Can I Keep You?

Author’s Note: Song Lyrics from Stabbing Westwards “Save Yourself”

Dawn saw the hospital. She also felt the grief of the occupants. It was so intense; she nearly fell to the ground. The weight of it was overwhelming. The thought only drover her to move faster. She paused at the entrance to the hospital. She focused on the claim to locate the exact location of her family. All but one was inside on the third level of the hospital.

Using her recently acquired speed, she shot past the front desk and the security guards. She didn’t have the time to waste explaining things to them. She had to get to the others. She needed to see for herself what was causing all the heavy emotions. She stepped into the elevator and tried to force the elevator to go faster with only the force of her mind. Once the elevator stopped on her floor, Dawn once again had a moment of hesitation. Did she truly want to see what was causing such grief amongst her family? Was it something she would be able to handle? What assistance could she offer to them? Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. None of that mattered at the moment.

“Buffy! Spike!” Dawn hollered as she saw them.

Buffy pulled her tear-streaked face from the quasi comfort of her Mate’s shoulder.

“Dawnie,” she answered in a barley audible voice.

“Bit,” Spike said in a parental tone, “Where’d you get the books from?”

Dawn looked down and realized she was till carrying the ugly books she’d found in the Mayor’s office.

“Not that I’m ungrateful you are here and well,” Giles said, “But how did you escape from the Mayor?”

“Um,” Dawn said, “The books are from the Mayor’s office and as far as escape, well, I’m not exactly sure. I staked a couple of vampires and then I felt the sadness through the claim and just left.”

Buffy’s eyes grew very large. She shook her head as if to clear cobwebs from it. “You just staked a couple of vampires? Like you just happened to be able to run from City Hall to the hospital carrying very large, ugly books?”

Dawn looked around the group with guilt ridden eyes, “Uh huh.”

“I think I know what happened to your powers,” Giles said.

“Yeah, but how do we get ‘em back in the Slayer?” Spike asked.

Giles removed his glasses and began to polish them. No one said a word.

“I think I have an idea,” Cordy said, “And it might work.”

All eyes turned to her.
“Remember when Buffy and Faith went all other dimensiony? Well, we did something with the claim to keep her from dying when she jumped from the tower. Which, for the record, was dumb. Can’t we do like the same thing for Willow? I mean, use Buffy and Faith’s healing super stuff to fix her?” Cordy said.

“We are still left with the problem of Buffy’s powers being in the wrong sister,” Giles said.

“Uh, guys,” Dawn interrupted, “I think I know how I took Buffy’s powers.”

Everyone turned hard eyes on her.

“I didn’t mean to. It’s not like I asked to be the Slayer,” Dawn looked down, “Not exactly.”

“What exactly did you do, Dawn?” Buffy asked.

She knew it wasn’t Dawn’s fault, but with Willow being with the not okness, she was a little edgy. Ok, a lot edgy, but she was entitled to it.

“I think I wished your powers into me, through the claim. I really needed them, and I thought it would be cool to be able to stake the vampire and you know, not die,” Dawn said, “I didn’t think I’d actually get your powers.”

“Pet, maybe you can just wish your powers back,” Spike said hopefully.

“Why does that seem way too easy?” Faith asked.

“Well, it is worth a try, at the very least,” Giles said.

Buffy smiled, “Here’s to wishin’!
Ok, cosmic whatevers, being with the Slayerness again would be majorly of the good right now. I really wish I could be accurate with Mr. Pointy again.”

“How do we know if it worked?” Dawn asked.

“Spike,” Buffy said, “Hit me.”

“Not again, pet,” Spike said.

“I’ll do it,” Faith said enthusiastically.

“Don’t sound over eager or anything,” Buffy said dryly.

“I owe ya one, B. The whole tranqin’ me bit,” Faith said.

“True, but if it didn’t work, I’d hate to be with the unconsciousness and weakness,” Buffy said.

“I’ll play nice,” Faith said.

Buffy braced herself and closed her eyes. It wasn’t the smartest move, she thought later, to close her eyes, but she was going to be hit one way or another. At least with her eyes closed she didn’t see it coming. The hit, she kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Wait a sec, there was no contact, and Faith had aim. Buffy opened her eyes. Faith’s fist was held tightly in her right hand.

Faith nodded her head, “Ladies and British men, I give you Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

“Let’s go save Willow,” Buffy said, “Cordy, Giles, watch Dawn.”

“But, I can help,” Dawn said, “I’m all mystical energy…energy is good for Willow.”

“Bit’s got a point,” Spike said.

“Let’s go,” Buffy said.

“Giles, Cordy and I will keep an eye out for the Mayor,” Xander said.

Buffy nodded as she walked into Willow’s room.

