Shattered Souls

“I don’t care how fast or well you’re healing, you shouldn’t be running up and down the hallway.” Nurse Sanderson growls at Buffy, her hands on her hips.

Buffy throws her right hand up in the air, already knowing better than to try doing it with her left shoulder yet, the muscle being stiff and sore still. “I’m going stir crazy. And you guys separated me and Tara, so I thought I’d visit her to see how she was doing!” Buffy bitch’s, frowning heavily at the nurse.

“Well if you hadn’t been caught in a compromising position, we wouldn’t have split you two up! That woman has serious abdominal injuries that she needs to heal from!” Sanderson growls into Buffy’s face.

“We were KISSING! That was it, nothing else was going on or was going to happen!” Buffy snarls angrily. “I’m just going to visit her. Nothing else! I promise.”

Anya chuckles as she walks down the hallway towards Buffy and the nurse, having heard Buffy groan and grumble the whole day before after they moved Tara. “Ask the nurse when the doctor is going to release you, Buffy.” Anya states as she stops outside Tara’s room, poking her head in, laughing quietly at the smirk on Tara’s face.

“When am I going to be released?” Buffy frowns heavily at the nurse.

Nurse Sanderson sighs, dropping her hands from her hips. “This afternoon.” She finally admits, shaking her head as she thinks about the doctor releasing this little hellfire on an unsuspecting public.

“YES!” Buffy yells jumping up in the air as she dodges past the nurse to slide to a halt beside Anya, poking her head into the room, grinning hugely at Tara. “They’re releasing me, so now they can’t tell me I can’t come visit you!”

Tara laughs, then groans as she grabs her stomach. “Don’t make me laugh, Buffy.” Tara’s eyes twinkle at the slayer as Buffy and Anya come into the room one on each side of her bed.

Leaning down, Buffy quietly whispers. “Can you do more healing to help yourself so you won’t be in here as long?”

“Only if you’ll let me help your shoulder out some more.” Tara whispers back, her eyes serious. Looking over at Anya, Tara raises an eyebrow in question.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, and I’m more than willing to help.” Anya admits quietly, looking towards the doorway, waiting for the Gestapo bitch of a nurse to show up.

Buffy runs to the door. “We’re having a little prayer over Tara, so we would appreciate not being disturbed.” Buffy tells the nurse as the woman sits back down at the nurses station.

“You better not be getting up to anything in there!” Nurse Sanderson growls looking at the small blonde.

“I PROMISE!” Buffy practically yells, rolling her eyes. “One time! ONE TIME! Get caught kissing and they think I’m a damn horn dog.”

Nurse Sanderson wait’s until the little blonde spitfire disappears behind the door, before turning and chuckling with the other nurse on duty with her. “I hate to say it, but I think I might actually miss her when she’s gone.”

“It has been more entertaining since those two have been here.” Nurse Allen laughs quietly. “They’re bound and determined to keep us on our toes.”

“That they are.” Sanderson chuckles as she pulls down the next chart.

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

“The soreness should wear off sometime this afternoon.” Tara murmurs quietly after they finish the healing spell, smiling gently at the slayer. “I didn’t want to heal you so quickly and completely that you would be tempted to get up to meanness before leaving the hospital.”

“No fun.” Buffy grumbles, easing a hip against the bed, reaching to stroke Tara’s jaw line. Smiling gently as she watches Anya’s hand stroke a finger down the witch’s cheek. “What about you?”

“I pretty much made the internal damage heal, and took away some of the pain, but I’m leaving the external area alone. They’re already freaked enough at how quickly you’re healing. And amazed, but not freaked that I seem to be doing so much better, that I don’t want to chance them wanting to call in specialists to figure out what’s going on.” Tara admits quietly, smiling up at the two women. “Anything else on what they’re going to do with him?”

“He’s in jail.” Anya frowns heavily. “I had to go by and give my statement, and they saw you earlier today, didn’t they?” Anya questions Buffy before looking questioningly at Tara, also.

“Yeah, some detective came and got my story. Pretty much told it as I remembered it, except for the magic part.” Buffy smirks looking down at Tara. “They said he wasn’t able to walk for a few hours. Did you tap into my strength when you kicked him?”

