Safe In Her Arms by The Rainbow Writers

Tara smiled to herself as an unconscious Buffy nestled closer into her side, her head moving back and forth a little as she pressed into Tara's ample cleavage. Raising her right hand Buffy cupped the breast her head couldn't reach to lie on and claimed it as hers as she continued to snore softly.

"Mmmm Buffy sweetie." Tara cooed softly as the cupping turned into more of a direct stroking and caressing action. "Buffy darling." She said a little louder when the Slayer didn't seem to stir.

"Mmmm don't want to wake up, very comfy." Buffy mumbled her body nestled close as her hand continued its massage.

"I know and I know after a hard Friday night patrol you like to stay in bed late on a Saturday morning but I have books to return to the library remember and it's not my fault they close at mid-day." Tara spoke gently moving her and to lightly draw on the back of Buffy's moving hand.

"You can bring them back Monday." Buffy nuzzled her face in closer as she rubbed her calf over Tara's.

"You are making this so hard." Tara chuckled as she dropped a kiss onto Buffy's head. "But if I go early then you can stay in bed and rest some more."

"Don't want rest." Buffy kissed the soft flesh she was nuzzled into. "Want you."

"And you can have me." Tara kissed Buffy's soft fair hair again. "When I have been to the library." She gave the Slayer a charming grin.

"You are determined to leave naked and ready me here while you go to the library aren't you?" Buffy looked up at her blinking a little sleepily.

"I want to stay right here and make passionate love to you all morning." The Wicca replied making a slow long blink of her blue eyes. "But…"

"TEENAGER CAN HEAR!" Dawn yelled as she padded across the hall outside the closed bedroom door. "Corruption occurring." She added for fun.

"WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING!" Buffy yelled back grumpily, mostly because the only reason something was not going on was because of some stupid library books.

"She's at Elliot's football game today so we should have the house to ourselves once she finishes her eight hours of primping." Buffy laughed.

"You could be all big sisterly…" Tara began as she slipped out of the Slayer's embrace and moved naked over to the closet. "And help her primp." The Wicca stretched out her back and shook her hair down over her shoulders before pulling open the still unpainted new closet door.

"Why would I waste time helping the volcano primp when I could be helping you…" Buffy grinned and stopped when Tara turned to shoot her a warning look.

"Should I wear the green or the gold?" Tara asked with a coy smile that warned Buffy ever so gently to tone it down.

"The green, you look really nice it in." Buffy curled up on her side in the blankets watching Tara get ready.

"So do you want a present bringing home? Or do I just try and find Willow and get all the details I can on last night?" Tara asked as she dressed. She really did hope that the redhead's date had gone well. A part of her did feel a little jealous but she couldn't deny Willow happiness, after all Willow was doing her very best to not deny her.

"Present and details." Buffy yawned as she snuggled further into the pillow that still smelled like the blonde.

"Oh my, greedy slayer." A dressed Tara crossed back to the bed and sat down on the edge of it.

"Trust me…" Buffy opened one eye and smiled. "If I was being greedy right now you wouldn't be dressed or getting your library books returned on time."

"You make it so hard to leave you." Tara stressed as she reached out to play with short blonde hair.

"Then come back as soon as possible." Buffy yawned again, knowing somewhere in her relaxing mind that Tara was being unfair and using the famous Summers' weakness for head rubs to distract her.

"I will." Tara vowed, continuing the process of running her fingers through the glossy hair. "You know." She said softly. "I don't want to leave, it's just…" She hesitated and then gave up her explanation.

"I know." Buffy whispered falling back to sleep. "You're just irresistible in the morning."

"And you manage to be it all the time." Tara leaned down and kissed her lover tenderly before easing up off the bed and crossing quietly to the door.

Tara folded her arms around the books she held against her chest and moved quickly though the fairly empty open arched corridors of the main hall. She had managed to check her books in and taken four new ones out in what must have been record time and was now hurrying back towards the car park. The idea of a great day alone with her lover a great motivation for clearing things up as quickly as possible. But when she rounded the corner and caught sight of Heather Glaive just coming out of one of the labs her sense of curiosity momentarily over-rode her sense of urgency.

