Part 2

Inside the Summers House, they were all still gathered there as Willow was busy at her laptop.  Buffy was in the living room, giving Dawn the explanation of the latest terror to strike Willow and Tara's happiness.  Unlike all the others, this was one event that none of them ever thought they'd find themselves in.

"And you just let that cop take her!" Dawn said, wetness filling her eyes.

Buffy flinched at the words.  "Dawn, I couldn't stop it.  If I had stopped that cop and he had been a cop, Willow and me could have been thrown in jail.  If there was any other way around this, I would have taken it."

Dawn didn't say anything else, she just turned and headed into the dining room, the Slayer trailing behind her.  As the two re-entered the dining room, they saw Willow busy typing away with the others looking pensive at their seats.  "Did you find anything yet Will?" Buffy asked.

Willow looked up from the laptop screen. "Yeah, I think I know who's behind this."

They all sat up at hearing this.  "What have you learned Willow?" Giles asked.

Willow took a deep breath.  "Well, after I got into the flower shop's system, I tracked the order to some guy.  This guy ordered the flowers to a location downtown and that's all there is on that front.  But, I thought about the phone this guy had to use and I tracked the receiving signal.  The guy called the order from a warehouse in the warehouse district."

"Wait a minute, there are over fifty warehouses downtown." Xander noted.

"I know.  There was a bunch of static clouding the airwaves and I couldn't track the call's frequency to which building it was.  I just know the call came from the general area of the warehouse district." Willow told them.

"So, we're going to the warehouse district, then?" Buffy said, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Not so fast, Buffy." Giles said, standing up.  "Just because Willow traced that call, it doesn't mean that's where this guy's taken Tara."

"Look Giles," Willow rose, "if there's just a remote possibility that this sicko has Tara in one of those warehouses, there's no choice.  I'm going.  You can either stay or not, but I'm going."

Willow turned and headed to Buffy's weapons cabinet.  She'd dressed in a pair of blue jeans and her light colored Skinny Skulls shirt.  She grabbed a few of the knives and put them in her pocket.  She also grabbed a flashlight and then grabbed her sweater coat and headed for the door.  As she reached it, Buffy hauled her to a stop.  "Hold it, Will." the Slayer said.

Willow's eyes flashed.  "Don't you dare!  Buffy, don't you dare try to talk me out of this!"

"I'm not." Buffy said calmly.  "I just want you to wait until all of us are ready.  We're getting weapons now.  Can you wait just a little while longer?"

Willow sighed, then nodded.

She went into the living room where everyone else were getting ready.  She stood in the center of it, hoping they wouldn't be too late.

---**---

Reese led Tara down a very long corridor that was very wide.  He was busy explaining everything he'd done to the place they were in before he came to find her.  He failed to notice that she wasn't really listening.  She was busing trying to find her right moment to make her move.  She knew if she did it now, he'd catch her before she got to the end of the hallway.  She decided to wait until they were past the corridors.

"I'm sorry...what did you say?" Tara said, realizing he'd asked her something.

He was looking at her strangely.  "I asked what you thought about this place.  It's going to be our home until you're you again." he said, circling her shoulders with one long arm.

She managed not to cringe at the contact, but it was very hard.  Closing her eyes, she leaned towards him slightly.  She had to play this perfectly.  "It's a nice place." she said.

He motioned her forward.  "Let me show you my personal room." he said as he took her up a flight of stairs.

---**---

Two vehicles pulled up in front of a large warehouse building.  It was the beginning of the large warehouse district that housed over fifty warehouses in Sunnydale.  Giles was driving the first vehicle and he exited the vehicle.  Buffy and Dawn were also inside the vehicle.  In the other vehicle, Xander exited with Anya and Willow.  The entire group looked around the area of the warehouse they were parked outside of.

"Alright, here's how we're going to do this," Giles said in a commanding voice.  "Buffy, you check this warehouse.  Dawn and I will check out the warehouse over there, Xander and Anya will check out the warehouse down that way, and Willow can check one of the other warehouses.  If you think you've found the right one, find a way to signal us.  It won't be safe to go against this guy by yourself." Giles told them, staring at Willow.

"You guys heard Giles.  Let's get to looking." Buffy told them.  They all carried similar weapons.  Buffy was carrying her battle axe with her.  They had no idea how dangerous this guy was and Buffy wasn't about to take any chances.

They split up and began moving through the warehouses.  What they didn't see or plan on was the cameras that were hidden on the roofs of the warehouses.  And the cameras were watching them move through the warehouses.

---**---

Reese opened the glass door to his private camera surveillance room and ushered Tara inside.  With the way Tara had been acting towards him, he was anxious to show her how much attention and effort he had put in to finding her and taking her from those people.  He walked towards the table of monitors as Tara looked around.

Tara's panicking reaction rekicked when she saw the equipment.  It became obvious to her that with the level of equipment there was, he had been watching her for over a year, spying on her.  On her and Willow.  He'd had to of known about all the times she and Willow had kissed while in public, about all the times she'd gone out to dinner with Willow.

It didn't scare her that he might do something to her once she made her move, but she was scared stiff at the thought of him getting his hands on Willow.  She wouldn't let that happen.  Her hand reached into her pocket and grasped the pointy comb in her pocket.  Gripping it, she began to recall the instance that she'd realized Reese was becoming too fixated on her.

It had been Tara's senior year in high school and graduation was rapidly approaching.  The Senior Prom was getting closer though and Tara wasn't planning on being a date for anyone.  She had planned earlier that year to go to the Prom stag.  It was the way she had preferred to go, but Reese had kept asking her.

Each time he asked, she would politely turn him down.  He would always come back and ask her more and more times.  She thought he kept asking because he merely figured she'd probably break down and accept if he asked enough times.  But she never accepted.  By her senior year, Tara had realized and accepted her sexuality and some other people knew about her, but Reese seemed oblivious to her desire not to be with him.

Three days before the Prom was scheduled to happen, Tara was walking back towards the class building when Reese caught up to her and made her stop her walking.  He had silently regarded her for a few moments before he spoke.  "How are you Tara?" he had asked.

She had smiled slightly.  "I'm okay Reese.  How are you?"

"Good, now that I see you." Reese had replied, "Tara, I really want you to go to the Prom with me. This is the last time I'll ask.  Will you please go?"

