jumping down the stairs, quickly breaking the neck of one of the Bringers.

Angel comes down the stairs, game face on, growling loudly as he tears a swathe through a couple more Bringers, looking at the three women. “Do you three have a death wish?”

“Nope.” Faith snickers as she slices a Bringer in two.

“Got it!” Buffy yells swinging the weapon, slicing easily through four Bringers in one fell swoop. “I like this thing!” Buffy smirks briefly, before losing the smile, her eyes widening. “TARA!”

Tara tries to dodge away, catching a knife slice in the ribs instead of the heart where it was headed.

“FUCKIN’ BASTARD!” Faith screams at the top of her lungs, jumping over to the Bringer, slamming her fist into the man multiple times, while standing protectively over her fallen lover. Finally twisting his head with her hands to where she almost rips it off, Faith drops down beside Tara, pulling her shirt away to look at the wound.

“It’s okay, love.” Tara murmurs, wincing in pain. “It’s not that bad.”

“You’re gonna need fuckin’ stitches.” Faith growls, ripping her tank top off and slicing it to make a bandage. Quickly pressing it against the witch’s ribs and tying it off.

“Grab her, I’ll lead the way out, with Angel and Spike following behind you.” Buffy watches as Faith gingerly lifts Tara up in her arms. Turning she cuts a swathe through the Bringers leading the way out of the building, with Spike and Angel quickly following behind, keeping anyone from trying to sneak up on them.

************

“Dear, Lord!” Giles calls out hoarsely, as he watches the group quickly make their way towards them.

“Tara!” Willow hisses, seeing Faith’s blood soaked tank top wrapped around her ex-lover. “Let’s get her back to the apartment building now!”

“I’ll drive her.” Gunn yells as he runs back towards the truck, starting it up, bouncing over the curb to pull up beside the women, watching as Angel rips the door open, helping Faith ease inside with Tara.

Willow hops in the back of the truck, with Fred and Dawn quickly following her. “We’ll see you at the apartment.” Willow nods towards Buffy and the rest of the group as Gunn pulls quickly away, following Faith’s directions on how to get to the apartment building.

Buffy watches silently as the truck hit’s the road and takes off quickly. Frowning heavily, she glances down at the weapon in her hand. “We need to find out what this thing is. I feel an energy coming from it and it cut through the Bringers like butter.” Buffy looks up at Giles. “I have a feeling this is going to help us win this fight.” She admits softly, looking from one person to the other. “Let’s head back to the apartment building. I guess pretty much everyone that’s going to be here, is here now. So Spike and I will be there with you guys.”

“Buffy, can I speak with you alone for a moment?” Angel questions softly.

Spike turns to snarl at the vampire, but stops when Angel looks calmly at him shaking his head. “It’s not anything to do with us. There’s something else that I’m sure she doesn’t know, that may come into play.” Angel admits. “Just make sure the rest of the crew get back safe and sound.”

Spike nods, hearing the sincerity in the Poofters voice. “Alright, let’s move out, kiddies. I think we’ve had enough fun for the night.” Spike looks briefly at Buffy, and grins as she winks at him.

Buffy and Angel stand quietly as the rest of the group works their way quickly out of the cemetery and towards town. Turning, she raises an eyebrow towards Angel. “So what do you have that’s so important that I need to know?”

Angel sighs as they slowly start walking back towards the apartment building. “Has Tara spoken with you about the Amulet?”

Buffy frowns before looking questioningly at the vampire. “What Amulet?”

“Damn.” He whispers, looking up at the night sky. “I should have known she wouldn’t say anything to anyone.” Angel hesitates looking towards Buffy. “You’re going to have to keep this quiet, but when Dawn came to stay with us, Tara, Faith, Cordelia and Dawn went to Caritas….” Angel proceeds to explain everything that happened, how he gave the Amulet to Tara, her knowing the significance of what it meant.

Buffy stands there in stunned silence, not moving. “Not her, Angel. Please.” Buffy whimpers quietly. “We’ll lose both of them, for sure if something happens to her.”

