Spike went up to the Summer’s house and was surprised to find the door open.
“Dawn!!” He yelled, going upstairs. He followed the scent of blood and tears to Willow’s room. “Nibblet?”
“I didn’t want her to be alone,” Dawn whispered.
Spike saw Dawn curled on the floor crying, with Tara’s dead body sprawled in the middle of the floor. “Nibblet,” he said, crouching in front of her. “Lets go downstairs,” he said, stroking her hair.
“Spike, how could anyone do this?” Dawn whimpered.
Spike pulled her into his arms. “I don’t know, Lil Bit,” he murmured, scooping her up.
Dawn sobbed hysterically as Spike took her downstairs.
He kicked the door shut and sat on the couch with Dawn in his lap. “Shhh,” he whispered. “It’ll be okay.” He fingers gently stroked her hair and he rocked her back and forth.
Buffy and Xander came in the front door.
“Dawn? Willow?” Buffy called.
“Buffy,” Spike said, softly as to not wake the sleeping girl in his arms.
Buffy ran over to them and crouched beside them. “Dawn?”
“She’s tired,” Spike said. “Found her upstairs in Red’s room.”
Xander disappeared into the kitchen to make some calls.
Buffy looked at Spike. “Is she really gone?” She whispered.
“Yeah,” Spike answered.
Tears welled in Buffy’s eyes but they didn’t fall.
“What happened, Buffy?” Spike asked.
“I don’t wanna wake up Dawn,” Buffy said, standing.
Spike stood and gently laid Dawn on the couch. He covered her with his duster and followed Buffy to the dining room.
“Warren shot Tara and he shot me,” Buffy said.
“Are you okay?” Spike asked, concerned.
“Spike, I died again and Willow saved me. The bullet was in my chest and I guess things were out of control. The heart monitor said my heart stopped beating and Willow fixed it,” she said. “She’s gone. She’s in the magic, deep, dark magic and she’s not Willow any more. She’s out for blood and I couldn’t stop her,” Buffy whimpered, tears falling down her cheeks.
Without hesitation, Spike pulled her into his arms. “Shhh. We’ll find her and help her,” he whispered.
Buffy’s arms went around his waist and she sobbed in his shoulder.
Spike rocked her back and forth as he whispered soothing things in her ear. “We’ll find her,” he repeated.
Buffy nodded and her tears died down. “Dawn can’t be alone,” she said, against his chest.
“I’ll take care of her,” Spike said, rubbing her back.
About a half hour later, the medics were just leaving.
“If you could just sign this,” the medic said.
“Sure,” Xander said, in a daze.
“Call this number tomorrow. We’ll have more information,” he said.
“Okay. Thanks,” Xander said, taking the card.
“Sorry for your loss,” he said, leaving.
“So that’s it,” Xander said, going to the living room.
“The police gone too?” Buffy asked, as Xander sat on the coffee table.
Spike was holding Dawn as tears silently slid down her face. Buffy was sitting next to him. She had changed her clothes, so she looked even more exhausted
“Coming back tomorrow with their pretty yellow tape,” Xander said, softly.
After a few moments, Buffy spoke. “We need to find Willow,” she said.
“Yeah, she’s off the wagon big time,” Xander said. “Warren’s a dead man if she finds him.”
“Good,” Dawn said, coldly.
“Nibblet, don’t say that,” Spike said, softly.
“Why not?” Dawn asked, lifting her head to glare at him. “I’d do it myself if I could.”
“Because that’s not how you really feel,” Spike said, pushing her hair back.
“Yes I do,” she said. “And you should too. He killed Tara and he nearly killed Buffy. He needs to pay.”
“Nibblet There are ways of dealing with people like him. Killing isn’t one of them. I know you’re upset and believe if you or Buffy were hurt, I would have killed him myself. I know that Red’s grieving but she needs you guys to help her through this,” he said, looking at Buffy. “She’s very dangerous right now. I can feel it.”
Buffy ran a hand over her face. “Oh god,” she whispered. “This is not happening.”
“Where do we go?” Xander asked. “She could be anywhere.”
“I don’t know. Maybe the magic shop for some kind of locating spell,” she said, looking at Dawn. “You need to stay with Spike while we’re gone.”
“Let me come,” Dawn said, pleadingly.
“Dawn,” Buffy sighed.
“I want to. Willow needs us,” Dawn said.
Spike ran his fingers through her hair gently. “Nibblet, let Buffy get her home in one piece. Then you cane help her,” he said, softly.
Dawn nodded. “Fine,” she said. “But do we have to stay here?”
Spike looked at Buffy.
“You can take her to your place. It’s safer,” she said.
Xander stood up. “I’ll go to the magic box and meet you there. Anya might be hurt,” he said, leaving.
Buffy sighed and stood as well.
Dawn stood and went to grab her coat.
Spike looked at Buffy. “You okay?”
Buffy shook her head. “I’ll tell you later,” she whispered.