As all the other times when he asked, she was scared by the pure intensity of his gaze.  But she managed to get her fright under control.  She replied, "Reese, I've already told you, I don't want to go on a date with anyone at the Prom.  So, please would you stop asking."

A flash of anger went through his eyes and she had never seen it before.  She stepped back, but he stepped forward and roughly grabbed her arms.  He pulled her towards him just as roughly.  "Tara, why do you fight it!  We were meant for each other.  Surely you can feel it."

Tara had already begun to fight him off, roughly shoving him away from her.  "Don't you ever put your hands on me like that again, Reese." she'd demanded.

One moment later, Tara had felt her head snap backward as he had raised his right hand and slapped her hard.  Her hand touched the spot where he'd slapped her.  Tears stung her eyes at the betrayal.  She'd thought he was her friend, now she wasn't so sure.  She'd backed away.

"My Tara, I'm sorry." Reese had said, reaching for her.

"Don't touch me!" she'd snapped.  "And don't you ever come near me ever again."

Then she'd turned and ran away from him.  She didn't head back to school that day, or the day after.  But when she did go back to school two days later, someone had told her that Reese had transferred to another school.  That thought didn't help her at all.  And she'd never seen Reese again.

Slowly pulling the sharp edged comb out from her jeans pocket, she carefully walked up to Reese.  He turned around as she walked closer to him.  "Tara, this is my personal room.  I've stayed in here most of the time because those people that's tainted you are so constantly around you, that this is the only way for me to keep track of you." Reese said to her.

Tara kept her comb concealed within her hand as she looked at the equipment, at him, then her eyes flashed back to one screen in particular.  She tried very hard not to smile in relief as she saw several very familiar and extremely welcoming forms moving through the warehouse area.  She knew she couldn't let him turn around otherwise he'd see them too and there wsa not telling what he'd do.  Making a judgement decision, she stepped closer to him.  Raising the arm that didn't have the comb, she circled it around his shoulders.

Silently asked for Willow's forgiveness, she leaned her head towards him while glancing at the screens the entire time.  She pressed her lips to his very softly, but it took less than a second for him to respond and begin kissing her back.  She wanted very much to pry her lips from his, but he had to be completely relaxed and at ease before she could make her move.

Circling her other around around his back, she held the comb, the sharp edge towards him, and brought her hand down with swift precision and enough force to pierce skin.  His lips tore away from hers as the comb was embedded halfway into his back.  He screamed out in pain and she moved away, falling on her behind as she moved from him.  He reached behind him to pull the comb out and felt the gushes of copper covering his hand.  He finally was able to grasp the comb and he yanked it out of his back and when he finally managed to look up, Tara was no longer there.  Realizing what she'd done, he felt rage and humiliation of being tricked rush over him.  "My Tara!" he yelled very loudly.  "If I can't have you, I won't let anyone else either!" he yelled.  Walking over to his cabinet, he pulled out his hand pistol and loaded it full with bullets.  Pulling the hammer back on his gun, headed out in search of the woman he would never see with anyone else.

As soon as Reese's body fell to his knees and he looked down at the floor, Tara moved to her feet as quickly as she could and she bolted to the door.  Throwing it open, she headed out with one plan in mind, getting out.  As she was rapidly moving down the many steps, she heard his yell of the words and she was struck frozen.  Hearing his words told her one thing.  Sure, she could probably get out and get the police involved, but by then, he would have abandoned the warehouse and they'd have no idea where to find him.

He'd be able to start stalking her again and Tara knew that eventually, he would either kill her or go after Willow.  Those words he yelled to her told her that he would either kill anyone she loved or kill her so that she wouldn't be with them.  Tara knew what she had to do.  She couldn't leave this warehouse until he was finished.  She would be rid of him forever, one way or the other.  Nodding, she looked around the bottom level of the warehouse for any type of weapon.  She found several poles of metal lying around and she grabbed one.  Moving to a shadowed corner, she hid in it as she waited for him to come after her.

---**---

"Anything yet?" Anya asked as Xander came down from the second level of the warehouse they were currently looking in.  This was the fifth warehouse two had been looking in and there was still no sign of the mysterious stalker or Tara.

"Nothing." Xander said, frustrated.  "I'm beginning to wonder if they're even here."

"Well, Willow did trace the signal to one of these buildings." Anya pointed out.

Xander shook his head.  "Ahn, I really don't think Willow is thinking too clearly right now."

"That's true.  Losing Tara like this after everything's gotta be totally horrible for her." Anya replied.

"Yeah." Xander nodded.  "You wanna check another building?" he asked.

"Sure." Anya replied as they left that warehouse and moved on to the next one.

About one block over in the warehouse district, Giles and Dawn were moving through a warehouse.  Giles was upstairs, moving through the upper level rooms with purpose.  The interior of the rooms were dusty and definitely unused.  Giles sighed, they were having no luck finding the right warehouse.  This was the sixth warehouse they'd gone through and they were still coming up empty.

He came downstairs and spotted Dawn.  The younger Summers sibling looked pale and her eyes were locked on something.  "Dawn?"

Dawn looked up, feeling and looking like she was ready to throw up.  She didn't say anything in response, she just pointed.  The Watcher came to her side and looked to where she was pointing.  It was a smaller room and the door was open.  Inside the door were at least two dozen body bags with obvious human bodies inside them.

"Oh god." Dawn whispered.

Giles walked over and took a quick look inside.  The room smelled of rotting flesh and he had to cover his nose from the smell.  He shut the door after looking inside.  It became obvious to him that the man they were dealing with was worse than a typical stalker.  He was killing anyone he wanted and in his warped mind, he was doing it for Tara.  Giles removed his glasses as he rubbed them with his shirt.  "Alright, let's go Dawn." he said.

"But..." Dawn motioned to the room.

"Once we've looked through all the warehouses, we'll call the police about the bodies.  That's the only thing we can do." Giles answered her, steering her towards the front door of the warehouse.  Together, they continued searching the warehouses for the stalker and serial killer and Tara.

A couple blocks down from where they were, Buffy was walking down the second level steps, having no luck at finding her friend or kidnapper.  Buffy was beginning to lose patience with this whole situation.  She wanted to find this guy and teach him a lot of lessens, her style.  As she exited the warehouse, she looked up and saw camera hooked to the top of the roof.  Furrowing her brow, Buffy grabbed onto part of the outer wall and began to climb to the top of the warehouse.