Tara blushes deeply looking down. “I don’t think so.” Tara bites her lip self- consciously. “I wish I could have been there a split second sooner.”

“Don’t blame yourself.” Buffy whispers, brushing the back of her knuckles against Tara’s cheek. “If you hadn’t come out when you did, and I tried to duck out of the way, he would have hit me in the heart, Tara. So without you, I’d be dead.”

Tara pales at the thought, shaking slightly. “Actually we should thank Jonathan for calling us.” Tara looks up seriously. “Do you think if he had friends that were actually good people, that he’d stop doing the stupid things he does?”

“Maybe.” Buffy gives Jonathan the benefit of the doubt. “Maybe we should talk with him, or see if Xander wants to become friends with him. They have that geekdom thing that they both share.”

Tara grins sardonically at the slayer, her eyes shifting to the doorway as Giles hesitates. “Come in, Giles.”

“I didn’t want to interrupt.” Giles blushes lightly. “I was down in the billing department and am having all the hospital bills sent to the Watcher’s Council. Ummm. Buffy, can I speak with you for a minute?”

Buffy growls quietly before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Tara’s lips. “Be back after watcher-dude says what he has to say.”

“Okay, sweetie.” Tara smiles watching Buffy walk towards the door, while grasping Anya’s hand tightly. After Buffy’s out of sight, Tara looks up at Anya. “You going to tell me what transpired with Mr. Giles?”

“No.” Anya shakes her head, as she shifts more up on the bed beside Tara. “It’s over and done with.”

Tara raises an eyebrow at the ex-vengeance demon. “He seems to be a bit more…I don’t know. Hesitant? Around you. Almost like he’s afraid of what you might say or do.”

“Good.” Anya smirks. “Do you think they might let you out of this place in another day or two, that way you can heal completely?”

“Hopefully.” Tara murmurs quietly. “A week in this place is long enough.”

“You’re telling me.” Anya lifts Tara’s hand and places it in her lap, playing with her fingers. “Poor Phoenix is going crazy. She doesn’t like you guys not being there. She’s okay around me, but when I’m here Giles says she whimpers and howls almost nonstop.”

“Well, with Buffy coming home that should help.” Tara glances at the doorway, hoping Buffy comes back before long. “Were you able to get a hold of Dawn?”

“Yes. She freaked, but once I explained you two were going to be fine, she calmed down. I think she’s going to try and get them to come back early.” Anya smiles at Tara. “Then we have to decide how to tell her what’s going on with us three.”

Tara groans quietly. “Not something I’m looking forward to.” Tara admits, her lip quirking. “But everyone else seems to be dealing, more or less.”

“Yes they are.” Anya grins down at the witch. “I love you.” Anya whispers as she strokes the tips of her fingers down Tara’s cheek.

“I love you, too.” Tara presses into the caress, sighing softly. “I want to go home.” Tara admits. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Then tell them. I’ll go see if they can’t get the doctor here. Tell them to do whatever blood tests they deem necessary, and that you’ll sign any and all release forms so they won’t be sued if something happens. We’ll take you home, heal you completely and be done with this whole mess.” Anya states calmly and logically.

“Sic ‘em.” Tara smirks at the shopkeeper, laughing quietly as Anya nods, and leaves the room on a mission. “Goody. Buffy and I can both go home.”

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

“What’s up?” Buffy questions, leaning against her bed as Giles sits down in the chair in her room.

“Of course, I’m having the Council take care of both of your hospital bills, I just mentioned that.” Giles starts, rubbing the back of his neck roughly. “I’ve been talking with the Council off and on for the last couple months, and have finally swayed them to the realization that you should be compensated for the job you do. They’re going to backdate payments to you from when you became a slayer. You will also have full benefits, so if you should get hurt to where you need a hospital stay, it will be covered.” Giles pulls out his billfold, handing a card to Buffy. “Just give the hospital billing department this, and it’ll be taken care of.”

Buffy stares in stunned disbelief at the watcher accepting the card but not able to say anything.

“I’ve been a complete ass when it comes to you, Buffy. I should have stood up to them a long time ago, and never should have left you here by yourself. You needed someone to count on, and I should have been that person.” Giles sighs as he roughly runs a hand through his hair. “And it took Anya bringing me down a peg or two to realize that.”

