Unknown Factors (Book One)

Ch.71: Its got me till

  I didn't know how it ended up this way. Just this morning, I was groggily working the cashier at Doublemeat Palace, and now I was finding out that not only did Buffy get shot, but that Tara was dead, and Willow was on the hunt for bloody revenge.

  I sat on the couch with Buffy and Dawn as the coroner wheeled out Tara's body, and yet another hole was punched into my heart.

  "So, that's it." Xander stated.

  "Are the police gone, too?" Buffy asked as the man sat on the edge of the coffee table.

  "Coming back tomorrow with more of their pretty, yellow tape."

  "....We need to find Willow."

  "Yeah, she's off the wagon big time. Warren's a dead man if she finds him."

  "Good." Dawn's voice was harsh and cold.

  "Dawn, don't say that." Buffy said lowly.

  "Why not? I'd do it myself if I could."

  "Because you don't really feel that way." I popped off.

  "Yes, I do. And you should too. He killed Tara and nearly killed Buffy. He needs to pay."

  "Out of the mouth of babes." Xander quoted.

  "Xander." Buffy gave him a look.

  "He's just as bad as any vampire you've sent to Dustville."

  "Being a slayer doesn't give me a license to kill. Warren's human."

  "So?" Dawn furrowed her brows.

  "So, the human world has its own rules for dealing with people like him."

  "Yeah and we all know how well those rules work."

  "Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't. We can't control the universe. If we were supposed to, then the magic wouldn't change Willow the way it does. And....we'd be able to bring Tara back."

  "....And Mom." Dawn added.

  "There are limits to what we can do." The blonde stated while Xander rubbed his face with his hands. "There should be, Willow doesn't want to believe that, and now she's messing with forces that want to hurt her....all of us."

  "I just.... I've had blood on my hands all day. Blood from people I love." Xander looked up at Buffy.

  "I know." There was sadness in her eyes as she looked back at him. "And now it has to stop. Warren is going to get what he deserves, I promise, but I will not let Willow destroy herself."

  "Okay, where do we go?" The man sighed. "She could be anywhere."

  "I can't track her, she's using magic to cover herself." I mumbled, causing Buffy to sigh and shake her head.

  "We could, um....go to the Magic Box, see if there's a locater spell. I-I can go if you don't-"

  "No, no, I-I'll go." Xander fiddled with his hands.

  "Dawn can't stay here by herself."

  "Let me go with you." The little brunette demanded. "I want to."

  "Oh, honey, it's too dangerous."

  "But....it's Willow. She needs us."

  "She does, and you'll help her, lots, okay? But first, we have to get her home in one piece." Buffy explained.