It took her but a minute, but she reached the top of the warehouse and looked at the camera.  The wire that was hooked into the camera went from the roof of that warehouse onto the other warehouse.  Nodding to herself, Buffy dove off the roof of the warehouse and onto the next warehouse.  She was fairly certain that this guy that had Tara had surveillance all around the warehouses and she hoped that if she followed the wire for the camera, it would lead her to him and to her friend.

And not too far from where Buffy was moving, Willow was standing in front of one of the last warehouses on the block she was going through.  She was getting a very uneasy feeling about this one and she didn't really know why.  She tried the front door, but it was locked and from the way it looked, it was locked from the inside.  Renewed with hope that this was the one she needed to get into, Willow tried to find any way she could to get into it.  She tried any of the windows, but they were shut and painted black, so there wasn't any way for her to get into.  Reaching into her coat pocket, the redhead pulled out a folded piece of paper.  The words on it were Latin and she'd taken the spell from one of Tara's magic books.

Taking a breath, Willow began to chant, hoping the spell would throw the door away so she could get inside.

---**---

Reese was at the bottom of the interior of the warehouse.  He had his gun poised in one hand and he slowly moved about the ground floor of the area.  He knew his Tara was down there somewhere, hiding.  Hiding from him.  The fact that she was hiding from him enraged him.  He'd come to Sunnydale hoping to have his Tara back.  To live happily ever after with her.  And finding out she didn't want to be with him made him angrier than he'd ever been before.  All those people he'd killed, he'd done it in an angry fit.  Angry that they were trying to deny him his Tara.  He wasn't about to let that happen.

If he couldn't have Tara with him, he'd make sure no one did.  And after he took care of Tara, he'd go after those responsible, in his mind, of perverting her mind against him.  As he moved around the corner near the back wall, something happened.  He couldn't see it, so he couldn't stop it.  A shiny pipe came out of the dark and crashed down onto his wrist, shattering it.  His gun fell to the floor and he grabbed his wrist, the pain evident.

Not a moment passed before the pipe swung upward at his face.  Reese managed to sidestep the swing and he grabbed at the person swinging the weapon and pulled Tara out by her shirt.  He threw her across the ground floor as hard as his hand could.  She crashed against the ground, her head snapping back against the floor.  She winced as she tried to rise, but Reese was already moving closer.

Reese forced her arms up ahead of her head and he held her hands together under his uninjured one.  Reaching down, he pulled out a roll of duck tape and taped her hands together.  He used the strength in his lower body to keep her from moving.  He leaned up off of her and dragged her, by the hands, over to a steel column that kept the roof from caving in.  To make sure she didn't move, he slapped her across the face, drawing blood across the cheek. 

Tara was breathing hard.  She'd hoped that she could have hit his head with that pipe.  She'd given it her best chance, but she knew she was in trouble.  After he'd slapped her, her eyes had fluttered closed and she was on the verge of passing out.  Reese took that as his chance and he quickly took his tape and taped some of the tape around the tape over her hands and taped it and her taped hands to the support column.  With enough tape wrapped around the column, he knew she wouldn't be able to get free, not without using one of the spells she was always so fond of doing back in high school.  As her eyes moved up to his face, he pulled out a piece of the tape and moved it to her mouth.  Covering her mouth with the tape, Reese leaned over her.

"Don't worry my Tara." he whispered, "I'm going to take very good care of you before you die."

Tara's eyes widened in shock and horror as she saw and felt him move his hands over her body.  She began struggling very hard and thrashing her legs about.  He knew what he was planning on doing and the thought made her sick to her stomach.  Just the thought of him touching her there was making her wish she had never been brought back.  Tears stung her eyes as he unbuttoned her jeans and began unzipping them.

---**---

Willow said another verse of Latin and swung her hand towards the door.  A wave of greenish energy hit the door, but it wasn't strong enough to break the steel door in.  Willow cursed, none of the spells she had used from the list she'd taken were doing what she wanted.  And the spells were extremely powerful light based spells.  Willow looked at one of the spells again, looking at it.  Nodding, she was about to try it again.

Before she did, though, she suddenly felt a wave of extreme paralyzing fear surge through her connection with Tara.  She choked back tears at the feeling of despair and fear that was flooding through her.  She knew something incredibly horrible was about to happen to her lover and Willow had to do something before it happened.  She stepped back from the warehouse door, the list of light based spells dropping from her fingers.  Her green eyes turned coal black and she silently chanted one of the darker spells she'd used during her descent into vengeance.  Lifting her hand, a wave of powerful dark magic hit the door.  The door suddenly flew inward, splitting apart as it crashed in different directions.

Her eyes changed back into her green eyes and she ran inside, quickly searching with her eyes.  Jealousy charged with hatred and anger flashed through her soul at seeing what she was seeing.  Tara was lying on the ground, her hands bound by tape around a steel support beam and a man was between her legs.  Tara's jeans were already pulled down to her ankles and the man had been yanking her panties down when he heard the loud crash and seeing the redhead standing there, he rose and faced her.

"You." Reese sneered.  "You are the reason my Tara doesn't want me!"

Willow let her anger, her hatred, her fury rise within her.  He realized what he'd been trying to do, what he had almost done to her fiancée and it took control of her.  She rushed forward and threw her right leg up into the air.  Her foot crashed against his head, knocking him back several feet and down to the ground.  She didn't wait, she moved on him and straddled his waist.  She grabbed his throat with her fingers and began choking him as hard as she could.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her off, sending her to her back as he dove to his feet.  She got to his feet just as he was on his feet.  She charged forward and tried to throw a right at his face, but he dodged it.  He moved forward and brought his knee up to her abdomen, knocking the wind out of her.  As she kneeled over, he brought his leg up, catching her jaw with his boot.  Willow's body hit the floor again, blood splattering on the ground from her face.  Reese walked over and picked up his pistol and walked back over to where Willow lay.  Cocking back the hammer, Reese aimed it at the redhead.  "Any last words, perverted girl." he said.

Willow looked into his eyes and saw his eyes bore into hers.  "Yeah," she replied, "Bixada."

An invisible surge of energy hit him in the chest.  His body went crashing against the far wall, temporarily knocking him out.  Making sure he didn't move after his fall, Willow rushed over to where Tara lay.  Tara's eyes were open, tears covering her cheeks.  Willow saw dried blood on her cheek and she rubbed the soft skin with her thumb.  She peeled the tape off her lover's mouth and reached up to free her hands.