"Dr. Glaive!" She called out putting on a short burst of speed to catch up with the professor.

"Yes?" Heather turned around only having at first heard someone calling her name. It was only when she saw Tara racing down towards her that she forced the frown off her face. "Tara, hello."

"Hi." Tara cluttered to a stop giving the other woman a smile. "How are you?" She asked trying to act casually.

"Oh… I'm fine." Heather shuffled her feet and played with the button on her cardigan. "How are you?"

"I'm okay." Tara tried to wipe the silly grin of her face but couldn't. She stood awkwardly silent for a moment before launching into what she had to say. "Look, I know this might not be any of my business, in fact I know it probably isn't, but I have to ask since I haven't found Willow yet. How was last night?"

"Last night?" Heather spoke the words slowly as she frowned again. "It was fine, I mean Willow must have had something really important come up. I'm sure when I see her tomorrow for running she'll have a totally understandable reason." She shuffled a little.

"Something important came up?" Tara's grin evaporated immediately, "Willow cancelled?" She asked softly for clarification.

"I don't know… she just never showed up." The professor admitted keeping her frown.

"Oh." Tara's reply was almost silent. "I'm sorry about that." The blonde's mind was racing a little mixed with feelings of confusion, worry and incomprehension.

"It's okay, I know there must have been something important." Heather shook her head.

"I…" Tara glanced over her shoulder towards the car park. "I should go." She said motioning to her car.

"Have a good day." Heather tried to be pleasant as she nodded and turned back heading back to her office.

Tara would have liked to said that her drive over to the Rosenberg house was calm and careful, but she knew it was slightly too fast and rather erratic and the fact that her tires screeched as she applied the breaks at the bottom of their drive confirmed it. Climbing out she hurried down the short path to the door, ringing the doorbell the instant she could reach it.

"Good morning Tammy." Mrs. Rosenberg smiled softly when she opened the door to see the blonde Wicca there. "I'm sorry but Willow isn't home."

"No, she went out last night with her running partner but she often stays over." Shelia filled in the information. "I can leave her a note that you stopped by."

"Oh right, no, no, it's fine I'm sure I'll catch up with her soon, th-th-thank you Mrs. Rosenberg." Tara tried not to frown as she turned back to the car. "Oh Mrs. Rosenberg," She stopped and glanced back at the white painted house. "What time did she go out to meet her friend?"

"She left about six." Sheila answered opening the door again after she had begun to close it.

"Thank you." Tara said quickly as she hurried down the path back to the waiting car.

"Buffy, BUFFY!" Tara threw open the front door and tossed her library books onto the table beside it.

"Tara?" Buffy appeared at the top of the stairs dragging a towel over her wet hair.

"Buffy something's wrong." Tara looked up at her lover, her blue eyes wide and scared.

"What's wrong with Willow?" Buffy stopped just short of her and waited for more information. "Did her date not go well?"

"Her date didn't go that is her date did but Willow didn't. And she's not at home. Buffy I think something dreadful has happened." Pools of wetness gathered in Tara's blue eyes as she explained. "I think…"

"You think something got Willow?" Buffy questioned feeling a lump gather in her throat.

"What do you think has her? Why would it have her?" Buffy tried to catch up tossing the towel aside over the banister. "I'm going to kill it."

"The books Buffy, whoever, whatever has the books has probably worked out Willow's seal. It's something I didn't want to think about at the time but if Willow was deeper into black magicks than any of us knew then her magic echo would be traceable to the right kind of spellcaster." The Wicca explained.

"I don't think so." Tara shook her head as a tear slipped over the rim of her eye and trickled onto her cheek. "That is I can always find Willow, but if whatever has her is as adept in magic as things would suggest then it's probably got her blocked or buffered in someway. Or worse like the books themselves booby trapped."

"What can we do then?" Buffy questioned wanting to make sure there was no other magical way get the hacker back before she went into complete Slayer seek and destroy mode.

"I can try to find her like I always do." Tara offered. "Other than that, we can't do anything." She frowned deeply.

"When Willow and I were dating, we did a spell, it's a bit like pinning a tracker on each other. Basically it means that by projecting myself out of my body I can attempt to find her." Tara explained.