“Yeah, about that… What happened?” Buffy questions hoarsely.

“She didn’t tell you?” Giles looks up with stunned surprise on his face. When Buffy shakes her head and looks inquiringly at him, he sighs deeply. “I went off about your threes relationship. Saying that it was unacceptable, and pretty much made an ass of myself.” Giles admits, frowning. “She threw a few things in my face about my past and the fact I had no right to judge anyone. And she was absolutely correct.”

Buffy blinks at the watcher for a few minutes as he looks embarrassed and apologetic. “You’re okay with us, now?”

“Yes.” Giles answers simply looking up hopefully into Buffy’s face. “Can you forgive a buggered old fool?”

Buffy nods her head, a slow smile crossing her face. “Yes, I can.” She whispers, hopping down and leaning over the watcher hugging him with her one good arm. “If you haven’t, you might want to apologize to Anya.”

“I have, and profusely.” Giles admits, grinning. “I’ve even taken to walking Phoenix around the neighborhood to give her something of a break. That dog of yours is one of a kind.”

“She’s a very smart, protective puppy.” Buffy admits, smiling.

“She loves you and Tara completely. Pretty much like Anya, I’d dare say.” Giles chuckles as Buffy laughs. “Whenever Anya or myself will say one of your two’s names she barks excitedly and runs to the door. I think she’s been wanting to come back and visit with you.”

“Well, she’ll be a happy camper when we get home, then.” Buffy smiles briefly, before it slowly turns into a frown. “I wish Tara could come home with us.”

“If I could find that smarmy doctor, she will be.” Anya growls walking into Buffy’s room. “I’ve been looking for him for the last fifteen minutes and can’t find the little bastard. I’m going to insist on the nurses paging him.” Anya snarls turning back around and leaving the two sitting there in stunned surprise, before they bust out laughing.

“Well, I would say Tara may be coming home, also.” Giles pulls off his glasses, laughing quietly.

“Yep. These people don’t want to deal with the Wrath of Anya!” Buffy jokes.

“I should get out of here and let you change. Your doctor should be by anytime to release you, then we’ll wait and see what they say about Tara.” Giles smiles gently at the slayer before standing and walking out to visit with Tara.

“Well, damn.” Buffy allows a smile to cross her face. “Backdated pay? I might be able to pay off the house, God, that would be wonderful not to have that hanging over my head anymore.”

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

As the three women work their way out to the car, Giles shakes his head as he follows them. “If any of you three show up in there again, they’re going to run the other way.”

“Good.” Anya grumbles as she has one arm wrapped gingerly around Tara’s waist and the other firmly planted around Buffy’s. “We’re doing the healing in the car on the way home. I don’t want you two to wait any longer.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Tara tries to hold back a smirk, but as Buffy leans around Anya and grins at her, Tara can’t help the chuckle that escapes.

“You two being in the hospital for a week is long enough. Xander has even gotten to the point of stopping by the house every night, seeing if we need anything. And let’s not even discuss Willow. She’s there in the morning when I leave to come to the hospital and spends most of the day at the house, sometimes Christina’s there with her.” Anya grumbles as she helps Tara in the back seat while Buffy gets in on the other side.

“Thankfully I’m usually at the shop.” Giles chuckles as he gets behind the wheel, waiting for Anya go climb in the front seat before starting it.

“Be prepared, Mr. Giles. You’ll probably get some overflow.” Tara warns the watcher seriously. “Buffy will be unblocking her powers and it just about flipped Anya and me out when she did it, so make sure your walls are in place and seriously reinforced.”

Giles nods his head, strengthening his own mental walls. “Go ahead.” He waits before pulling out, making sure that his walls are secure, still surprised at the flow of energy he feels. Carefully making his way towards Buffy’s house while the three women work together to finish healing Buffy and Tara. Sighing quietly he pulls in the driveway, turning the engine off as he turns to look at the three women, noticing the healthier caste to both Tara’s and Buffy’s countenances.

Tara breathes out, leaning against Buffy’s side as she finishes the spell. “Can we not do this again for, like, forever?”

