Rising from the Wreckage

Disclaimer: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, et al. No copyright infringement was intended. The storyline, however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

Summary: Back in Sunnydale Buffy and Tara try to cope without Willow.

Buffy sat in the dark, watching the Doublemeat Palace video for trainees. She was glad to finally have found a job, but this was less than thrilling. What could she do though? She was broke and desperately needed a job, even at minimum wage. And it wasn't like she had experience or education doing anything else, she reasoned.

"Follow these rules and you'll be a happy part of the Doublemeat family for a long time!" The voice on the video reassured her.

On screen, the picture changed to the DoubleMeat Palace logo, some kind of creature that was a cross between a chicken and a cow. Buffy frowned, wondering not for the first time, how she was going to be able to afford to take care of Dawn with the wages she'd make flipping burgers.

"Oh yes! Like how the cow and the chicken come together even though they've never met." The Slayer started with a fake smile. "It's like Sleepless in Seattle if… if Meg and Tom were… like minced."

The manager, a geeky 30 year old with thick glasses and greasy hair was completely humorless as he switched off the TV and walked behind his desk.

"Right. Y-you mentioned that a couple of times when I filled out the application." Buffy responded.

"Why do you want to work here, Buffy? You seem like a sharp young woman, and there are a lot of other jobs."

"Well, I-I kinda need money pretty quickly… like today… and… and so I didn't want to go through a lengthy interview process, and I figured this was probably the fastest... way... to..." Buffy paused when she caught the stern look on Manny the Manager's face. "Be... cause I ... wanted to be part of the DoubleMeat experience?" She finally asked, uncertain.

The two women were sitting at a small table in the Expresso Pump. Buffy had called Tara and asked her to meet her there for lunch and Tara had readily agreed, thankful to be a part of the Slayer's life. She felt that the two needed each other to deal with Willow's leaving.

Tara was tormented with guilt over skipping out on the redheaded witch when she was needed most. Now she wanted nothing more than to go to L.A. and retrieve her love. Buffy was right though, Willow needed time and space away from them. Tara and Buffy would have to depend on each other for support and friendship in the absence of the one woman that had always kept both of them upright.

"Well… honestly I'm not exactly thrilled… but… it's a paying job… right?"

Buffy sighed. She knew a long time ago that she wouldn't live a normal life. She was resigned to the fact that she'd have responsibilities that no other human would have to worry about. She just never thought that she'd also have to worry about taking care of a teenage sister and keeping their house.

"Oh." Tara stirred her drink. "W-well maybe they'd make an exception. You don't have your mom now… and…"

Tara didn't finish, realizing she had struck a sore nerve for the Slayer. Neither said anything for a few minutes, while they busied themselves looking over the small menus kept on the tables.

"It's just… so hard. You know?" Buffy softly spoke, finally looking up to study Tara once more.

Again, the two sat in relative silence for a few minutes as each thought about the last couple of months.

"Tara… I wanted to ask you something… a-and I'd understand if you didn't want to… it's just that with me working now and Willow gone… there's Dawn to consider and…"

Tara couldn't help the smile that came over her face. She had loved living in the house with Willow, Buffy, and Dawn. She considered them her real family and leaving had left her with an emptiness that no dorm room could ever fill.

"I don't want you to think I just want you back because of Dawn… it's just that… Dawn really misses you, and with Willow gone… a-and… I could kind of use… the company."

The blonde witch warmed to the Slayer's words. "I think we could b-both use the company." Tara said smiling.

"But on one condition." Buffy arched her eyebrows; unsure if she wanted to know the conditions Tara would set down. "I'm paying rent." Tara told her.

"So true." Buffy said. She paused before shaking her head in protest again. "But that's not why I asked you to move back in."

"I know that." Tara leaned closer to Buffy and put her hand back on the blonde's arm. "B-but I want to help. I make pretty decent money at the Magic Box now… and actually, if Anya can set it up, I-I might start making extra for readings."

"Oh… right." Buffy sat back and thought about Tara's offer for a few moments. On the one hand, she really needed the money. On the other hand, however, she didn't want to take money from Tara if she expected her to keep an eye on Dawn while Buffy kept up her slaying duties and worked at the DMP at the same time. Either way, Buffy reasoned, she needed to have Tara back in the house, and not just for Dawn's sake. The Slayer needed a friend, needed someone who understood her pain and guilt over Willow. Buffy needed Tara, and she thought, Tara might just need her. So if the witch wanted to pay rent, who was Buffy Summers to complain? "Okay… you can pay rent. But I won't like it." She joked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Wow! I can't believe you're moving back in!" Dawn exclaimed hugging Tara with all her might. "Wow!"

Tara had always felt close to the young girl since both of them were like outsiders to the tight group of Scoobies. She felt like Dawn was her niece, and wanted to protect and take care of the girl.

The witch went about clearing the rest of Willow's belongings out of the way, packing them in the back of the closet. Having everything the other witch had left lying around made Tara want to cry. In order for her to survive, to stay strong and not run to L.A., Tara would need to clear the room of Willow's belongings and make room for her own. Tara was grateful that there wasn't much to pack up, however, as Willow was never one to collect junk.