"Is it dangerous? And while you project can I follow you and then kick whatever undead ass has her?" Buffy jumped on the idea.

"It's not highly dangerous." Tara replied. "And yes you can follow me, but it won't exactly be 'me', more like a little blue light. Xander called me Tinkerbelle for months after the last time I used it."

"Let me get into combat gear and then we'll be ready to go." Buffy nodded. "Tinkerbelle." She kissed Tara's cheek.

The figure was shadowed though the vague outline was easy to see as it leaned back to a comfortable position on the embroidered worn couch.

"You'll find you have quite a headache, but that will go away soon." The figure spoke softly in a deep soothing voice. "There is water there." He motioned to a tall crystal glass with beads of clear condensation running down the sides to show how chilled it was. "Feel free to quench your thirst."

"Where am I?" Willow eased her eyes open slowly and nearly closed them immediately as a flash of blinding pain shot across the back of her skull.

"You are safe." The voice spoke back to her. "I know the ropes must be uncomfortable but feel free to teleport them away."

"I…" Willow hadn't even noticed the strong bindings around her wrists and ankles. "I…" She said again blinking her eyes fully open and trying to force clarity in her own mind. "I know you." She said trying to push herself into a vaguely vertical position as opposed to the full horizontal one she had at the moment on the floor.

"You do." The voice admitted leaning up a little in the light to reveal the hard angles of shadowed features. "I've missed you Strawberry."

"Rack!" Willow pushed up harder, her face forming an almost feral snarl. "Let me go." She struggled against her bonds.

"You don't need me to let you go, if you will it your bonds will melt away like water." He pushed himself up and paced a bit closer in the dim light.

"Yes, yes you can." Rack edged her on. "You can melt your bonds with as much ease as a baby can scream when it is hungry. You need this Willow, you crave this like you crave air." He stepped closer.

"I can't." Willow stayed firm and continued her physical struggle. "What do you want with me anyway?"

"I want you." Rack summed up his motivation easily. "I was so pained when you turned from me, deserted me but I forgive you and take you back with open arms." He crouched down with her his arms open.

"I don't want to be back, I don't do magic any more. I'm no use to you so let me go." The hacker objected her struggles becoming weaker as she tried more.

"You are in control now Willow, don't loose sight of what you have always wanted." Rack reached out and caressed her cheek. "The magic used you but now you have proved that it is you that rule the magic. Embrace your destiny Willow, rule over the forces as only you can."

"I d-d-don't want to rule anything, I'm not a ruler, I'm a minion, a happy minion." Willow's voice wavered a little.

"I know you will need guidance, all great rulers need guidance." Rack caressed her cheek. "It will take time but you will grow accustomed to the power. Release yourself and drink sweet one." He looked back at the glass on the table.

"You can." Rack urged running his hands through her hair. "Feel the need inside you, the dryness in your soul that needs to drink. Embrace it."

"I might need something." Willow couldn't seem to drag her eyes from the tall crystal glass. "But it's not this." She pulled her vision away and tried to fix it elsewhere.

"You are born for this." Rack pushed her further. "But if you need time to decide that is one thing we have. Time." He leaned back and stood up. "Time for you to choose." He walked back reclining in the shadows.

"Why now Rack?" Willow called to the retreating. "I don't understand, why leave me for so long and then pull me back?"

"Because you needed reminding of who you are." He waved his hand over a candle flame making it flicker and dance. "And like you I am thirsty too sweet Willow and only you can quench my need."

"I need your help to get the things that will satisfy my craving." Rack indulged her with an answer.

"My help, I'm not going to help you, not if it's something bad." Willow paused for a moment. "It's bad isn't it?"

"Bad? What is a concept such as badness when one is able to open the fabric of reality and reach in with both hands?" Rack questioned her back.

"Fabric of reality? I can't change reality, no one can." Willow frowned again. "No one should." She underlined.

"But does being able to make it bad?" He laughed lightly amused by the turn of their conversation. "This is not about reality Willow, this is about need and the eternal quest to fulfill that need. We both have needs and I am only hoping that we can work together to fulfill them."