“I’ll go along with that.” Anya whispers, smiling at her two lovers. “Don’t like either one of you being hurt. So no more, understand?!”

Buffy chuckles and lifts her left arm, rotating it before wrapping it around Tara, pulling her in firmly against her side. “All healed?” Buffy questions, her fingers shifting to the witch’s shirt, trying to move it up to look at her abdomen.

“Buffy! That can wait until we get in the house.” Tara admonishes the slayer, gently smacking her hand, trying not to laugh at Buffy‘s pouting lip.

“Was just wanting to check the wound.” Buffy mumbles before leaning in to quickly kiss Tara.

“Someone’s wanting you guys to stop playing around and come into the house.” Anya looks at the two women from where she’s standing outside the door, waiting for them to climb out.

Buffy chuckles as she hears Phoenix barking excitedly. “How does she know we’re here?”

“She just does.” Tara shrugs her shoulders, grinning. “I don’t have a clue as to how she does it, but she does.”

“Phoenix!” Willow yells as Phoenix pushes past her running out to the vehicle wagging her whole body excitedly. “Damn dog.” Willow grumbles trying not to laugh as Buffy hauls the dog up in her arms twirling around with her.

“Thanks for helping out, Willow.” Tara smiles at the redhead as she looks back at Buffy rolling around on the ground with Phoenix, roughhousing.

“It’s the least I could do.” Willow chuckles as Phoenix and Buffy end up nose to nose, Phoenix’ tail swinging back and forth quickly. “Is she smiling?”

“Buffy or the dog?” Tara questions jokingly wrapping an arm around Anya as she comes to stand on the porch beside her. “Phoenix, come up here and see me!” Tara calls, laughing as Phoenix swipes a tongue quickly over a sputtering slayer’s face before running towards her.

“Oh, I see how you are!” Buffy grumbles wiping the slobber off her face as she quickly follows behind Phoenix. “What’s for dinner?” Buffy questions as she walks up the stairs heading into the house, following the rest of the crew.

“I’m going to go home.” Willow smiles as she gather’s a book she brought to read while she puppy sat.

“Hot date tonight?” Tara questions, her eyes glinting merrily.

Willow blushes and slowly nods her head. “We’re going to see that new Sandra Bullock film then go out to dinner.”

“Have a wonderful time. Please tell Christina thanks for everything she’s done, also.” Tara smiles as Willow grins at her before leaving the house.

“I actually put a roast in the oven along with a bunch of vegetables, it should be getting close to being done.” Giles admits as he heads towards the kitchen.

“Okay, that’s going to be a snack, but what’s for dinner?” Buffy jokes, rubbing her stomach. “Hospital food just doesn’t feed my hungries.”

Tara sighs as she sits down on the couch, unconsciously rubbing her side.

Buffy frowns as she looks at the witch, kneeling on the floor in front of her and pushing the shirt up out of the way, gently running a finger over the pink scar left behind. “That’s going to stay, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Tara admits looking down at the scar. “I could heal everything, but I’ll keep the scar. Your slayer healing, being part of you will probably make the scar almost non-existent like it’s done with your other wounds.”

Buffy growls quietly as she climbs up on the couch beside Tara, wrapping her up in her arms. “We’re going to be okay, right?”

“Yes, we are.” Tara murmurs burying her face in Buffy’s neck, smiling as she feels Anya’s arms wrap around her other side.

“Eventually we’re going to need to talk about living arrangements.” Anya offers quietly, pressing gently into Tara’s back, while stroking a hand through both women’s hair.

“I kind of figured you’d move in here, with us.” Buffy offers almost shyly. “It kind of makes the most sense, if you wanted to.”

Tara pulls gently away from Buffy, shifting back so she can look from one woman to the other. “I think that would be a wonderful idea. Do you think we can all get along well enough to live together?” Tara jokes raising an eyebrow at the two women.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to need another bathroom or two with four women living in the house.” Buffy admits, frowning.

“Xander could probably do it, if not he has his buddies on the construction crew that know how to do those things.” Anya suggests, thinking.

Tara smiles indulgently at the ex-demon, before leaning in and kissing her lovingly. “I think that would be a wonderful idea.”