“I know.” Angel buries his hands in his pockets. “I’d gladly take her place, but it has to be her. Something about her powers activates the Amulet, causing the Hellmouth to close permanently, is all we can figure out. She knows what this calls for, Buffy. She realizes that her life compared to millions is worth it.”

“Damn it!!! There has to be something else we can do!” Buffy growls angrily, wiping a tear from her face.

“Lorne’s vision was very specific. She’s the one to do this. I was hoping she might have spoken with you about it. Her keeping this inside can’t be healthy.” Angel admits quietly. “I’m actually surprised that she was able to keep it from Faith.”

“Tara is a very surprising woman.” Buffy admits softly, glancing up as she feels a vampire heading towards them, smiling softly as Spike quickly strides down the street. “Did you get everyone home, okay?” She questions quietly, leaning up to kiss him quickly, needing the closeness of her lover.

“Yeah. They were stitching up Glinda when I left. She’ll be okay, just lost some blood and will be sore for a few days. But nothing serious.” Spike admits quietly, looking from his lover to Angel and back. “You two talking about Glinda and the Amulet?”

“How did you know?” Buffy pulls back away from Spike, anger glinting in her eyes.

“She spoke with me about it a couple days after they got here.” Spike admits. “She didn’t want me to tell anybody. Even you, luv.” Spike looks apologetically at Buffy. “She said somethin’ about me being the only one, because I wouldn’t talk about it with anybody else.”

“In other words, you were the only one that wouldn’t tell Faith.” Buffy looks down, finally letting go of the anger in her. “She’s probably right.”

“She knows you would have probably sided with Faith, luv. Would insist on her leavin’ like you did with the demon and carpenter.” Spike admits softly. “If Dawn hadn’t put up as much of a fight as she did, you would have made sure she was away from this place, also.”

“I’d have everyone away from here, if I could.” Buffy admits nodding her head. “I’m going to have to keep this to myself, aren’t I?” She looks up accusingly at the two vampires.

“It’s either that or you’re gonna have a very pissed off witch mad at you.” Spike shrugs his shoulders. “It’s what it is, luv. Hopefully there’ll be a way around it, but if not, it’s not a bad way to go. Saving millions, even billions of lives? What the hell, I’d even like to go out like that.” Spike smirks at Buffy.

“Come on, let’s go see how she’s doing.” Buffy leans against Spike as he wraps an arm around her, the three silently making their way back to the apartment building.

***********************

“Oh, my God!” Willow hisses as she comes across the description of the weapon the women had found a few weeks ago.

Tara looks up with curious eyes looking at the redhead. “What did you find?”

“Here.” Willow slides the book towards Tara watching for her reaction. “I am reading it right, right? It’s a weapon forged for the Slayer, to call forward all slayers. It will make all the potentials slayers?”

Tara slowly looks up, with a stunned look on her face. “I saw a spell….” Tara trails off shifting through the spell books ‘til she comes across the correct one. Flipping through the pages, she finally stops, reading over one particular spell twice to make sure. Closing her eyes and leaning back in the chair, she sighs deeply. “I think we finally got our boon.”

“What was that, babe?” Faith comes in her arms full of groceries where everyone went on a food run, but the two witches, to load up cabinets and refrigerators as much as possible.

“Get Giles, Buffy, Spike and Angel in here.” Tara looks up at her lover before standing, taking a couple bags from her. “We need to discuss this with the main group first, make sure that we aren’t mistaken.”

“Be right back.” Faith quickly runs out of the room, seeing the serious look on her lovers face.

Quickly placing the cold items in the refrigerator, Tara sets the bags down on the counter to worry about the rest of the items later.

As the group files in, Tara nods towards Willow for her to start. As the two witches explain what they found, and Giles re-reads over the information, the group sits in stunned silence.

“That explains why they were trying to keep us from finding it.” Buffy whispers looking at the weapon in question. “Get everything you need together. I want to do this as soon as possible. I don’t want to give The First and his goon squad any more time than necessary.”

“I think we need to do some serious sneak attacks on any and all Bringers we come across, to wipe them out before we do this.” Faith offers quietly, looking quickly at Buffy.