Ripping the last of the tape off of Tara's wrists, Willow immediately welcomed the arms that came up and wrapped themselves around her.  She pulled Tara's upper body into her arms and squeezed for all she was worth, ecstatic to at least have the chance to have Tara back.  They stayed like that for several long moments.  Then, Willow slowly pulled back and curled her fingers in Tara's long dark blonde hair.  She brought her lips to Tara's and kissed her, slow and tender, a reaffirmation of their love.

"Thank god you're alright." Willow murmured.

"I had your love with me." Tara whispered.

Willow kissed her again, the kiss remaining slow and tender as they moved their lips against one another.  Slowly, they pulled apart and Willow looked at Tara's exposed body.  "Let's get out of here." Willow said.  Tara reached down and began pulling her clothing back up her legs.  She looked over to where Reese had crashed into the wall and her eyes widened.

"Willow?" Tara queried.

"Yeah?" Willow replied.

"He's gone." the blonde said.

Willow looked over to where Reese had fallen, then she found herself on the ground as Reese suddenly grabbed her and threw her away from Tara.  He had his gun in his hand and he reached down and grabbed Willow by the hair.  He put the gun to her head.  "This!!  This is what you would rather have!!!" he roared.

Tara rose to her knees, concern written on her face as she looked at Reese.  His face of fury and hatred bored into her.  There was blood on his face from his face hitting the wall.  His look was also one of betrayal.  "Reese," she said, wincing as she saw Willow's face show her that Tara knew him, "calm down."

"Calm down!!!" he snarled.  "For years, I've sacrificed myself, hoping to be with you one day.  Hoping to live happy with you.  Do you have any idea of how much time and effort I've put unto us.  HUH DO YOU!!!!"

Tara slowly rose, seeing him press the barrell of the gun into Willow's chin.  The redhead's eyes pleaded with her not to do anything.  "I'm sorry Reese.  I really am, but I tried to tell you so many times I didn't want a relationship with you.  You just wouldn't listen."

Reese's pressed the gun harder into Willow's skin.  "You really don't get it do you Tara.  You're mine!  I won't let anyone else take you from me!"

Tara didn't know what else to say so she remained silent.  Behind Reese and Willow, Tara spotted Buffy walking into the warehouse, her eyes scanning and seeing the situation.  The Slayer's eyes flashed at seeing the blood on Tara's face and her best friend being held by the man.  She ran forward with stealth and dove into the air.  By the time Reese realized they weren't alone, Buffy foot crashed into Reese's back, sending him to the ground.

The pain was intense because Buffy's foot had hit him where the comb had inserted into his back.  Willow went back to Tara's side and the two quickly held each other.  As Reese tried to get up, Buffy kicked him in the face, sending him against the wall again.  Giles, Dawn, Anya, and Xander arrived only a moment later and saw the scene before them.

Realizing things had fallen apart for him, Reese reached into his pocket and produced a small hand held device.  He started laughing as they all gathered around Willow and Tara.

"Do you find something amusing?" Giles asked the man.

Reese nodded.  "Yeah.  It's funny, I spent all this time trying to be with my Tara, but I was never stupid enough to think that things would work out.  I had a backup plan.  You see, if I can't have Tara, then I will make sure that no one will.  Plus, I get to take all of you out.  It's because of all of you that my Tara hates me.  I'll see you all in hell." Reese said as he pressed the red button on his device.

Giles turned to the others.  "We need to get out of here now!  There's a bomb!!"

Buffy needed no further words.  She grabbed Dawn by the arm and began running towards the exit.  Anya grabbed hold of Xander and teleported them out of the warehouse.  Giles looked at Reese, who had a look of pure loathing on his face, and bolted for the door.  And Willow grabbed Tara and the two witches bolted, running as fast as they could and heading for the exit of the warehouse.  Just seconds after they took off, the bombs that were laid at several points of the warehouse began exploding, sending pieces and pieces of the warehouse everywhere.  Buffy and Dawn had already cleared the warehouse and the gush of fire and smoke sent them diving to the ground for cover.  Giles, who was trained on how to react in circumstances like this, immediately went to the ground and curled his body.  But Willow and Tara were only just passing the entranceway/exit of the warehouse when the explosion happened.  And once Tara heard the explosion, she only need a split second to decide what had to be done.  She grabbed Willow's arms and shoved her as hard as she could.  Willow landed a few feet away, enough to keep the redhead safe from serious harm.  But Tara knew she wouldn't be.

The flames and the wind carrying them threw Tara's body into the air and forcing her body into the wall of the next building with enough force to put a sizable dent in the steel of the doors she hit against.  Tara's body fell to the ground on her stomach.  The last thing Tara heard was Willow's scream of anguish.

As soon as Willow felt herself shoved away, she knew what happened.  Tara didn't want to see Willow hurt, so she half sacrificed herself.  As the smoke from the explosion began to settle down, Willow saw her lover's body lying motionless on the ground.  She got to her feet and rushed over to her.  As gently as she could, Willow moved Tara's body over in her arms.  Tara's head fell back against her shoulder.  Willow choked back tears as she screamed out Tara's name.  The only thought that was going through her head was that Tara was dead again, this time for good.

Getting up, Giles quickly scanned the area around him and made sure everyone was okay.  Buffy and Dawn were getting to their feet and Xander and Anya were checking on them.  Then, Giles heard Willow's scream and he quickly saw where she was.  He paled when he saw her cradling Tara in her arms.  Without hesitating, Giles ran over to where they were.  He pressed his fingers to Tara's throat and for a moment, he paled even further.  But, after a long and tense moment, he felt a faint pulse beating in her veins.  "Willow," he said urgently, "Tara's not gone.  I feel a pulse, it's very weak, but it's there. We need to get her to a hospital now!"

Willow nodded, calling for strength she knew she didn't possess, she stood carrying Tara's much heavier weight in her arms and let Giles lead the way back to the car.  Buffy ran ahead and got to the cars.  Within moments, the entire group were in two cars, heading as fast as they could towards the nearest hospital, hoping against all hope that Tara would survive this, otherwise Willow certainly wouldn't.

---**---

The hospital corridors were silent and empty as Buffy moved through them.  She wore her blue pair of jeans with a black pullover shirt on.  Because of the summer's heatwaves, she decided not to wear her usual jacket with her.  She was headed to the hospital room that Tara was staying in until she was ready to leave.

