Shadows: Chapter One
by girlwithnocool
Buffy finished putting on her last piece of jewelry as she looked at the clock that sat on her bedside table. Cursed with chronic lateness, she grabbed her coat, rushed out of her room and down the stairs.

"Be back later mom!" Buffy called as she shut the front door behind her.

She trotted down the steps putting her coat on and began walking briskly down the sidewalk. Tonight especially, she hated being late. She had planned to meet Willow and Tara at the Bronze. Willow had arranged the whole evening so that Buffy and Tara could spend a little some-what alone less-tense time together. Buffy, realizing how important it was to Willow that her and Tara get along, agreed though somewhat reluctant. It wasn't that Buffy didn't like Tara. She was a nice girl, and had become apart of the Scooby gang family. It was simply that, despite Buffy's love for and acceptance of Willow, she was still getting used to their relationship. Deep in her thoughts, she approached the Bronze. Just forget all that, Buffy thought as she swung open the door to the club.

The music sounded loudly in Buffy's ears as she walked into the Bronze. Through the mass of people she spotted Willow and Tara seated at a table on the far side of the room. She made her way to them, instinctively checking out the people around her as she went.

"Hey! Sorry for the wait" Buffy said smiling at her friends as she took off her coat and draped it on the seat next to Willow.

"It's ok. I already ordered the drinks." Willow smiled and nodded towards the blue cup meant for Buffy. She took a sip as she sat down on the stool beside of Tara. The two exchanged smiles, silently laughing at Willow's extra eagerness. The next few moments were filled with silence as each pondered on what to say next. Deciding to break the ice, Buffy stood and said, "I don't know about you, but I think the perfect start to any evening includes much dancing and I plan on doing just that." With a smile she beckoned Willow and Tara to the dance floor.

So far so good, Buffy thought as she began dancing to the band. As she danced, she turned and noticed a strange hooded figure standing in the corner. She watched him as he walked slowly across the room, stopping at their table. Her eyes never faultered from him, but the way the light fell made it difficult to see what he was doing.

Buffy got Willow's attention and motioned her forward. Before she could utter a word, she looked to where the hooded figure had been and noticed his sudden disappearance.

"What is it Buffy?" Willow shouted over the music, "Did you see something?"

Buffy shook her head. “No ... listen, you two stay here. I'll be right back." Willow and Tara nodded in compliance as Buffy turned and headed back toward their table. Without stopping at it, she gazed and noticed no changes. She continued on. She knew she saw someone; it couldn't hurt to look around for them.

Looking around for anyone in the Bronze, Buffy found as she covered the last square inch of the Bronze, was a feat in itself. She saw no sign of a hooded figure or anything that resembled the sort. Sighing, she headed back to the table where Tara and Willow were now sitting.

"What was it Buffy?"

"It's just...I thought I saw someone. Someone who definitely looked like they were up to some serious no goodness. I tried to find them, but they must have split. I guess it's no big deal..."

"I'm sure it was nothing." Tara said as she sent Buffy a comforting smile. She gave hear a half-hearted smile back as she picked up her cup, identical to the one's Tara and Willow had, and took a drink. She grimaced to herself at the sour punch that the drink suddenly had. She thought nothing of it, and laughed silently as she noticed Tara do the same. Willow picked up her cup, but sat it down as she waved to someone across the room. "Err...Guy from class. I lent him my notes..." Willow said quickly noticing the confused looks from Buffy and Tara.

Buffy's mind quickly returned to the mysterious figure. He sure had sucked out the party mood in Buffy, and she decided to split for some quick patrolling. Willow would just have to reschedule this "get together". Buffy looked back towards Willow and Tara, about to make an excuse, when she noticed the obvious look of pain on Tara's face.

"Tara are you all right?" Tara shook her head as she leaned over and clutched her stomach. "I-I don't feel so well. Willow, I think we'd better go home. I-"

"Shh. No it's ok. I'll take you home." Willow said as she stood, rushing to help Tara up and off her seat. "Buffy, I'm sorry I hope you don't mind."

"No it's fine" Buffy gave Willow a warm smile. She turned and grabbed her, Willow, and Tara's coats, then followed them out of the Bronze.

The cool California night breeze chilled Buffy. She handed Willow her and Tara's things and gave her a hug. "Do you need me to walk you home" Buffy said as she left the embrace. "No, I think we'll be ok." Willow smiled half-heartedly, then frowned as Tara let out a moan of pain. "Maybe you should take her to the Hospital, Will" "I think your right. We'd better go." Worriedly Willow eased Tara away down the alley. "If you need anything give me a call" Buffy shouted as Willow and Tara made their way towards the hospital. Buffy headed in the opposite direction, taking the long way through the cemetery home.

* * * *

"I'm home mom!" Buffy called out as she entered her house, hanging her coat on the rack. Disappointed at the fruitless patrol, Buffy headed towards to the kitchen. She hadn't caught sight of the hooded man or any nasty for that matter. That factor bothered her. Either because it meant some serious evil was afoot or she was simply losing her mind. She reached for the door to the freezer to grab some double chocolate chunk ice cream, when the phone rang. Buffy rushed to it worried it would be Willow.

"Buffy, " Willow's voice was weak and sounded afraid, "something...something's wrong. Can you come down here?"

"I'll be there in a second,” Buffy said forcefully as she hung up the phone. She raced for the door, and ran to the hospital.

* * * *

"Will, I'm here" Buffy said breathlessly as she met Willow in the waiting room. She noticed Willow looked as if she had been crying. "You should have seen her. Buffy, it was like something possessed her. She was normal when we came in, but while we were waiting for the doctor she just..." Willow paused, shaking her head in shock, then continued. "They've got her restrained now, while they wait to do some tests."

"Restrained?" Buffy's tone was angry. That's a little extreme, she thought.

"Well, when she screamed, the doctors and nurses came in. She suddenly got up as if nothing had happened, but her face... there was something different, evil almost. Then she just started attacking them. Some she tossed aside, but mostly she used magic on the others. I thought she was going to kill them, but when she passed out the nurses were able to restrain her. I don't know how she suddenly got so strong and powerful." Willow looked at Buffy desperately for an answer to what was going on.

"This is definite Giles territory. Do you think they'd let us go see her?" Willow nodded absent-mindedly and ushered Buffy down the hall to where Tara's room was. Buffy opened the door quietly and entered the room. Tara lay in restraints on the hospital bed, apparently asleep. "She looks fine for now, but -" Buffy stopped suddenly. The room had begun spinning. She shut her eyes, trying to make it stop, but the swirling was in her head as well. She barely heard Willow as she talked to her. Her voice faded away as Buffy felt herself falling. Then there was nothing.

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