Spike grabbed his coat and handed Buffy hers before the three of them left.
At Stevenson Hall, Willow was doing a locating spell.
“Blood of the slain, hear me. Guide me to Tara's killer,” Willow chanted.
The blood on the shirt revealed Warren in the woods and Willow smiled.
At the crypt Dawn had fallen asleep in Spike’s arms on the way. Gently he laid her on the couch and covered her with his duster before walking over to Buffy.
Buffy looked up at him. “I don’t think Willow’s gunna be the same,” she whispered. “Spike, I cant lose my best friend,” she whimpered, tears welling in her eyes.
Spike wrapped his arms around her. “You wont. You just have to remind her that there are still people who love her,” he said, stroking her hair.
Buffy picked her head up. “When I come get you, we’re gunna talk,’ she said. “No matter how much Dawn pouts, don’t let her con you into going after Willow.”
Spike nodded. “Go find Red and be careful,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.
Buffy smiled a little and squeezed his hand before leaving.
Spike looked at the sleeping girl on his couch. “I wont fail you again, Buffy,” he said, softly.
At the magic box, Xander was helping Anya who was still suffering from Willow’s spell.
A/N: In script from because its so much easier. Lol
XANDER: You feeling any change? Can you talk?
Anya pulls away, not looking at him.
ANYA: It's wearing off.
She sits down on the bench.
ANYA: Willow was here earlier. She put the whammy on me and went straight to the dark arts books. Sucked them dry.
XANDER: (awkwardly) Look, Anya, something terrible happened.
ANYA: I know. (softly) Tara.
XANDER: (nods) Willow's out for blood, big time. We need to find her before she finds Warren. Is there something you can do, a, a locator spell?
ANYA: I don't need a spell. (a bit reluctantly) I can feel her.
XANDER: You can...?
ANYA: Feel her. Her thirst for vengeance, it's overwhelming.
XANDER: Is that like, left over from your vengeance demon days? You just sense her?
ANYA: No. Not left over.
She gives him a meaningful look. The clue hits.
XANDER: Oh.
ANYA: Yeah. (sound of the bell over the door)
XANDER: When?
ANYA: (sourly) When do you think?
Buffy rushes over.
BUFFY: Is everyone okay? Did Willow -
ANYA: Got her power boost and took off.
XANDER: Anya's ... Anya was saying she knows where Willow is.
BUFFY: A spell?
XANDER: (bitterly) Not exactly. Seems Anya got her vengeance on again.
BUFFY: (stares at Anya) Oh.
XANDER: So, Willow's all wrathy ... why don't you go to her? Isn't that your gig?
ANYA: (defensively) Normally, I'd have to ... but she doesn't want me.
BUFFY: She wants to do it herself.
ANYA: Yeah.
BUFFY: Look, Anya, we don't have much time. Which side of this are you on?
Anya hesitates.
XANDER: If you know where she is, you can help us.
ANYA: (stands up, sighs) I'll help. But I'm helping Willow. She's close to him. He's in the woods.
Cut to the woods, night. Willow walks along, holding the bloody shirt. The bushes bend back out of her way as she passes. She walks slowly and calmly.
Cut to another part of the woods. Warren is running along, shoving branches and bushes out of his way. He's wearing a backpack.
Willow comes to a small clearing, looks around, smiles a little.
WILLOW: Run all night, Warren. I'll still find-
Suddenly something hits her. She falls down face-first. We see Warren standing behind her. A long-handled axe is buried in Willow's back. But that doesn’t stop her.
WARREN: (nervous laugh) Cute. That's a cute trick.
Willow is silent, just walks toward him. He backs away, very nervous.
WARREN: It was an accident, you know.
WILLOW: Oh. You mean, instead of killing my best friend, you killed my girlfriend.
WARREN: It ... it wasn't personal, that's all.
Close on Warren's hand in his pants pocket, grasping for something. He continues moving backward as Willow continues advancing on him.
WILLOW: Well, this is.
They traded magic blows as the chase began. Warren then found himself tied to a tree.
WILLOW: Cute tricks.
WARREN: You're really asking for it, you know that?
WILLOW: (incredulous) I'm asking for it?
WARREN: I'm gonna walk away from this. And when I do, you're gonna beg to go join your little girlfriend.
Willow frowns as if realizing something.
WILLOW: She wasn't your first.
WARREN: (nervous) Uh, first who?
WILLOW: Tara. She wasn't the first girl you killed.
WARREN: I don't know what you're talk-
WILLOW: Reveal!
KATRINA: (O.S.) I should have strangled you in your sleep.
Warren's ex-girlfriend Katrina, whom he killed in episode "Dead Things," walks around the same tree that Willow just came from. She is deathly pale.
KATRINA: Back when we shared a bed. I should have done the world a favor.
WARREN: (nervous laugh) It's a trick.
KATRINA: Why, Warren? You could have just let me go.