Xander closed his eyes and clasped Cordy’s hand tightly. He was scared. He wanted to believe in Buffy, he did believe in Buffy, but this was Willow. Willow’s life was hanging on her ability to heal Willow through a claim. Not exactly the cutting edge in medical technology. This was a Hellmouth, and if it were to work, this would be the place to give it a try. Plus, Buffy loved Willow just about as much as he did; she’d die to save her…that gave him hope.

In the small, white room, the three powerful creatures looked at the pale, motionless body of their powerful Wicca. No one spoke. They created a circle around her. Buffy and Spike each took one of Willow’s hands into their own.

“Here we go,” Spike said.

The three of them focused all of their energy on Willow. It was difficult for them to target an area of her body because, well, they weren’t exactly sure where the problem was and it was probably more supernatural than not. After several minutes, the group began to feel the energy pour through them. Had anyone been in the room, they would have been met with quite a sight. The small, white room was filled with a light so bright it would have blinded any person who happened to walk inside. Soon, the three began to float a few inches above the ground and spin so fast it would have made a normal human sick.

“I can not save you
I can't even save myself
Save yourself
So just save yourself”

Willow quickly hid her smile. Buffy was going to save her, Buffy always saved her. Plastering on her resolve face, Willow enjoyed the power that she felt wash over her. With as often as she was captured or otherwise indisposed by supernatural means it was really convenient to have supernatural friends. Peaking open one eye, she looked at the British man. He merely smiled at her and nodded his head as if to say “hello”.

“You know it will not work,” the man said.

Cold sweat broke out on Willow’s brow. All of the muscles in her abdomen contracted as she doubled over. The man smiled as a gut wrenching cry tore from Willows lips. It was perfect, everything was going to plan.

“What’s – happening?” Willow gasped.

“They’re trying to save you, naturally,” the man said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Even through her pain, Willow managed to glare at the man. The first traces of fear began to creep their way into Willow’s subconscious. Panic soon followed as the pain refused to subside even for a moment. Suddenly, the walls around her appeared to move in on her. Breathing was becoming a serious problem and her mind began to fog. ‘Fight. Buffy’s saving you. Fight’ she put her hands to her ears in an attempt to keep them from bursting as a piercing scream echoed through the hallow chamber. On top of it all, she heard the man’s laughter.

“You can not save me
You can't even save yourself
I can not save you
I can't even save myself”

“Something’s fighting back,” Buffy said through gritted teeth.

“Hold on, luv,” Spike said.

Dawn, tears streaming down her face, looked up at the others. “Why is she doing this to us? We’re trying to save her!”

“It’s not Willow, bit,” Spike said, “It’s whatever nasty’s holdin’ ‘er.”

Buffy focused her energy. Since Plan A was receiving a whopping nada on the usefulness meter, it was time for something new. A back door way of beating whatever it was that was holding so tightly to Willow.

‘Wills?’ Buffy tentatively said through the claim.

‘Buffy! I’m being held by the British!’

‘The Council?’

‘Maybe, I’m not sure. Buffy it hurts; whatever you’re doing it hurts.’

‘I’ve got an idea, but you’re going to have to help me.’

‘I’m too weak.’

‘No. You’re not too weak. You’re the strongest girl I know. Know get yourself together.’

‘What do you need me to do?’

Buffy smiled. “Ok guys, send your energy to Willow.”

“What?” they all asked.

“Just do it!”

In unison, the group focused their supernatural power. They could see it, there was a glow about it, but no shape…a great concentration of power and all of it was going to Willow.

“Save yourself,
So just save yourself.”

It started off small, so small she was sure she was just imagining it, but it began to grow. It infused every pour of her being and she could feel it working. This must be the Plan, the new one, Plan the Second, or maybe it was Plan B, or maybe…it could still be part of Plan A. Ok, now that made her head hurt.

“What they still think they can save you? They can’t. There is absolutely nothing your friends can do that will help you,” the man taunted her.

Willow felt it complete it’s journey. The combined powers were coursing through her veins, she’d never felt this alive. Faith was right, there was no way power like this could leave you anything but hungry and horney.

“You know, British Guy, I think you’re right,” Willow said.

The man smiled, “So you are beginning to accept your fate?”

Willow nodded, “Just call me acceptance girl.”

Willow lay down and opened her eyes.

The room looked amazing. Never in her entire existence had a single room held such an amazing amount of joy and hope. It was like Christmas morning, except she was Jewish, so that image really didn’t work. However, if she were one of those people who celebrated Christmas and learned about Santa and reindeer, then this would definitely be the feeling she would have on that particular holiday.

“Hey guys,” Willow said cheerfully.

“Willow?” Buffy asked tentatively.