Doppelgängland War: No Good Deed
by Eris
DISCLAIMER: No infringement of copyright is intended. You know the drill, anyone appearing on or mentioned on BtVS are ME's. New characters introduced here are mine.
EXTRA WARNINGS and or SPOILERS: Language, slanguage, AU, OCs.
Doppelgängland War
by Eris © 2004 — All rights reserved.
Chapter Three: No Good Deed
Rue sat on her bench out in the courtyard. She kind of felt like she was back in elementary school and this was her recess period between her activities and all the bells. Some of the guys were playing a noisy game of hoops on the opposite end from where she was but she ignored them. She wished they had a swing. She suddenly remembered she liked the swings. The sun was warm on her skin and she debated whether she actually liked it or not as she amused herself by making shadow puppets on the concrete near her feet. A shadow crept up next to her, she turned looking up in recognition of its shape.
“Hey.” Tara said with a small secretive wave, eyes skittishly darting over to the boys noisily engaged in their game.
This was the first time Tara had come into the courtyard while she was there. Rue squinted up at her into the bright sunlight. A light breeze blew through her hair and she could finally see just how blue her eyes were. She was so — shiny.
“Mister Giles said I have to patrol tonight, so...” She said in hushed tones that only Rue could hear. Not that anyone could really hear anything over the shouts and grunts and sneaker squeaks and ball bounces from the game in progress.
Rue frowned but nodded with understanding.
“Are you hot?” She asked louder.
Just as she was about to answer Giles called. “Tara, come away from there.” And motioned for her to return to the dining hall.
“Um, yeah, okay,” She replied then crinkled her nose bothered yet obediently meeting him in the doorway. “What’s the matter.”
“What were you doing?” He asked a smidge of accusation echoing in his voice.
His tone took her by surprise, “I-I-I thought she looked warm s-so I asked—”
“Leave her alone,” he ordered succinctly.
She blinked up at him confused. “W-what, why?”
“Because it’s not safe.”
“Safe? But she’s never—” She caught herself before it was too late, “...I mean, she’s chained and drugged and hasn’t tried anything at all—”
“Just leave her be,” he interrupted, “’til we start working with her.”
“But I think—”
“Please don’t argue.” He said when they suddenly heard him being called for from inside about other business. Always urgent, always now. He rubbed his forehead fatigued. “Yes, yes,” He directed at them and waved, then focused back on her momentarily. “Let the boys handle her for now.” He exacted and hurriedly took off trailing, “You’ll have quite enough time later on.”
Tara stood in the doorway in emotional turmoil, her eyes following him as he rushed out of the dining hall and disappeared. Looking over her shoulder back out at Rue she chewed her lip. She hoped she’d understand as she slowly retreated inside heading off to work on her spells before her real nights work.
* * * * * * * * * *
Late that evening Tara’s heart raced faster than the speeding van as the recon team approached their destination. The whitehats had been tipped off to a small bar on the outskirts of the city. Here, followers of the one known as Sharpe were rumored to be gathering nightly.
The panel van doors swung open even before the vehicles ground to a halt and out jumped the first wave of defense disappearing into the darkness.
Tara filed out of the van yet hung close to the door. Reaching up she ran her fingers over one of the stakes in its vest holster for courage. In moments they would be on their way to the bar across the street to close the trap and catch any escapees. In a way she hoped there wouldn’t be any, then there wouldn’t be any prisoners or interrogation sessions, or sun room, but it never happened that way. One always managed to find an out.