It was now two days later and Tara had still not regained consciousness.  The Scoobies had gotten Tara to the hospital as soon as they could and Dr. Shaw had been called when they found out that Tara was her patient.  After a quick examanation of Tara's injuries, Dr. Shaw had came out to speak with them.  They had been waiting in the waiting room and Buffy remembered seeing Willow near frantic when Helen Shaw had approached them.

Dr. Helen Shaw had walked over to them, pulling her white doctor's coat over her shoulders as she was doing so.  The doctor had looked tired and her hair was slightly out of arrangement as she approached the group.  Willow was standing at the front of the group, but they all looked as concerned as she did.

"Miss Rosenberg." Dr. Shaw had said.

"How is she?" were the first words out of the redhead's mouth.

Dr. Shaw had smiled at her to help her.  "Let's sit over here and I'll tell you." she had said as she directed Willow to the chairs against the wall.  She'd sat across from Willow and her friends gathered near.  "She's going to be fine in a few days time." the doctor had told them.  "Tara suffered a concussion and there is some bruising along her back.  Her back isn't my concern."

"The concussion?" Giles had guessed.

Dr. Shaw had nodded.  "Yes.  There is some tissue bruising in her brain right now.  We've run a few tests and I can tell you for sure that once the swelling goes down, she should wake up.  And I'm not expecting that for another few days.  So just hang tight."

That had been two days ago and Willow had been reluctant to leave Tara's bedside ever since.  Night and day she stayed there.  The only times she did leave Tara's room were when her friends convinced her she needed to get some rest.  And they always made sure someone was there while Willow was getting rest.  Most of the time it was Dawn, but they all pitched in on the two days of Tara's coma.  As Buffy opened the door to the room, she could make out clearly the two forms in the room.  Tara was still lying motionless on the bed with Willow sitting on the right side.  She was sitting on a chair to Tara's right side, holding the blonde's limp hand, wishing for it to move within hers.

Buffy closed the door quietly and walked closer to them.  As she neared, Willow looked up at her through saddened eyes.  The redhead was currently wearing a pair of blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt.  Buffy pulled up a chair and sat down next to where Willow was.  "Any change?" the Slayer asked.

Willow shook her head.  "Not yet." she said quietly.

The two of them were silent for a long moment.  "She'll wake up, Willow.  It's just going to take a little time."

Willow nodded, but she was still having trouble accepting that.  The last two days were hell for her.  Not knowing if Tara was going to wake up or even when she might wake up, it all was becoming very difficult for the redhead.  She looked at Tara's still face and had to look away, the emotions building to the surface with a rising intensity.  What she felt for Tara went so far beyond ordinary love that it sometimes amazed her.  She felt as if her soul was torn in two when Tara was in danger.  "I just hate the waiting." she whispered.

Buffy smiled lightly, reaching out with her left hand and rubbing her friend's neck in support.  "I know you do.  But that doctor keeps saying that she'll wake up anytime now, so we have to stay positive." Buffy told her.

Willow nodded and looked at the door as it opened.  Helen Shaw entered the room and walked to the other side of Tara's bed.  Giles entered behind the doctor and closed the door softly.  Willow watched as Dr. Shaw checked all of Tara's vitals and started looking at the blonde's chart.  "Well," Dr. Shaw said, "everything's progressing as it should.  The swelling in her brain's gone done and it's back to the size it should be.  The minor burns on her back are, for the most part, healed.  Tara should be waking up anytime now Willow.  Waiting is the only thing to do now." Dr. Shaw smiled at her.

The redhead sighed, she really did hate waiting.

Helen waited a minute, then she walked over to the far corner where a surveillance camera was posted and she looked at the camera, aware of it showing her watching it.  She put up two fingers in front of it and then unplugged the camera.  Walking back over to the door, she locked it and turned to Willow, Buffy, and Giles.  They were watching her strangely.  She crossed her arms.  "I want to know how Tara ended up like this." the doctor said, her intent tone boring into theirs.  "And don't lie to me or avoid the question."

Buffy looked at Giles.  When he nodded, Buffy rose and looked at the doctor.  "You want the truth, alright.  Some sick weird ass bastard came to Sunnydale, wanting to take Tara away.  He'd been videotaping her and us for over a year and he sent her a box of dead roses.  He's killed a bunch of innocent people, including a police officer he then impersonated and took Tara away from our home.  He told her she was being arrested for murder."

"A murder he committed." Giles told her.

"He took her to a warehouse.  We found the warehouse and when he saw his plan fall apart, he blew it up.  That's how Tara got her concussion and back injuries." Buffy finished, watching the doc's face for any sign of shock or repulsion.

She found none, which kind of surprised her.  It also earned the doctor a little respect in Buffy's eyes.  "And none of you know who this guy was?"

The three of them shook their heads.

"Hmph." Helen snorted.

"Reese..." a strangled voice spoke into the small silence.

Willow's eyes snapped to Tara's face.  Tara's eyes were still closed, her the muscles in her face were moving and the blonde's head was slowly moving a little bit.  Willow's face broke into a tearful smile as she squeezed Tara's now responsive hand.  "Baby?" she spoke softly.

Helen moved to Tara's other side and checked her vitals again, getting the results she was looking for.  She checked Tara's pulse and was relieved to feel the strong pulse within her skin.  As Tara's eyes fluttered open, the doc smiled.  "Welcome back Tara." the doctor said.

Tara's head moved to her face.  "Dr. Shaw?"

"It's me." Helen said, raising Tara's eyelid and looking at her pupils.

"Whe....where's my Willow?" Tara's voice queried.

Tara felt a warm palm press against her cheek and she turned her head to see her Willow sitting there, smiling down at her. "I'm right here, baby." Willow said, stroking her lover's cheek.  Regardless of three other people in the room, Willow leaned forward in her chair and pressed her lips gently against her lover's.  She placed three tender kisses there before moving back.

Buffy squeezed Willow's shoulder, smiling at seeing Tara awake.  She looked at the doctor.  "How is she?" she asked.

"She's going to be fine, Miss Summers." the doctor said.  "Tara, I'll be back in a little while to check on you."