It broke Tara's heart to think of her moving back into that room without Willow there to share it.

<What I fool I was.> She chastised herself. <I think I know so much, but what do I know? Why did I think leaving her would be the answer? She needed so much help… and we were all so blind.>

Tears welled up in the blonde witch's eyes, but she paid them no attention, letting them fall freely as she moved about the room, sorting out clothes and setting up her alter.

Tara looked up from her suitcase to see Buffy standing in the doorway and smiled, quickly wiping the tears from her wet cheeks. "You're home." Tara said, her face visibly lifting. "Uh…" She looked around the room. "No… thanks. I'm almost done here."

Buffy saw the tears, recognized the red and puffy eyes. She had been fighting a lump in her own throat since seeing Willow at the bus station.

Tara turned away slightly, trying to keep her mind on the unpacking. The Slayer came up behind her, placing a gentle hand on the witch's shoulder.

"I'm really glad you said yes." Buffy spoke softly, the sincerity in her voice catching Tara's attention.

Buffy had an overwhelming urge to hold Tara, hold her tight and never let her go. Never let her go like she let Willow. Like they all let Willow down. She silently moved to the bed instead, sitting on the edge. The blonde witch turned, then sat on the bed in front her and took the slayer's hands in her own.

Neither said anything for a few moments, both reflecting on the friendship that they had never fully explored until they both felt lost and in need.

"Oh Goddess! Buffy, I almost forgot!" Tara exclaimed, rising off the bed and gently slapping her forehead.

Buffy was visibly surprised, arching her eyebrows at the animated witch in front of her. "What's up?" She asked.

"O-okay… don't be mad for… getting in your business… but I think I found you another job. A better job."

"A better job?" Asked the Slayer in full attention mode. She disregarded Tara's comment about getting in her business.

"Security guard?" Buffy was a little uncertain if she would want to go into that line of work. In her head it was like being a cop… but not.

"W-well a friend of mine… from my Art History class, asked me if I knew anyone who needed a job. He's um, I think in charge of hiring or something." Tara waved her hand to explain that she really didn't know what he did. "A-anyway, he's in desperate need to fill a position for night guard. I think turnover's pretty high…"

Tara nodded in understanding. "I hope you don't mind Buffy… But I told him… that I had a friend who w-would be perfect for it. He… he wants to meet you tomorrow. I mean… if you're… interested?"

Buffy thought about it for a minute. Night security guard on campus could be an okay job. Better than flipping burgers and smelling like old grease, she reasoned. Plus, with it being a night position, she could patrol too. "Oh but… what about patrol? I mean… I have to scope out the cemeteries too… a-and…"

Buffy sat on her bed with her legs drawn up, resting her chin on her knees. Willow was gone. Willow was in LA. The Slayer had to keep reminding herself that her best friend was gone. She had needed all of their help, but never got it. Buffy kept torturing herself with thoughts that she could have stopped it, could have stopped Willow, but didn't. She felt lost. Her redheaded friend had always been there to keep things together, provide support and comfort. She was their brain, their source for all answers and was always willing to help, willing to put herself in the good fight, even when she knew how bad the outcome might be.

And now she was in LA, doing what, Buffy had no idea. She wanted to call Angel, to find out what was going on with Willow. Where she was staying, what she was doing. Mostly though, Buffy merely wanted to know how her friend was. She was scared and worried and missing Willow worse than when she had run off to LA herself that summer.

Buffy absently wiped the tears away from her eyes and sniffled. She couldn't believe how bad she hurt. When had she last felt this way? When Riley left? When Angel left?

<Okay, so add confusion to the pile.> Buffy mused, thinking of the torrent of emotions that had been flooding through her.

"A-are you okay?" Asked Dawn from the hallway, where the door was only half way closed.

"Oh…" Buffy started, wiping her face dry with her sleeve. "Yeah… yeah just…"

"Yeah, I know…" Dawn entered the room and looked around as if she hadn't ever been in there. Truth was though, it hurt her to see her sister crying, hurt her to see the Slayer so weak and in so much pain. "So um… new job huh?" Asked Dawn fingering the sleeve of Buffy's Security guard uniform.

"Yup, I start tomorrow. You'll be looking at one of UC Sunnydales finest. O-or… I'm actually not sure if anyone actually calls us that…"

"Well… we kind of don't have any… so… plus, hello, fifteen year old here… I think I need a work permit, which you've already said I couldn't get so… yes. More money for Buffy means electricity and food." Dawn finished smiling broadly, proud of her deduction.

Buffy wanted to believe that, wanted to believe that Willow's trip to LA would be a short lived vacation, from which the redhead would return healthy and happy again.

Neither of them believed it though. Fear had settled into their hearts when Willow had moved out, and it had been there ever since.

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Rising from the Wreckage

Chapter 6

By RedWillow

Reddwillow@hotmail.com