Noise erupted from across the street as the assault went down, their cue to move out. Quickly they made their way across the street taking up positions. Amanda nodded to Tara and hoisted her gun aloft. Tara removed a stake from its holster and held it in a death grip. In her other hand she clutched a small portion of her latest mixture. Everyone held their breath waiting for the first signs of how the clash was going inside the establishment. They didn’t have to wait long. The first body was tossed through the road house window liberating the sounds of the battle within.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tonight Rue was feeling antsy. She fidgeted and strained at her restraints. She wanted out of her little prison, wanted to go somewhere, do something. Tonight felt just like the nights she was chained in Willow’s chambers waiting for her to return from an evening of merrymaking, but *she* wasn’t coming, and she wasn’t getting out. She hated it. Tonight she thought she might lose her mind before the whitehats ever came back. Wrestling with the chains she jerked about vainly attempting for the umptillionth time to shift and break free, but it wasn’t happening. She couldn’t shift anymore. All the powers her Master had given her were gone as she was. Dejected she finally gave up with a loud sigh and returned to sit on her cot and wait, listening impatiently for the bell that would hearken the team’s return.
* * * * * * * * * *
“FULGURIS!” Tara yelled completing the incantation and throwing out her hand only to squeal and pull it back slightly singed. She had yet to fully master the daylight spell but had modified it for other purposes. If she couldn’t make the sun come out at night to dust them she could at least blind them making them easier to capture.
The vampire stumbled about screeching and clutching its face as a shot rang out.
Amanda stood shouldering her smoking weapon.
Instantly the demon was on the ground ensnared in a net and the team was upon it rendering it helpless and dragging it back to the van.
Amanda screwed up her face, “I know I should have some kewl witty-type words to say here, about bars and being a minor, but I can’t think of any, so...” then shrugged, tossed her gun to Tara and ran into the bar to wrap up the job.
With the raid a success, they were back on the road in a flash, again headed home to the complex.
* * * * * * * * * *
Rue wished Tara could have spent time with her tonight, she had an aura of stillness, just her presence would be enough to calm her, but she couldn’t. She had already passed by with the others, at least she made it back safe, and performed her little ritual as always saying good night then leaving. But tonight it was different she motioned back to her.
It had been a while since the returning teams had rushed though and geared down, then rushed away to wherever upstairs. Now again it was just her, the occasional stray echo of a disembodied voice, the shallow hope of a possible visitor, and the annoying hum of one of the fluorescent lights in her cell. She SO wished she could just get to it to tap it, make it stop. No such luck. She wondered what time it was, she thought she should know by now, by the sounding of the bells but she didn’t, so she tried to relax taking comfort in the book of poems. They were beautiful, like none she’d ever read, and the pages smelled of sage and Tara. As she read she closed her eyes breathing in the scents letting her mind wander outside the confines of the room.
All at once she felt it again, a presence and eyes upon her. Unnerved she jumped to her feet, the chains clanking, and focused on the little window, she saw nothing yet growled a warning. She stood there ‘til she finally talked herself down. Could she trust her senses? She didn’t know, maybe she was crazy after all, after all the craziness that was her life. Eventually, she flopped back down on the cot and hugged her book close. It was going to be a long night, or day, or whatever. She would have to find a way to thank Tara.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tara was descending the stairs when she first felt it. Almost landing in a heap at the bottom she raced to the cell panic washing over her. The door was open. The cell was empty, what little accouterments inside strewn about. Then she heard it, the scream. It was different, not the same as all the other times, defiant, confused and angry. This time it was pain, pure unadulterated pain. Startled, her heart skipped a beat. ‘No. What happened?’ Peering down the hall she swallowed hard and forced herself past the infirmary, to the room, to the source of the sickening feelings. Mustering her courage she threw open the door. The girl hung in the corner bruised and bloodied. A few of the boys were brandishing special implements and there was Giles, sleeves rolled up, glasses off, a soulless expression on his face. “You will tell me where you got this. How you got out,” he barked tossing an item to the ground below her dangling feet.
Tara recognized it immediately. “STOP!” She yelled finding herself on the verge of tears.
“Tara, leave now.” He ordered.
“N-n-no. Please don’t.”
“Leave, girl, NOW!”
“Not ‘til you stop hurting her!”
“Where’d you get it?” Lance barked backed up by a touch from a cattle prod.
“Please, stop it.” She begged watching the girl quake through the jolting electricity.