Tara nodded, keeping her eyes locked with Willow's green ones.  Helen left, followed by Giles and Buffy.  The trio left Willow and Tara to their privacy.  After they were gone, Willow stood and moved forward.  No words were necessary right now.  They grabbed onto each other and embraced each other, needing the comfort the physical contact brought more than anything else.  They rocked each other back and forth for several moments.

"How do we always end up in these situations?" Tara asked, half joking.

Willow leaned back and rubbed her thumbs across Tara's cheeks.  "I don't know." she murmured.  She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Tara's forehead, her lips pressing against the skin there for several seconds.  "I don't.....I don't want to keep ending up like this.  You in the hospital, me in the hospital.  I'm tired of it." Willow said.

Tara nodded, her hands rubbing Willow's back through the thin shirt she wore.  "I know," she said, "I don't like this anymore than you do.  Maybe it's our curse."

"Huh?"

"Maybe......maybe we're always going to attract trouble because of who we are, where we come from.  Maybe that's our curse." Tara murmured.  "When can you take me home?"

"Soon." Willow answered her, her fingers running through her lover's hair.  She was now sitting on the edge of the bed, Tara's upper body pressed against her chest.  One of her hands was running down her lover's exposed back and the other hand was running through the dark blonde hair.

"Good." Tara said, pressing her cheek against Willow's shirt.

"Tara?" Willow remembered something.

"Mm?"

"Who was Reese?" the redhead asked.

Tara sighed, she'd known this was coming the moment she'd woken up.  She'd hoped she would have had more time to get ready to tell her, but she knew things were never easy for them.  She scooted back onto the bed and clasped Willow's hand.  She began her tale of who Reese was.  She told the redhead of how she was in high school, how Reese paid her attention by taking her to the Junior Prom.  She explained in detail the events that led to Reese's leaving her school all the way to what happened at the warehouse before the others had arrived.  When she finished, she gazed into her fiancée's shock ridden eyes.

"I..." Willow stammered, "this Reese guy......he loved you?"

Tara shook her head.  "No, he thinks he did.  But it was obsession.  I don't know when it started, but he thought for sure he and I were meant for each other.  I don't know..." Tara sighed, "He......I feel sorry for him."

"You what?" Willow looked confused.

"He spent his entire life tracking me down because he thought we'd be together.  He could have done so much more with his life, but he spent it on me.  How am I supposed to forgive myself for that?"

"Tara, you listen to me." Willow's serious tone drilled into her.  "You've done nothing wrong here.  It was him.  What happened was his fault, not yours.  He was the one who decided to sacrifice his life to you.  He's the one who's wronged you, me, everyone.  He's also the one who's killed a lot of people.  So don't think any of it's your fault."

Tara's lips pursed.  "I know.  It's just, I can't......I just can't believe this has happened."

"I know." Willow said with gentle concern.  "I don't know what else I can say to convince you it's not your fault, because it's not." Willow decided to change the subject.  "You wanna go see my parents tomorrow?"

Tara half smiled.  "Sure."

"Good." Willow replied before she leaned over and kissed her lover.

---**---

Tara was released the next day and Willow happily brought her back to the Summers House.  Even though they had said it in Tara's hospital room, the engaged couple decided to hold off on telling the Rosenbergs.  Tara needed time to heal from the latest ordeal.  Not so much the physical healing as the emotional and Willow needed the time to try to even come up with the right way to approach the subject with her lover's parents.  This was a situation she'd never faced before.  She'd had only one female lover before Willow and that relationship had never involved either woman's parents, so this dilemma was entirely new to both of them.

The next three days after Tara's release from the hospital went by smoothly and without much trouble.  Giles and Xander had gone to the police station to tell them about the body bags of bodies in one of the warehouses and after the police found them, they questioned everybody about it.  Giles explained how it was they came to find them.  The police talked with Willow and Tara about Reese and about the blown up building.

One thing that concerned Buffy was the fact that the police had cleared away the rubble that was left from the warehouse and they hadn't found Reese's body, nor had they found any remains of his body.  Tara had explained what he looked like really well, but Reese's body hadn't been uncovered. The detective that talked to them explained to them that it was entirely possible that the flames could have burned his body up.  He told them to not worry about it.  If Reese was still alive, and the detective told them how unlikely that was, they would find him before he got to them.  There was a patrol car constantly patrolling the neighborhood.

It was about noon on the day and Buffy was out with Giles at the Magic Box.  Anya had pretty much gotten the entire building fixed from Willow's attack several weeks earlier.  The Watcher and Slayer was using the training room to continue with her training.  Xander was at the Magic Box with Anya, working round the clock at repairing his relationship with her.

Dawn was out with her best friend, Janice.  The two girls spent a lot of their time going down to the skating rink meeting boys.  The only two at the house were the two witches and they were relaxing in their bedroom.  Tara yawned and rose from the bed.  She was wearing one of her white sleeping shirts and nothing else.  Walking over to the dresser, she slipped on a pair of her boxers.

"Where are you going?" Willow asked her.

"I am going downstairs to get some lunch." Tara told her with a snicker.  "Would you like something?"

Willow moved to her over the large bed on her hands and knees, looking like a jungle cat nearing it's prey.  "There's only one thing I'm hungry for right now." she leered.

Tara smirked, touching Willow's face.  "Patience...patience.  We have all day for that." she leaned down and gave Willow a kiss.  "I'm hungry.  I'll be back in a few minutes." she said.

Tara headed downstairs and tried to snap that hungry gaze Willow had thrown at her out of her vision.  She loved Willow, but the woman could wear her out.  She chuckled as she entered the kitchen and opened the fridge.  Looking through it, she found enough to make herself and Willow a couple sandwiches and she found a couple oranges.  She took the oranges out and cut them into slices.  Taking a tray from the counter, she grabbed a plate also and put enough ham pieces and slices of bread for the sandwiches.  Nodding at her selections, went to the fridge to find some juice.

Too interested in finding the juice, she didn't hear the door open, nor did she see the figure enter the house.  The figure wore black jeans, a black shirt and a long brown overcoat with a dark hood over the head.  The figure stopped at the entrance to the kitchen.  The figure watched Tara take the juice out and make enough for her and her lover and turned back to the tray of food.  Tara was about to lift the tray to take to the bedroom when she heard something behind her.  Knowing it couldn't be Willow, Tara took a deep breath and grabbed the rolling pin that was lying next to the fridge.