“I agree.” Giles nods his head glancing towards Faith. “I suggest that you split the girls up into two groups, with Spike and Buffy leading one group, while Faith and Angel lead the other group. Work your way completely through Sunnydale, taking out anything and anyone that will be an opposition to us. Don’t take any chances, but wipe out as many as you can.”

“We’ll get the spell ingredients together, to do the spell.” Willow offers quietly, glancing briefly at Tara.

Tara nods looking back. “You’ll be doing the spell. The way it reads, we’re going to need to be close to the Hellmouth, using it’s power flow to make it work. So, I guess that means I’ll be going into the Hellmouth with the potentials, Buffy, Faith, Spike and Angel, while you keep the watchers a couple potentials along with Gunn and Wes with you for protection while you do the spell.” Tara looks at the group for their confirmation to this idea. “Does that sound like the best way to handle this?”

“Why are you going into the Hellmouth?” Willow frowns, looking at Tara before glancing up at a sad faced Buffy, and a stony faced Faith. “What is it that I don’t know?”

“It seems I have my own part to play in this little drama.” Tara admits, smiling crookedly. “Nothing that you need to worry about. Everyone does their part and hopefully most of us will make it out of this thing in one piece.” Tara glances down re-reading the spell, making notes on what ingredients they’ll need.

Buffy snarls, before turning on her heel and slamming out of the apartment, closely followed by Spike.

Faith narrows her gaze on the empty doorway that Buffy and Spike just disappeared out of before turning her gaze on an uncomfortable looking Angel, and a confused watcher. “What the fuck is going on?” Faith growls loudly, before turning her gaze on her lover. “I’ve had enough. I know you’ve been keeping somethin’ from me, and I want to know what it is!!”

Tara pales, looking at her angry lover. “Faith, I don’t think this is really the time….”

“I don’t much fuckin’ care if you think it’s time or not. Now, damn it!!! Fuckin’ tell me what you’ve been keepin’ from me!” Faith yells, her face turning red with anger.

“Guys do you mind?” Tara whispers looking at the rest of the group with sad eyes. Her eyes lighting for a few long moments on Angel. “Go ahead, Angel.” She lets him know it’s okay to tell the rest of the group.

Angel nods his head silently as he follows the confused Watcher and Redhead out of the apartment, gently closing the door behind him.

Faith crosses her arms across her chest, looking down at her lover, with an ungiving stare on her face.

“Please, love.” Tara whimpers looking at her lover’s cold face, never having it pointed towards her before. Tears coming to her eyes, she glances down, nervously picking at the edge of the spell book.

Faith clenches her jaw multiple times, watching Tara. Finally easing her stance when she sees the tears fall from her lover’s eyes. “Damn, it, Tara!” Faith whispers, reaching over to grasp the witch up, hugging her gently. “Tell me, please?” Faith hoarsely whispers, running her hands up and down the shaking witch’s back.

“I’m sorry, love.” Tara whimpers, squeezing Faith tightly. “This has to be done, and I know you’re not going to like it. The only reason I kept it from you was so that we could have this time together without it hanging over our heads.”

“Tell me.” Faith picks Tara up, walking into their bedroom to slowly climb up on the bed, gathering the witch to her, holding her tightly against her body.

Haltingly, Tara explains what the Amulet does to the best of her knowledge, how it would use her essence, her life force to activate, sealing the Hellmouth once and for all. How she’d been researching, finally coming across a spell that would make The First flesh and blood. How with the help of her mother’s crystal, she would have enough power to do the spell against The First, with enough left over to make the Amulet work.

Faith strokes down Tara’s back, tears rolling down her face at her lover’s words. “I’m staying there with ya’.” Faith states calmly.

“No, love.” Tara shakes her head. “I want you to continue to fight for the greater good. The new slayer’s are going to need to be taught about their powers. Who better than another slayer to teach them?” Tara tries to explain.

“This isn’t up for discussion.” Faith growls. “My decision is made.”

Tara sighs, running her fingers over Faith’s neck. Deciding not to argue with the slayer, she shifts to hug her tightly, placing a loving kiss on her lips. “How angry are you at me?”