“Tara, this doesn’t concern you.” He said and attempted to usher her out of the room.
“The book! How’d you get out?!” They shocked her again.
Her act of kindness had gone horribly wrong. “Oh, God, please stop—She didn’t do anything!”
“She breached security—” Giles began.
“NO!—”
“—Got out of her cell somehow—”
“—No, s-s-she didn’t. I gave her the book...the other night! It’s mine!” She confessed through savage, sobbing tears.
He blinked at her, her words seeming not to sink in. “What?”
“It was me. She didn’t get out. It’s my book. I gave it to her.” She tugged at him in hysterics. “No more! Don’t hurt her coz of me!” She wailed as Rue was shocked again.
“Stop!” Giles threw up his hand. “Everybody out!” he paced about as everyone but Tara filed out.
“Shit’s hitting the fan.” She heard muttered as he followed them, shutting the door behind them.
Returning he stood before her, perspiration twinking on his brow, arms crossed in taut anger, focusing his attention on her. “*You* gave her the book?”
“Yes.” She answered tears streaming down her face.
He walked over and retrieved it, then waved it in front of her. “This book?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“How could you be so stupid?” he asked as he angrily threw it to the floor again.
Retrieving it she held it aloft. “I-I-It’s a book, just a book of poems. How could I ever believe you’d torture her over a book. Why?”
“It’s not OVER the book,” he clarified. “We believed she had gotten out somehow. Escaped the cell. If she had gotten out she could have taken this entire place apart. Killed everyone. Compromised everything we’ve built.”
“But she didn’t.”
“I couldn’t know that and we can’t afford to take chances.”
“I’m sorry,” she sniffled.
“Not good enough. Not this time.”
She looked to the girl then back. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“She hasn’t said anything.”
She went over to her. “W-why didn’t you tell them?”
The girl just hung there and twirled like a side of beef in a freezer.
“Why?! They wouldn’t have hurt you if you just told them.” She screamed but the girl remained silent.
Giles opened the door exasperated and called for the others. “Take her down. Put her back.”
Cutting her down she landed like a wet dish rag on the concrete. The boys then aggressively dragged her back to the cell, Tara fussing at them the entire way. Still they cast her to the cement floor again and attempted to reshackle her. Yet this time Tara threw herself down, blocked them, pushed them away, ‘til finally at her ire and threat of violence, she tossed up a barrier and they had no choice but to retreat to inform Giles.
Tara tended to her holding her and wiping some of the bloodied sweat from her face. “Why didn’t you say something?” She sobbed.
She just stared blankly at her weak and pained, then took her hand speaking barely above a whisper, “You hurt your hand.”
Tara had forgotten all about the burn in all the hubbub and attempted to move her hand away to hide it.
Rue was more focused now, “I finished the poems, they were...” she thought a moment “...inspiring.”
But Tara wasn’t listening, she was verging on anger, “If you’d just’ve said something.” She appealed.
The girl continued to ramble again, “Willow never let me read. Only what she wanted. Should have known it’d be the same.” Then closed her eyes breathing with the aches.
“What? No. It’s not. If you—”
Abruptly she sat up stopping her by clutching at her hard, then looked about suspiciously before asserting, “If I’d told them you gave me the book, they’d have barred you from seeing me, and I didn’t want that. I couldn’t take it. I’d go crazy.”
Tara’s face fell aghast.
“Seeing you keeps me here. Keeps me from losing my mind altogether without Willow. I can take their pain. Pain is life—” And she collapsed into her grasp again.
“No, it’s not.” She interjected.
“It’s been my life.” She finished lowering her voice and gaze once more.
At that moment Giles stomped up and pounded an irate fist against the barrier. “Tara! Get out of there and let the boys do their job.”
“No!” She spat defiantly.
“Tara, don’t make me—” he raged.
“Giles, don’t make me.” She returned.
“Now is not the time—” He argued.