“Ladies, it would seem Dawn is already on her way back. They cut their vacation short to bring her home.” Giles blushes lightly as he watches the interaction of the three women.

“Damn, I didn’t want her to do that.” Buffy grumbles, frowning.

“She was worried about you, even though I told her that you were healing and as soon as we got you both out of the hospital we were going to heal you both.” Anya explains, frowning momentarily. “And that probably means she’s going to be here in a few hours. When did she leave the message?”

“Willow wrote down that she called around 1:00, and that they’d probably be back around 6:00 or 7:00 tonight.” Giles explains looking up at the clock, noticing it was already after 5:00.

“Oh, Goddess.” Tara whimpers closing her eyes. “Are we telling her tonight?”

“Yes.” Buffy answers quickly. “I’m not going to be without you two again anytime soon. Even if all we do is sleep together and nothing else tonight, I’m wanting to be curled up between you.”

“Then that’s where you’ll be.” Anya smiles at the slayer.

“The roast is ready and I’ve got some rolls in the oven baking right now. Do you ladies want a salad with dinner?” Giles questions quietly, sighing as he realizes how much the three women obviously care for each other and just how much of a fool he was.

“I’ll fix it.” Tara pats her two lovers on the leg as she quickly stands, walking towards the kitchen. Giles silently following.

“How are you wanting to discuss this with Dawn?” Anya runs a hand through Buffy’s hair, smiling gently as Buffy scoots closer to snuggle in against her side.

“I want to talk with her first.” Buffy shrugs. “We’ll go from there. She’s my sister, hopefully she won’t freak too badly.”

“If that’s what you want. Tara and I are here if you need us.” Anya wraps her arms loosely around the slayer, tilting her head against Buffy’s, sighing quietly. “Everyone else knows and are fine, once we get past this last hurdle, I’ll feel better.”

“I love you.” Buffy whispers as she leans back to look into Anya’s eyes. “You’re a very wonderful woman, and I’m lucky to have you in my life.”

“I think that goes for all of us.” Anya whispers, stroking her hand down Buffy’s cheek. “I feel blessed to have you and Tara in my life. I honestly believe together we can make it.” Anya’s lip curls up in a half smile. “And I want all three of us to be together.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Buffy threads a hand gently through Anya’s hair before leaning in to kiss her gently, moaning as Anya quickly deepens the kiss, gently sliding her tongue over and around hers.

“Damn.” Anya whispers as they finally break off the soft, loving kiss. “For a straight girl you sure can kiss.” Anya smirks as Buffy growls at her.

“Not so straight, damn it!” Buffy grumbles, leaning back into the couch, pouting. “And if I knew that you two liked me, we would have been together long before we were.”

“I just can’t believe with all the flirting you and Tara did, that neither one of you realized the other one was in love with you.” Anya chuckles as Buffy rolls her eyes. “One good kiss and that’s all it would have taken, Buffy! Instead you two danced around each other. I still don’t understand it.”

“Slayer stupidity.” Buffy grumbles blushing lightly. “Whenever I think back over everything that Tara said and did, I realize all the signs were there. But maybe I was afraid of what would happen if we did come together. How everyone would react, the fact that Willow’s my best friend probably factored into it pretty heavily.”

“She was the easiest one out of everyone. She figured it out and questioned me briefly, I don’t even think she was that surprised.” Anya admits, tilting her head as she thinks about it. “I think Xander was pretty shaken up at the thought, but he came around quickly.”

“Hell of a time to figure it out, though.” Buffy grumbles quietly. “I’m sorry you had to deal with it by yourself.”

“Wasn’t that much of a problem, Buffy.” Anya sighs quietly leaning in against the slayer, tilting her head on her shoulder.

“Yes, it was.” Buffy murmurs, stroking a hand soothingly over the ex-demon’s thigh. “Giles told me what he did. You shouldn’t have had to deal with that.”

Anya rubs her cheek against Buffy’s shoulder. “Everything’s fine now. So nothing to worry about.”

“Dinner’s ready, you two.” Tara calls softly from the dining room, smiling at the two women.

Buffy kisses Anya on the head before the two women stand. “Food’s of the good.”