Faith looks into the blue eyes she’s come to realize she can’t live without. “Angry. But I kinda understand why you did it. You were afraid I’d make you leave.”

“Yes.” Tara admits softly. “No matter what, the need of the many outweigh the few.” Tara smiles sadly at her lover. Gently Tara brushes away the lingering traces of tears from her lover’s face.

“You sure I can’t talk you into runnin’ away?” Faith questions softly, raising an eyebrow at her lover.

“No. Are you sure I can’t talk you out of staying there with me?” Tara grins crookedly at Faith.

“No.” Faith smiles, sighing quietly. “What am I gonna do with you?”

“Love me.” Tara smiles curling up against her slayer. “I’ve never, ever been happier in my life than I have been with you. I thank the Goddess every day for you.”

“I love you.” Faith whispers kissing Tara’s head, hugging her tightly.

The two women quietly hold each other, stroking softly over a side or back, placing a gentle kiss on a cheek, neck and lips. Never taking it any further through the next couple hours, just basically holding each other, with an occasional whispered I love you floating out into the quiet room.

*********************

“Let’s go.” Faith states looking at the group that are morosely sitting around Willow’s apartment. “Time to kill some Bringer’s.” She growls angrily, before turning on her heels to gather up the rest of the potentials so they can meet down in the garage.

Buffy glances up at the now empty doorway, surprised to see Faith. Sitting there stunned for a few minutes, only coming out of the trance as Tara walks in, carrying a couple books.

“You guys need to do the patrol. Kill as many of them as you can, and make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.” Tara turns calm blue eyes on Angel. “I’m holding you personally responsible if she gets hurt.”

Angel nods his head in acceptance before quickly leaving the apartment without saying a word.

“Buffy, a moment, please?” Tara softly requests, walking over to the furthest corner of the room with Buffy following silently behind. “I have something very important that I’m going to ask of you.” Tara turns to look at the blonde slayer.

“Anything.” Buffy looks sadly at the witch.

“When it comes time, I want you to make sure to get Faith away from there. By whatever means necessary.” Tara states softly, looking into the slayer’s eyes intently. “Then take care of her. Try and help her as much as possible through this.”

Buffy nods, not able to say anything as she feels her throat constrict. Reaching out, she hugs Tara tightly before releasing her to quickly stride out of the apartment, followed by the rest of the crew, leaving Willow, Dawn and Fred sitting around the apartment.

“Well, let’s get everything prepared.” Tara sits down across from Willow flipping open a book.

Dawn curls up in a little ball on the couch, silently crying, with Fred gently patting her back.

“Dawnie. It’ll be okay. Faith’s going to need your help, so you’re going to need to be strong.” Tara looks up at the teen. “Can you do that for me?”

“It’s not fair!!” Dawn cries, jumping up off the couch to run to Tara, collapsing against the woman.

“Unfortunately life isn’t fair.” Tara whispers, stroking her hands through the teens long dark hair. “I’ve had a good life, sweetie. I’ve known the love of two wonderful women.” Tara glances up to smile softly at Willow. “And I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it. Now, be strong. We don’t know what will happen. One way or another this will all be over within the next couple days. Plus I’m putting you in charge of Faith. You’re going to need all the help you can get.” Tara smiles softly at the teen, as she finally looks up with swollen red eyes.

“I think I’d rather do what you’re going to do, instead of dealing with Faith.” Dawn mutters.

Tara laughs, smiling lovingly at the teen. “Sorry, I wouldn’t want to deal with her, either!”

“Come on, Dawn. Let’s get some ice cream.” Fred offers quietly, standing slowly, looking towards Tara and nodding her head.

“That sounds good. Can I have a small bowl?” Tara questions watching as Dawn finally stands.

“Of course.” Dawn nods, wiping her face.

Willow silently watches Tara for a few moments before sighing quietly. “Let’s do everything we can to beat this asshole.” She mutters looking from Tara’s blue eyes down to the book, quickly making notes.

Tara smiles softly, before continuing her research.


*****************