“Now *is* the time. Look at her, at what *you* did. She’s not an animal, or so you keep repeating, yet she’s beaten and chained like one. This isn’t reprogramming.”
Giles was fuming. She could see the veins on his forehead twitch with anger but wasn’t going to back down on this. “She doesn’t need to be chained like an animal. You’re the one who keeps spouting off about her being human and how you’ve broken through her programming. Prove it. Let *her* prove it. When does that phase start?” She glared at him.
He remained silent and red faced yet appeared a bit more composed at her ambitious words. After what seemed a forever he chewed his lip and finally answered. “The irons will remain locked and in place but we shan’t attach them to the wall and floor. She is free to move about the cell. *However*, extra guards will be posted from now on and YOU will see me in my study NOW.”
She pushed the envelope. “I’ll see you when I’ve cleaned her up.”
“You’ll bloody well see me now!” His voice rose beyond its normal irate range as he began to lose his patience.
“Go.” Rue whispered.
“But you’re—”
“Get out.” She growled lowly and pushed her away for her own good.
Confused, Tara stumbled to her feet, the barrier vanishing, and Giles plucked her up pulling her out of the cell pushing her aside so the boys could finally lock it proper.
* * * * * * * * * *
After nearly dragging her all the way up the stairs and across the complex, Giles shoved Tara into his office and slammed the door. “How dare you disobey me!” He raged, “In front of the others! In front of the prisoner!” He backed her into the overstuffed chair. “How could you be so stupid? You, above all the bloody people in this bloody place!...”
Tara had only ever seen him rage like this at Faith when he was stretched beyond his limits and she had gone and done an incredibly foolhardy stupid Faith-type thing that endangered or hurt someone. She endured his rant and pacing about by sitting quietly keeping her eyes glued to the floor.
He went on forever seemingly never taking a breath ‘til finally, “This is the last thing I ever—What were you thinking, stupid girl?!” Ending red faced slamming a fist to the desk.
Tara knew it was rhetorical but raised her eyes finding a bit of courage and answered anyway. Now or later the dispute would not end shortly or pleasantly, “I was thinking she might like to have something to do with her time in that cell other than stare at the walls all night and day.”
His eyes became squinty as he met her gaze and his lip twitched. Tara knew that look, she’d seen it time and again on her father’s face before he’d light into her. Those were the worst attacks where she could barely walk afterwards and the reminders lingered for weeks on end. She could feel his emotions leaping out to crash into her striking her like a brick bat. He wanted to strike her. He wanted to choke the living daylights out of her and there was no masking it. At that moment she truly believed he might actually do it too.
* * * * * *
Rue sat on her cot clutching her side attempting shallow breaths to keep the pain to a minimum. Today sucked. She had fucked up and got caught, put the girl who had been so nice to her in a bad place. She’d probably never see Tara again. Probably never be let out of this cell again. If it was her fate to suffer so be it, she deserved it but not Tara. At least she had the memories in her head. The pretty poems and the blonde in the sunlight all breezy-like and glowing. She closed her eyes tracing every detail with her mind when she felt it. There it was again, the presence, she was sure of it. Even amid all the people hurrying about doing their jobs she felt it.
Looking to the window she heard the echo of footsteps nearing. Bolting upright she cringed into the pain and slowly leaned back against the wall again as the last footfall hit the tier. She watched as a pair of heavy black boots accompanied by leather pants halted at the window, turned her direction but a moment, then continued out of sight around the bend as the wearer made their way down the final flight of stairs to the sub-level.
“Look at this, aren’t you all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” Faith stood outside the cell and folded her arms. “Well, definitely bright-eyed.” She cringed sucking air in through her teeth and hissed, “Owie, I bet that smarts too,” and leaned into the bars now, “You don’t remember me do you, Fido? I remember you.”
* * * * * *
Raising a long chastising finger at her Giles moved in suddenly and Tara recoiled turning her head throwing her arms up in a defensive posture and drawing back in the chair almost tipping it over backwards.