Warren is pretty freaked and can't look at Katrina, just at Willow and the surroundings.
Willow watches him calmly.
WARREN: (to Willow) Make it shut up. Make it go away.
KATRINA: It didn't have be like that.
WARREN: (to Willow) I'm not kidding!
KATRINA: How could you say you loved me, and do that to me?
WARREN: (suddenly) Because you deserved it, bitch!
Warren finally turns to look at Katrina as he yells at her. But now she's gone.
WILLOW: Because you liked it.
WARREN: Oh, shut up!
WILLOW: You never felt you had the power with her. Not until you killed her.
WARREN: (nasty laugh) Women. You know, you're just like the rest of them. Mind games.
Warren talks a good game, but he's trembling in fear.
WILLOW: You get off on it. (moving closer) That's why you had a mad-on for the Slayer. She was your big O, wasn't she, Warren?
WARREN: (still trembling) Are you done yet? Or can we talk some more about our feelings?
Cut to another part of the forest. Anya walks along, with Buffy and Xander following.
BUFFY: What's happening? What do you feel?
ANYA: She's stronger now. Close.
XANDER: What about Warren? Has she-
ANYA: He's still alive. She's not done.
Cut back to Warren and Willow. He's getting desperate now.
WARREN: (yells) Help! (normal voice) Let me go. (yells) Somebody! Help!!
WILLOW: What's the matter? Thought you wanted to talk.
WARREN: No.
WILLOW: Okay.
Willow opens her hand, revealing the bullet that she took from Buffy's chest earlier.
WILLOW: I'll talk.
She waves her other hand, and Warren's shirt rips open.
WARREN: What, what are you doing?
WILLOW: Shhh.
WARREN: (seriously freaked) Hey, hey, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry.
Willow holds the bullet about an inch from Warren's chest, right over his heart. She lets go, but the bullet continues to hover in place.
WILLOW: Wanna know what a bullet feels like, Warren? A real one? (Warren looking nervously down at the bullet, then up at her) It's not like in the comics.
WARREN: No. No.
WILLOW: I think you need to. Feel it.
The bullet slowly starts to push its way into Warren's chest.
WARREN: Oh god! Stop it!
WILLOW: It's not going to make a neat little hole. First, it'll obliterate your internal organs. Your lung will collapse. Feels like drowning.
WARREN: (strained) Please! No.
Warren is clearly in a lot of pain as the bullet continues penetrating his body.
WILLOW: When it finally hits your spine, it'll blow your central nervous system.
WARREN: Oh please, stop, god! Please-
WILLOW: (angrily) I'm talking!
Willow lifts a hand and suddenly Warren's lips are sewn shut with large stitches of thread.
He can only groan and whimper.
WILLOW: The pain will be unbearable, but you won't be able to move. Bullet usually travels faster than this, of course. But the dying? It'll seem like it takes forever.
She pauses, as if affected by her own words, looking at the little wound on Warren's chest. Warren just grunts and squeezes his eyes shut in pain.
WILLOW: Something, isn't it? (pensively) One tiny piece of metal destroys everything.
(Warren groaning loudly) It ripped her insides out ... took her light away. From me. From the world.
Now she looks Warren in the eye again, re-focusing. He continues trembling, groaning in pain and fear.
WILLOW: Now the one person who should be here is gone ... and a waste like you gets to live.
Another shot of the bullet hole in Warren's chest.
WILLOW: Tiny piece of metal. Can you feel it now?
Warren continues whimpering in pain.
Cut to the others still walking.
ANYA: Over there.
She leads them off to the left.
Cut back to Warren and Willow. He continues grunting through his sewn-shut mouth.
WILLOW: I said, can you feel it?
She waves her hand and the stitches disappear.
WARREN: Please! God! I did wrong, I see that now. I need, I need jail! I need ... But you, you don't want this. You're, you're not a bad person. Not like me.
Willow stares at him.
BUFFY: (O.S.) Willow!
Willow looks over. The others are visible a few hundred feet away, rushing toward her.
WARREN: Oh, and when you get caught, you'll lose them too. Your friends. (panting) You don't want that. I know you're in pain, but-
WILLOW: Bored now.
Willow makes a casual gesture with one hand. A bolt of magic rips through Warren and tears the skin off his body in a single piece.
Anya, Buffy, and Xander arrive just in time to see this.
XANDER: Oh my god.
Warren's skinless body sags against the vines that still hold him. Very icky. Willow stands looking at it.
BUFFY: (shocked) What did you do?
Willow continues looking at the lifeless body.
BUFFY: Willow, what did you do?
Willow looks over at her friends, then back at the body. Suddenly it bursts into flame and burns to nothing in an instant.
WILLOW: (calmly) One down.
Smoke begins to curl up around Willow's body as red fire flashes in her eyes again.
Lightning flashes as her whole body dissipates into smoke and is gone.
The others stand there staring in horror.
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