Stripped: Giving Up and Out, New York City
by Willes
_______________________________
Ilya and Buffy were meditating on the bed near Willow. It was important for them to center their energy in line with Willow’s, as well as each other. Buffy had her eyes closed tightly, Giles’ words running through her head. You must center all your energy and give this gift freely or the spell will fail. It is yours to give, no one can take it from you without your permission. And now Buffy sat trying to clear her mind and focus on giving up freely everything that she realized defined her.

During the several hour meditation session Ilya and Buffy had to undertake, the rest of the gang was busy gathering supplies needed for the delicate spell they were about to perform. Dawn and Frederick went to a nearby magick shop to buy the needed herbs and incense. Giles was studying the final fine points of the spell and Xander was nervously pacing.

“Will you please sit down Xander!” Giles said, annoyed, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I can’t believe she is doing this. I mean I can, because it’s Willow, it’s just, what if something goes wrong?” Xander said worriedly.

“I know, it is a risk, but Buffy is strong she will pull through. She’s a hero, and heroes do what is necessary to for the greater good,” Giles finished. “Now come and make yourself useful.” He motioned to Xander to come and sit with him and handed him a book.

Dawn and Frederick rushed back into the apartment. “I got everything,” she said hurriedly. “It was touch and go there for a little while, but I found everything we need to call on Shinea.”

“Great, let’s get started,” Giles said, rising and heading to Willow and Kennedy’s bedroom.

*****************

“A power transfer like this is a very delicate operation. I have only ever read of two other times it has been successfully performed,” Giles began. “It requires a powerful sorcerer or sorceress to perform it. It certainly would help if Willow were awake,” he said with a sigh.

“I can do it,” Ilya said with confidence.

“Okay. Buffy, lie down beside Willow and take her hand,” Giles instructed.

Buffy took a heavy sigh to gather her courage. Herbs were sprinkled around the pair in a circle, the lights were dimmed, and incense lit. Xander, Dawn, Frederick and Giles stepped back, prepared to jump in if anything went wrong.

Ilya stood at the foot of the bed and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he began the incantation. “I call on Shinea, Goddess of Unity hear me. I ask, take the demon from this girl. Take her strength, her power, and send it home. Complete the uncompleted, join the power at hand, unite, unite, unite!” he yelled. His body jerked and his head flung back. A large rushing of wind began to spin around and the room became dark. A low drumming filled the air and sounds of the first slayer came from every direction. Buffy and Willow’s body both lurched up and the grip of their hands tightened. The drumming sped up and a dark energy came up from Buffy. It was thick and smelled of death. The energy hung in the air for a moment before flinging into Willow with a force so strong, the bed split in half and the necklace shattered.

Buffy gasped and sat up quickly. She felt her body. It was cold and covered in sweat. She felt strange. “I…” she started. She got up from the bed but her legs were weak, she couldn’t stand. Teetering, she fell. Xander lunged forward, catching her in his arms. “Xander…” she tried again. “I can’t feel…”

“Shhhh,” he said, holding her closely. “Don’t try and talk. Rest, it’ll be okay.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she began to cry. She felt the loss. It was overwhelming.

Xander picked Buffy up in his arms and carried her back into the spare bedroom to get some rest.

*****************

Charlotte, Susie, and Kennedy woke up. “What happened? What’s going on?” Susie asked, disoriented.

The three Slayers stood. “How did we get here?” Kennedy looked around. “The last thing I remember is, you!” She pointed at Charlotte. “You kissed me!”

Kennedy went got up to leave the room when she saw Xander carrying Buffy in his arms. “Oh my god!” Kennedy exclaimed, rushing over to Xander. “Xander, is she alright?
What is going on, what happened?”

“She’ll be okay,” Xander said. “Go, check on Willow. Buffy needs to rest now.” He went to the bed and laid her down, trying to step away but she wouldn’t release her arms from around his neck. Xander just smiled at her. Kissing the top of her head, he crawled into bed beside her, holding her close to him, protecting her from the world.

*******************

Willow’s eyes fluttered open. She saw the smiling face of Kennedy looking down at her. “Willow!” Kennedy exclaimed, pouncing on her girlfriend.

“Kennedy, what happened?”

“Oh, Willow. I’m so glad you’re awake. I thought I had lost you. I love you, I love you, I love you.” She showered the redhead with kisses.

“I love you too baby,” Willow said, laughing. “Um, Kenn?”

Kennedy stopped and looked down at Willow. “Why am I tied up and what happened to the bed?” Willow asked, eyeing her girlfriend curiously.

“Baby, I have a lot to tell you,” Kennedy said, quickly uniting Willow and helping her to stand. “Careful.” She put her arm around Willow. “How do you feel?”

“I feel good, a little tired, but strong. Stronger then I have felt in years.”

THE END


This story archived at: The Slayer\'s Fanfic Archive
The Slayer\\\\\\\\'s FanFic Archive - http://www.slayerfanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=13592