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So You Can Be Free by Thianna
 
9
 
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Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

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CHAPTER 9

A/N: Some dialogue taken from Two to Go


Dawn was pacing back and forth worried about Buffy and Willow. She wanted to help but didn’t know how. In addition to that, Spike was acting like he didn’t care. She remembered how he acted when Buffy was still dead. He was beside himself and overly protective. Now he was just there, watching TV like it was just any other night. She had to help Buffy. She was worried about Willow and she was determined to make Spike help her.

"Spike, I'm worried about Buffy and the others." Dawn exclaimed as she stood between the vampire and the TV.

"Aren't we all?!" he said sarcastically. "Now if you don't mind, I'm watching this show," he said trying to shoo her out of the way.

"But this is Buffy we're talking about and if Willow is on some vendetta, who knows what she'll do."

"Yeah, I know. She’s the Slayer and being the bloody Slayer she can take care of ‘erself. Now, if Red is as dangerous as you think she is, then you don't need to be meddling into ‘er business. Now, your sister told you to stay put. So stay put!"

"Spike! ..." Dawn whined.

"What Bit?!"

"I have an idea. Maybe we can help Buffy."

"And what makes you think I want to do that?" Spike was trying his best to control his voice. He knew that Dawn just wanted to help but she was starting to grate on his nerves. The Slayer asked him to look after her and he did. He didn't really want to agree to it in the first place but it was for Dawn. Of course now he was regretting his decision. If the little bird wanted to go out there on her own then why shouldn't he just let her? Then he could go back to his own peace and quiet. But if he let her go, she was bound to get herself into some kind of trouble. As much as he wanted to ignore it, he couldn't deny that he was still concerned about the little Bit. Why? Because of a stupid promise he made to a sodding Slayer almost a year ago? Why did that even matter? It shouldn't matter to him at all. The spell should have taken cared of that. But he still cared. It wasn't Dawn's fault. Guess the spell was more specific than he thought. A low growl rumbled in his throat in utter frustration. "What do you have in mind, Dawn?" he said finally giving in.

Dawn smiled at seeing the vampire give in to her.

**

About twenty minutes later, Spike found himself sniffing the air looking for Rack's lair. "You sure this is a good idea Bit?" he asked as he found the location of the lair. It was just around the corner from the back street they were on.

"Not really, but it's a start. I figure either Willow might be hanging out around here or at least Rack may know where she is."

"And what makes you think Rack will tell us that little piece of info?"

Dawn gave a small shrug. "Because you can be quite convincing?"

Spike shook his head as he headed for the door. He took a step, holding his hand out for Dawn to take. They both entered the receiving room of Rack's place. Dawn quickly let go of his hand and heading for the next door. She entered the room, but as soon as she stepped through the threshold, the door slammed shut behind her.

"Dawn?!" Spike bellowed out as he tried the knob.

Dawn yelped at the sound of the door slamming, turning around quickly as adrenaline started pumping through her. She frantically tried the knob but the door wouldn't budge.

"Awww... you just got here." Dawn heard from behind her.

Willow sneered at her. "I thought you were looking for me. So why are you trying to leave?"

Dawn bit her lower lip nervously, trying to think of the right words to say. "Willow... you look terrible."

"Do I?" Willow said taking a step towards Dawn.

"You're back on the magics." Dawn replied as she backed up, her senses telling her that maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

"No honey. I am the magics."

"Did you kill that guy?" Dawn asked nervously, looking at Rack’s lifeless form.

"It's an improvement, really." She said smiling.

"I have to go." Dawn said walking past Willow towards the only exit from the room. But as she reached it, the dark witch suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Why? So you can run and tell Buffy?" Just then the door started rattling and Spike's attempt at getting through was becoming more evident. "So you brought the toothless vampire with you. Don't worry, he won't interrupt us."

"Willow listen to me. This is wrong. What you’re doing here is wrong? I miss Tara too. I miss her so much. But... "

"You miss her? Did you cry? I didn't think that was possible from someone like you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on. Don't you feel trapped in that shell of a body? Don't you want to tap into who you really are? The power you really have? I can do that for you."

"Willow stop. You're scaring me."

"It won't hurt you Dawnie. After this nothing will ever hurt you ever again."

At that moment Spike busted through the door with a loud growl. "Red, get away from her."

Willow smirked as she cocked her head to assess the vampire. "Or what? You're going to hurt me?"

"If I have to."

"Oh please, don't make me laugh Spike. You don't have any power here. You can't even touch me."