He froze absorbed by her reaction. She was afraid of him, trembling even. He took advantage of it, moved in and yelled, “You thought wrong!”
She yelped and jumped at the intrusion of her person. Tears still streaming down her face as she quaked yet stared up at him quasi-defiant.
He moved off slowly backing away to stand on the opposite end of his desk and folded his arms. Reaching up to hold the back of his neck he looked to the ceiling contemplating the situation spun out of control, then chose his words carefully. “Tara,” he sighed glaring at her once more, “whatever you believed I’m not the type of man to strike in anger, without reason or severe provocation, and this certainly crosses that line. I can’t ignore this.” He listened to her sniffling which only goaded his wrath. “You’ve broken my trust. I should break you in two and make an example of you. But I won’t. Don’t think that means you are off the hook by any means. I am beyond livid with you right now and it’s taking all my reserves to not tear up this place and yell until I burst all the blood vessels in my eyes and go blind from the rage.” Striding over to her he snatched her by the arm and pulled her out of the chair pushing her towards the office door. “You will fetch your studies, go to your room and remain there ‘til I send for you.” Opening the door he gave her arm one last squeeze and jerked her close to whisper in her ear. “Don’t make me have to bind your powers.” Then pushed her out the door slamming it behind her.
* * * * * *
“Is your brain finally spic and spany enough to remember me?”
“I know you.” Rue snarled.
“It speaks, but then *we* already knew that,” she goaded all cryptic. “Hasn’t to everyone though. Why is that?” Then strutted about, a big all knowing smirk on her face.
“I remember I cut you real good.” Rue offered with a sneer of her own.
Faith hissed a chuckle, “That you did,” then rubbed her hand over her midsection where she had been wounded retaking her stance next to the bars. Lifting her little belly shirt she seductively stroked the area just under her rib licking her lip never taking her eyes off the girl watching to gauge her reaction, “Right there.” She circled her finger on the smooth scarless flesh, “Up under the rib, nice and deep.”
Rue squinted her good eye at her and quirked her eyebrow seeking to figure her out.
“Then...” she smiled wickedly.
Rue’s eye went wide.
“...You made a wrong move and got tossed off a building.”
Her gaze dropped.
“Did you die?” Faith faux pouted. “Did she punish you for that?”
“Shut up.” Rue growled.
“Oooo, she did.” She smiled wide now at getting a rise with her taunts. “Did you like it?”
“Shut up.” Rue repeated louder.
“Oooo, another bull’s-eye.” Faith rubbed herself up against the bars. “You know, you’re klnda hot now that you’re more humany and don’t reek of that putrid, vamp bitch.” She kissed the air. “Should I keep going coz I think you know where I’m headed?”
Rue glared at her hate welling up behind her eyes, a rumbling emanating from deep in her chest.
“Do you want to know if she screamed?”
Rue jumped up ignoring the pain and lunged at the bars trying to grab the dark slayer but Faith had taken a quick step back and Rue was stopped short by the manacles on the bars. “Tsk tsk tsk, so close.” Faith grabbed her by the wrists and pulled ensnaring the girl in the chains. “You want some of this?” Moving the girl’s hands to just inches from her face she pursed her lips and teased her, brushing her fingertips with her tongue. Rue struggled to pull away but was no match for Faith who held her fast and began to stroke the back of the girl’s hand along her cheek, “Mmmm, soft for a big bad.” Then nibbled on her knuckles.
Boyd and his buddies came up behind Faith taking in the action. Tossing the cell block keys in the air repeatedly he snickered. “Aw, jeezass, Faith, put the demon down, you don’t know where it’s been.”
“Dude, this is so unfair, how come she always gets to play with the new first?” Whitey whined.
“Like you could handle her.” Boyd shot back.
Rod punched them both in the shoulder, “Hey guys, chill, this looks better than the cafeteria food.”
Whitey giggled excitedly, “Heh heh heh, better than cable.”
