Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 78

 

In Sunnydale

It is less than an hour before sunrise and Spike is standing outside the Summer home.

Spike: Aw come on. They were to have been home bloody home hours ago. Where the hell are they?

He turns and head for home. The night sky is already getting lighter. He enters the crypt and drops into a chair. He turns on the TV and flips through the channels.

Spike: Where the hell is she?

 

At the Mansion.

Harmony: Oh that was so much fun. I am so full I might pop.

Riley: We need to keep our strength up.

Harmony: You are insatiable.

Riley: I don’t mean for sex. I mean we need our strength the kill the slayer.

Harmony: You are going to kill her? And how do you propose doing that?

Riley: Violently as possible. Oh and her husband too. And the little boy will be my desert.

Harmony: You going to do all that?

Riley: And more. Much, much more.

Harmony: But before you do all that, want to do me?

Riley: Oh yeah, always.

Riley grabs her and throws her onto the bed. He crawls across the mattress toward her.

Harmony giggles.

 

In LA

Buffy and friends continue to wait. Lindsay has spoken with the doctor. The doctor enters the waiting room.

Doctor: I just spoke with your lawyer. He said that Mrs. Summers has been appointed the guardian in regards to decisions on Tara. But he has also informed me that the layers for the other man involved in the accident are going to try and keep us from disconnecting life support.

Buffy: But why?

Lindsay: To keep him from facing any murder charges.

Buffy: Oh, as long as she lives, he is safe.

Lindsay: Pretty much so. But they have not got a court injunction yet.

Doctor: So I hate to say this. But you need to make the decision quickly or it will be taken from your hands.

Buffy: And she could stay on life support for how long/

Doctor: Indefinitely.

Lindsay: And he never faces the charges.

Buffy: Oh.

She looks at the others.

Angel: Can we be alone?

Doctor: Yes of course.

Lindsay: Please hurry.

They close the door and after a few minutes Xander comes out.

Xander: What do we do?

Doctor: Do?

Xander: What does Buffy need to do to have it shut off?

Doctor: Sign the release. What about the organs?

Xander: Yes.

Doctor: We will bring her the papers.

Xander: Thank you.

He returns to the room.

Buffy: It is the right thing. Willow would agree.

Angel: I know she would.

The doctor and nurse enter and the papers are signed.

Doctor: You can go in before if you want.

Buffy: Find Dawn.

Each one says a last good bye to a dear friend.

Angel looks for Dawn and find her in the stairwell with Pike.

Angel: Dawn, Buffy needs you.

Dawn: Is she dead?

Angel: Not yet but everyone is saying goodbye.

Dawn: They are shutting it off?

Angel: Yes.

Dawn runs to the room.

Angel: Pike, can I ask what you are doing?

Pike: Hey Gunn told me about Tara and I ran in to Dawn and well she needed someone to talk to.

Angel: Oh, well not a good idea to meet with fifteen year old girls in dark stairwells.

Pike: Sure, what ever you say.

Angel: That’s right.

Pike walks past him and back to the ICU unit. Angel follows.

Back in the waiting room.

Buffy: I guess I need to go to Sunnydale to make the arrangements.

Oz: Let me.

Buffy: What?

Oz: Let me. I know what Willow would want and well you have done enough. I can make the arrangements and you can stay here with Willow.

Anya: I need to get back, he can ride with me.

Xander: I am staying here.

Anya: I knew you would. I will call your boss.

Xander: Thanks honey. Tell him I will call later after I know more.

Buffy: Oz are you sure you want to do this?

Oz: Yes.

Angel: Good, now Buffy lets see if we can see Willow and then you are going to bed. It is already daylight.

The nurse comes in.

Angel: Can we see Willow yet?

Nurse: That is why I am here. The doctor said you can see her one at a time but for just a few minutes each.

Angel: See, we see Willow, than home for sleep and then you can come back this afternoon.

Buffy: Okay. I am tired.

Angel: You should be.

Oz goes in first, so he and Anya can get on the road. He comes out.

Dawn: How does she look.

Oz: Like she is sleeping. She has a cast but other than that looks peaceful.

Oz and Anya leave. The others take turns, Buffy waits for last. She walks in.

Buffy: Hey Will. You look so peaceful. I hope you get better soon. I had to make a lot of decisions today. I could have used your help but well you seem to be bit under the weather. But you will be up and about real soon. I know you will. I wish I could stay but the nurse said just a quick visit and well Angel is pushing to get me home and in bed. He thinks pregnant women should spend half the day in bed. I have to agree with him right now. I am tired but I will be back later today. Maybe we can talk then. But to do that you have to wake up. So come one girl I want to talk to you.

Buffy leaves and everyone heads back to the hotel.

 

Later in the morning at Spike’s crypt.

Spike: I can not sit here. I have to find her.

He grabs a blanket and runs out and hops down a nearby man hole. He walks through the tunnels till he reaches the basement access of the shop. He goes upstairs and find the place still closed.

Spike: What the. I know there is no way she would not open this place on time.

He looks around.

Spike: The hotel. I will call the hotel. Watch the damn vamp detective answer the phone. But hey I have a reason to call. I am checking on Buffy.

As he looks for the number the front door opens. Anya and Oz walk in.

Anya: Just hold on and I can get the key and you can go on to Buffy’s.

Oz: Thanks. Are you going to open today? You have to be tired.

Anya: I am but I can’t let down my patrons. Must open up as usual.

Oz: Okay, but people would understand.

Anya: Maybe. But it feels normal.

Oz: And I guess we need a little normal right now.

Anya: Yes, exactly. If I do normal things maybe I can tell myself it is all a really really bad dream.

Oz: I got it.

Anya: But I guess it is not the same for you.

Oz: No not the same but I still feel bad.

Anya walks toward the counter and discovers Spike.

Anya: Spike. What are you doing here? You are here stealing? Aren’t you?

Spike: No, I’m not stealing. I came looking for you. I was worried.

Anya: About me?

Spike: Hell no. About Willow and Dawn. They never came home. What is the deal here? And what the hell is he doing here?

Anya: There was an accident. Oz is here to make the funeral arrangements.

Spike: What bloody accident? Whose bloody funeral? God please don’t tell me its her.

Oz: Not sure which her you mean but the funeral is for Tara.

Spike: Tara? Tara’s dead. You have to be lying.

Anya: We wish he were.

Spike: Hey what are you doing planning a funeral for Tara. Shouldn’t it be Willow.

Anya: Willow was in the accident too.

Spike: Is she, is she going to die?

Oz: No but she is not conscious. Everyone else is fine

Spike: I am going to LA.

Anya: Spike it is ten o’clock in the morning. How do you plan on doing that?

Spike: How the bloody hell should I know?

Spike heads for the basement and the tunnels.

Anya: I can never quite understand him.

She pulls a key from a drawer.

Anya: Here you go. Just take my car and come back for me at six.

Oz: Thanks. I need to shower and change before I head to the funeral home.

Anya: Yeah you still have blood on you clothes. Did you see the way Angel kept looking at you?

Oz: I know, the smell must have been driving him nuts. That is why I kept leaving the room

Anya: He has willpower.

Oz: He has to. I know what that’s like.

Anya: I guess you might.

Oz leaves.

© 2005 Tara