Swallowing her fear, she turned swiftly and swung the pin at whoever was behind her.  A man's hand caught her hand and twisted it, causing her to yelp in pain.  Then the man's other hand grabbed her around the throat and yanked her back, thrusting her back against the island counter in the kitchen.  "Did you just think I'd die Tara?  Did you think it would be that easy?!?" Reese snarled as he slapped her across the cheek hard.

Reese wrapped his gloved hand around her throat to cut off her scream.  He leaned closer to her face, forcing the hood to fall off his head.  Tara's eyes widened at his face.  The entire left half of his face was burned and scarred from the fire.  All of his hair on the left side of his head was burned off all the way to the scalp.  The sight made Tara sick to her stomach.  With her left hand, she grabbed Reese's hand that held her throat.  Trying as hard as she could, she managed to lessen the restriction of breathing on her throat.  She lashed out with her right hand and struck him across his burned face.  His face snapped to the side, but he didn't move.  Instead, he began increasing the pressure of his hand on her throat.

Finding the need to have air becoming very evident to her, Tara desperately tried anything to move him away from her.  She reached up with her right hand and dug her fingers into his burned flesh, ripping at it.  Fresh blood oozed out of the flesh and he screamed, moving back and pressing against the fridge.  Tara rolled to the other side of the counter and stood on unsteady legs.  She looked at the boy she used to think she knew.  "Why are you doing this Reese?" she asked, buying time.

Reese's hand was covering his burned side of his face, he blood soaking his gloved hand.  "I told you Tara, if I can't have you....I won't let anyone else have you either."

Tara didn't know how to respond, so she didn't.

Reese reached into his pocket and produced a long knife, which he held in his hand, the blade pointing downward.  "Now it's time for you to die, Tara." he said as he moved toward her.

Upstairs, Willow was lying on their bed, her hands interlaced together at her stomach.  She had her ankles crossed as she waited for Tara to hurry back.  Her lover had been downstairs for just over one minute and Willow was finding herself missing her lover's presence already.  She shook her head, it wasn't good being so dependant on Tara like this, but the redhead knew that Tara felt the same way.  And that thought made her smile.

Willow was about to get up and head downstairs when she heard a crash sound coming from downstairs.  Fearing Tara might be having one of her chest pain attacks, she dove off the bed and ran downstairs as fast as her legs could carry her.  Willow was wearing just her sleeveless pink top and her pajama bottoms.  Getting downstairs, she stopped cold at the entranceway to the kitchen.  Her anger rose when she saw what she saw.  Tara was pressed back against the kitchen's counter where the dishes were kept and her hands were wrapped around Reese's hand, trying to keep a knife from embedding into her.  Willow wasted no more time.  Instinctively, she moved forward and grabbed the toaster lying on the counter.

She thrust it at Reese's head, hearing the thud sound as it hit him.  Reese was knocked away from Tara and he hit the floor on his side.  Willow pulled Tara to her as Reese rose to his feet.  "I'm glad you're here." he sneered.  "It'll make having to go up there and killing you so much easier."

"You're not going to kill either of us." Willow said.

"You think you can stop me." Reese stated.

"No, not me.  Us." Willow replied.

A flash of anger crossed over his face.  "Let's find out then because I'm not leaving this house until I've done what I came here to do."

He charged at them, hitting Willow across the face with the edge of the knife, drawing blood across her cheek.  She fell to the ground as he stabbed at Tara.  The blonde dove out of the way and ran around the counter, Reese moving closer to her.  Tara's eyes flickered to Willow, who was starting to recover.  She saw the cut on her face and something happened to her that Reese had never before seen in any of his tapes.  Her eyes glowed a powerful white and she began to levitate off the floor.  Reese raised his hand with the knife and was going to thrust it at her, but Tara's hand rose and pointed at the hand.

He suddenly found that it was unable to move, as was the rest of his body.  "What....what are you doing?"

"I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago." Tara said evenly.  Her hand formed a claw and she began to close her fingers.  Reese's body convulsed and the stalker suddenly felt as if his entire heart was being crushed.  Blood started oozing out of his mouth and nose and he dropped to his knees, the knife clattering to the floor.

"Tara!" Willow yelled, drawing the blonde's face to hers.  "Do not do this!  Don't kill him."

"Why not!" Tara snapped, "You killed someone.  What's the difference here.  You used your power to do it, why can't I!!"

Willow realized that whatever power was running through Tara's veins right now was starting to multiply the hate and anger she felt for Reese and that was what was driving her to kill him.  "Tara...baby?" she said, "killing Reese is not the answer.  I did what I did and I can't make up for it.  I took a human life Tara, but don't let it happen to you.  You're much better than this.  You're not a killer Tara.  You're a beautiful and gentle soul.  Please, don't do this." she pleaded.

Tara's feet touched the floor and she suddenly extended her fingers until her hand was flat.  Reese's body hit against the wall behind him and he lost consciousness.  Tara collapsed on her knees, crying as Willow cradled her and cried with her.  The two cried for what almost happened here and they cried for the horror that Willow had gone through that led to Warren's death.  Long minutes passed before they stopped holding each other.  Willow slowly rose to her feet and picked up the phone, putting her free hand on Tara's head.

"Yes 911, I have an emergency." Willow said.

While Willow placed the call, Tara stayed on her knees and took several deep breaths to calm her nerves.  What had happened had frightened her.  She could have very easily killed Reese.  In fact, Tara had wanted to.  Ever since she had learned that she had new power given to her by the Powers That Be, she had been wondering what they could do.  Just moments ago, she realized that she could hold a person's life in her hands when she used the power.  She could have crushed his heart and she was very close to doing it.

Less than thirty seconds before the ambulance and the police arrived, Buffy busted through the front door at a frantic rush.  Giles, Xander, and Anya rushed in behind her.  Dawn entered a moment later.  "God Willow, Tara, what happened?" she asked before her eyes fell on Reese's unconscious form. "Oh."

"I thought that explosion destroyed him." Xander said.

"He survived.  Somehow." Tara murmured.

Willow helped her lover up as the authorities arrived.  They stayed out of the way as Reese was taken to the ambulance, an officer going with the ambulance.  The detective that questioned them arrived as ambulance left.  He entered the house to see a paramedic placing a small white bandage over the cut on Willow's face.

"Guess I was wrong about Reese's body." the detective said.