“No doubt.” They all let out a childish chuckle.
“You boys’d like that wouldn’t you?” Faith asked all swexy like still holding Rue’s hands.
They nodded in wild-eyed excitable agreement.
“Yeah, I bet you would,” she retorted changing her tone and releasing Rue. “Wish in one hand guys—” Then gave them the finger.
“HEY! What the hell is keeping you idiots?” A thirty-something blonde with dark circles under her eyes hollered down the hall stepping into the corridor. “I got things to do—” Upon seeing Faith she sneered and shook her head. “Faith...you here for that physical?”
“Shee-yeah, right, Dix.” She rolled her eyes.
The surgeon folded her arms indignantly. “Um-hm, didn’t think so. Get your tight ass outta here. Boys!” She barked and gestured to the cell and Rue, “I’m waiting!” Then disappeared back into the infirmary.
* * * * * *
“I’ve got it.” Tara said curtly to Brent as she unlocked the door to her room. She couldn’t believe Giles had actually sent him after her to escort her to the classroom for her books then here. Crazed she entered throwing down her armload and slamming the door repeatedly. This afternoon’s events were too much for her to bear. Once again her actions had hurt Rue and now she had pissed off Mister Giles to the point he didn’t trust her. Pacing about like a tiger in a cage she was completely furious with herself and lashed out in frustration attacking her bookcase. Screaming she wiped the top shelf clean, everything fluttering about to land on the floor. Collapsing next to it she heaved heavy sobs and clutched at her knees.
After long moments of deep wailing she tried to compose herself. Raising her head she opened her reddened tear-filled eyes and looked about her room. This place was hers. It was larger by far than Ethan’s broken-down van which she spent years in, yet smaller than the cell on the sub-level, but it was her home. Home cluttered home, barely enough room for her bed, a few shelves, end table and-- Suddenly she spied something out of the corner of her eye. There it was on the floor. The book of poems. The culprit. The cause of *all* this. It had been strewn about nonchalantly with the others. Scrambling over to retrieve it she focused her wrath, tearing at it feverishly trying in vain to rip it apart. When it resisted, she tossed it back down angrily and abruptly broke down again. After an eternity her sobs finally subsided and she began to calm. Sniffling and wiping at her tear-streaked, swollen face she took a big breath and resigned herself to do as Mister Giles said, ‘Be better.’ She would try and undo her hurt above all. Moving to her knees she glimpsed it again. The damn book of poems. After her thrashing it had landed open amongst the disorder and she noticed something curious. It had been creased in such a way that it caught her eye, it wasn’t printed text but script, she never wrote in her books. Clambering across the floor she recovered it and stared at it. Shaky uneven block handwriting almost childlike in quality. It was a poem. Rue must have written it. But how? Where did she get a pencil? Drawing near the end table she turned on her bed lamp and read. It began:
To all the world I was reviled
Mocked and shunned at best exiled
Yet all evanesced when you smiled.
Inducing me to dewild
Of golden hair and vibrant eye
Of crimson lips that evoke a sigh
'gainst porcelain skin I testify
My love for you I can't deny
My soul it yearns to be with thee
To brave the waves and be set free
On this boundless sensual sea
Entwined with yours eternally.
When we're apart my heart it stays
Withdrawn as time doth erase
Moments, hours, a thousand days
Melt in shadow’s dismal grays
‘Til nought is left, nought a trace
Of me and mine on earth or space
As I am nothing by God’s grace...
without you.
— Rue
Tara stared unblinking, her jaw hanging slack, she had no words. It was beautiful. Tears welled up in her eyes again as the awful crept back into her soul. Could she do nothing right?
Suddenly a fearful thought struck her. Had Giles seen this? No, he couldn’t have, if he had he surely would have questioned her endlessly never letting her go with just a mere nights grounding. Should she show him? If she did what would happen to Rue? If she didn’t, would it come back to bite them both? Again?
* * * * * * * * * *
To be continued in Chapter Four
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