"But I can." Buffy replied stepping in front of Spike.

"Well look who we have here -- the two lovebirds."

Spike and Buffy glanced at each other.

"Oh I forgot. ... It's not love right? Just a feeling. I can hear you Buffy -- loud and clear."

"No Willow! Listen to me. You need to stop this. This isn't right. I know you're hurting. The forces inside you are strong but I know you're stronger. You have to remember who you are. You have to remember that you're still Willow."

"Why? Because I still have my soul? That's the defining criteria for good and evil right? Well that's what we've been using for the longest time against all those creatures we've been fighting against. But do you know what I've learned Buffy? ... I learned that evil is everywhere ... in everyone ... even in you -- the glorious Slayer. Look at me. Willow was weak. She was always picked on by everyone. But the only thing that made any sense in this world was Tara ... Moments with Tara. ... Being with Tara. Do you know what it feels like to lose someone like that?

"Willow, you know .... "

"Oh don't tell me about Angel or Riley. ... Did you really truly love them?"

"Don't you dare judge me through that?"

"And why not? You didn't really lose them. You let them go. Or they never loved you enough to stay. Tara loved me ... really loved me." Willow took a step forward but she was moving towards Spike.

"Now you. ... You know pain. You know have to give it but you can feel it too, right?" Willow closed her eyes in slight concentration. "I can hear your thoughts."

"Don't Red."

"Why not? Afraid I'll find something I don't know yet?

“Willow stop this. Let me help you. If you let the magics take control you’ll destroy who you are. I know you don’t want that.” Buffy interjected.

“What I want? Why of all people should you care? So what’s a little destruction and mayhem? You hate this world remember? Finding solace in the arms of the undead!”

“Willow!”

Willow stood there silently, staring Buffy down for a minute. Then she flicked her wrists and the four of them found themselves in the Magic Box. “Sorry about that. The trip could be exhausting for someone like yourself.”

Sure enough Dawn collapsed into a heap. Buffy tried to take a step forward but she stumbled. Spike felt a little woozy and placed a hand on the counter to steady himself.


Willow turned her attention to Andrew and Jonathan. “ Jonathan ... Andrew ... You boys like playing with magic, don't you? … Abracadabra." She said with an evil grin.

Sure enough with outstretched arms, Willow attacked Jonathan and Andrew. Fortunately for both of them, a protective barrier was in place.

"Okay. ... That was quite unexpected."

"Uhm ... how did that happen?" Andrew asked.

"We're alive!?" Jonathan exclaimed.

"You guys want to take it slow? I can do that too. " Willow increased her efforts.

"Willow ... Don't do it." Buffy groaned.


From behind the bookcases in the Magic Box, Anya was chanting a protective counter spell to fight against Willow's magic. Seeing their opportunity, Jonathan and Andrew tried to make a run for it but Willow closed the door on them.

Buffy shook the dizziness from her head and moved to stand between Willow and the boys. "Get out of here!" she called out to Xander.

Xander gave her a quick nod as he grabbed Dawn's hand and ushered Jonathan and Andrew out of the Magic Box. "Come on! Hurry!"

"But what about Buffy?"

"You know she can take care of herself Dawn."

Dawn gave her sister a concerned look before rushing out of the Magic Box. In truth, Xander was just as worried as Dawn. He took one more look and dreaded the fact that his two friends were most probably going to fight now. He gave a quick glance to where he knew Anya was hiding. He gave her a look of concern and a little tilt of his head.

Anya caught his look and shook her head.

“Xander!” Dawn yelled from the alley.

With a sigh, he gave Anya one more look. There was so much they had to talk about and it seemed like when they were getting somewhere, something always got in the way. Of course, this wouldn’t have been a problem if he didn’t chicken out weeks ago. He loved her. He wished he could take back what he said that day outside the Magic Box, but he couldn’t. He was hurt and he just wanted to hurt her back. He needed to make it right between them. He just hoped that once this thing was over, that maybe he and Anya could somehow work things out.

This whole thing … this Willow thing. He wanted it resolved. It was bad enough that he lost Anya, now there was a possibility he was going to lose another best friend.



A/N: Just a few more chapters to go. Hope everyone is enjoying this so far. Since this is Spuffy... we'll have Spuffy goodness eventually. I promise lots more action in the next chapter. I’m hoping to concentrate on finishing this fic first then work on Where Do I Stand? Thanks for everyone that have kept up and continued to read this fic.


 
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