"Yeah." Tara said, looking down.  She was sitting on the couch, leaning forward.  Dawn and Anya were sitting with her.

"What's going to happen to him now?" Giles asked.

The detective turned to him.  "Well, after he's seen to by a doctor, we'll place him in jail until he's brought before the courts.  Eventually, he'll be brought up for trial and some of you will be asked to testify.  I can tell you for sure that you two will have to testify." he motioned to Willow and Tara.

After a few more questions, the detective left, leaving the group silent.  "What happened?" Buffy asked after a few moments.

Tara swallowed.  "I was getting some lunch and.....Reese was just there."

Willow walked over and reached out with her hands.  She waggled her fingers, knowing that Tara knew what she wanted.  Tara reached up with both of her hands and grabbed the fingers.  Willow pulled Tara up and wrapped an arm around her.  "Look guys, can we talk about this later?  Tara and I need to be alone right now."

"Sure, go ahead.  Come down when your ready." Buffy told them.  She watched Willow lead her lover up the stairs and she looked concerned.  "I can't I let this happen."

"Buffy, there was no way for anybody to know this would happen." Xander told her.

"He's right Buffy," Giles said, "we didn't know Reese would survive the explosion.  At least it's over now."

Buffy shook her head.  "No, it won't be over until Tara's dealt with what's happened to her.  And I don't think she has yet."

They all looked pensive.

Epilogue....

Giles walked down a hallway painted white.  He was heading down to the office at the end of the hall.  While he was moving down the halls, he let his mind drift to everything that was going on in his life and in the lives of those who meant the most to him.  He and Buffy were doing their training session more and more frequently now.  He was teaching her new meditation techniques that he'd learned from the powerful Coven in Devon.  She was learning them better and better each time he showed them to her as well.

Giles sighed, knowing Buffy was having trouble with one facet of her life.  Her feelings for Jacob were getting stronger and stronger with each passing day.  That was what was concerning Giles. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Buffy happy, because that's all he's ever wanted for her.  It's just that the Watcher wasn't sure how Jacob felt about her for one thing and plus, Jacob had told Rupert long ago that before he could even consider his own feelings for anyone, he would seek out the vampire who made him what he was and get revenge for it.  Giles knew that was Jacob's top priority and he hoped Jacob would succeed and do it soon.

Xander and Anya seemed to be doing a lot better in recent weeks.  Even though they still had a good way to go before they could move forward with their relationship, they were more relaxed around each other now and they even bantered with each other like they used to.  Giles was happy for the two of them.

Dawn....well Dawn was Dawn, Giles reflected.  The youngster had been through so much lately that the Watcher was surprised she wasn't seeing a shrink yet.  Losing Buffy, getting her back, and losing her surrogate mother Tara and getting her back, to the recent troubles with Tara's stalker, he was sure the youngster was on emotional overload.  But Dawn seemed to be handling it all very well.  Giles was glad for that.

Willow and Tara.  Giles swallowed audibly.  The two witches had just gone through something that no couple, gay or straight, should ever have to go through.  Losing one through death only to be reunited and to almost lose her again, Giles shook his head, acknowledging the fact that life was severely unfair to the witches.  He hated seeing them go through so much pain.  Considering what losing Tara had done to Willow before, he was thankful to Sonya Baxter for giving Tara back to them.  That thought brought him to Reese Maxwell.  Giles hated what Reese had almost done.  When he'd first heard of Reese's past with Tara, he'd feared that Reese had sexually abused Tara before.  He'd been relieved, extremely relieved, when he'd found out that wasn't the case.  Then having Reese show up at the house to kill both of them, it was something that Giles hated.  He'd wished he'd been there when it happened.  He hated seeing what that had almost done to both witches.

But, through all the pain and heartache that Reese brought, Giles smiled.  Willow and Tara were closer than ever because of it.  Ever since Reese's capture two weeks earlier, Willow and Tara had obviously spoken about everything that had happened because when they'd seen them the next day, both of them were in high spirits.  And ever since then, they were out on dates and going to the movies constantly.  Giles blushed, remembering one moment just the other day.  It was at the Magic Box.  He'd been waiting for Buffy to get there so they could begin their training session.  Anya was taking care of a delivery order and Xander was at work.  He'd gotten tired of waiting out front, so he'd headed to the training room.  As he was approaching it, he heard a muffled scream, or what sounded like a scream to him.  Reflecting on it, he knew it was a moan.   He'd rushed in without thinking and had been surprised and a little flushed at what he'd seen.  At the far wall were the witches.  Tara was pressed back against the brick wall, her skirt lifted to her waist by her hands.  The blonde had been standing.  Willow had been on her knees in between the blonde's legs.  Tara's right leg had been draped over Willow's shoulder and it was very apparent to the Watcher what was going on.

As discreetly as possible, he'd left the training room.  They didn't know he'd spotted them making love and he had no desire to tell them.  So all in all, life for them all was starting to improve and Giles was pleased about that.  Stopping at the slightly ajar door, he knocked twice.

"Come in." he heard the voice inside call out.

Entering, Giles walked over to the nearest chair and sat down.  Across from him sat a distinguished gentlemen with a white coat on.  The nametag on his coat read Prof. James Graham.  Giles waited until the man looked up at him.  "I'm here to check on a patient." he said.

"What's the patient's name?" Prof. Graham replied.

"Reese Maxwell."

"Oh, him.  Well," Prof. Graham sighed, "he started causing problems at first, but we've got it under control now.  We're keeping him on medication while our doctors work with him.  My team tells me that given enough time, they can rehabilitate him."

"You think that's possible, given what he's done." Giles sounded unconvinced.

"Mister Giles," the man said, knowing who Giles was, "anyone can be rehabilitated for whatever they've done given enough time."

Giles rose.  "I just came here because I wanted to make sure he won't be bothering my family again."

Professor Graham shook Giles's hand.  "I can promise you one thing, Mister Giles.  Reese Maxwell won't come near them again."

"That's all I wanted to know." Giles said before he turned and exited the room and began heading out of the mental asylum.  He would make sure to keep track of Reese's progress here and if it looked like Reese might get released, Giles would make sure it didn't happen.  No matter what.

And in a white padded room several corridors away from where Giles was, Reese Maxwell sat huddled in his cell.  In his hands was a small notepad.  He had a pencil in his hand and he was writing the same words on each line, over and over again.  My Dearest Tara.

The End.