"You don't know what I want." Willow bit back a little angered by this battle of words.

"Oh but I do." Rack picked up a glass and took a long slow sip. "You want your life back, you want control back. These things are so obtainable if you only drink."

"You need time to think." Rack pushed himself up again. "I have a visitor coming and I need to greet them properly."

"Wait! Wait!" Willow called but it was obvious she was talking to an empty room.

Buffy couldn't say that she liked the arrangement but at least they were getting somewhere. She'd followed the strange little light that had birthed itself out of Tara's forehead and now was awkwardly climbing a fence to move into a large estate as the little light danced and urged her to move faster. The urgency of Tara's light made her realize they must be getting closer to their goal.

Landing with a cats grace on the other side of the fence in the overgrown grass she checked the position of the crossbow over her back and ran on as Tara's light took off. In the distance a large dark house loomed, looking run down but obviously lived in by the warm fire that could be seen through the open curtains of the living room.

"I wish you could hear me because my slayer sense is off the chart." She maneuvered herself through a grouping of trees as Tara's light floated ahead so that when she emerged from the brush she couldn't see the now familiar glow anywhere. "Tara?" She questioned stopping for a moment as she questioned softly. "Tara, this is not funny." She hissed backtracking a bit and finding no sign of the spell light.

Looking across the short distance of grass and broken pavement of the driveway beyond the only answer seemed to be that Tara's light had gone up and into the house. Resolving herself Buffy moved quickly to tuck her crossbow near the aged front stairs before she went up and knocked on the door.

"Good evening Miss can I help you." A young woman about Buffy's age, dressed casually in a pair of pale jeans and a purple sweater, pulled the door open and looked at the Slayer.

"Hi, this is going to sound really odd but a friend of mine is missing and the last place that anyone saw her was coming into your house." Buffy looked the other woman in the eye, noting how perfectly her blonde's hair was kept. "Do you mind if I have a look around for any signs of where she is?"

"I suppose you could look around the yard, I couldn't let you into the house without my father's say so though." She said somewhat apologetically.

"Have you seen a little petite redhead around at all?" Buffy held up her hand. "About so high, light skin and green eyes?"

"We get quite a few visitors but I don't remember anyone like that, would you like me to get father?" She asked helpfully.

"Yeah, that would be great." Buffy nodded wondering why suddenly her slayer sense was totally non-existence, the house and its occupants seemed normal and human enough.

"Would you mind waiting there?" She checked and after receiving a quick nod of acknowledgement from the Slayer the girl stepped back inside pulling the door lightly closed.

Moments later the heavy wood creaked open again and a smartly dressed man replaced the young woman at the door. The only thing spoiling his somewhat perfect visage, was a scar that ran down the side of his face and eye.

"Yes, a friend of mine. Redhead, petite, green eyes." Buffy looked him up and down. "Someone saw her around your driveway recently and I figured before I went to the police I'd come in and see if you had any idea where she was."

"None at all I'm afraid. You're more than welcome to look around if you would like." The man replied. "When did you last see your friend?"

"Only a few hours ago." Buffy peered through the hallway appraising the casual manner by which he offered her entrance. "Obviously if you haven't seen her, then she's not here." She stepped back. "Thanks for being so helpful though."

"My pleasure." He smiled sweetly. "And if I can help in anyway, just let me know. Loosing a loved one can be so, distressing." He sympathized watching Buffy intently.

"Yeah, thanks." Buffy backtracked quickly, grabbing her crossbow from the bushes without missing a stride as she began running home. She had to get back to Tara.

"Sorry about that little interruption." Rack apologized as he pulled off his suit jacket and tossed it onto the patterned couch. "How are you strawberry?"

"You're parched, I can see it in your eyes." Rack walked over and picked up the table with the ice water carefully before moving it back over directly into Willow's vision. "You've more than showed that you are powerful Willow, now the choice is yours. Drink, drink and quell that dry feeling that makes your tongue swell in your mouth so much you feel as if you are choking."

"I'm not going to help you, I'm not going to ruin all I have worked for." Willow said defiantly.

"But this is what you have worked for, this is the culmination of all your hard work and all your power." Rack ran his finger down the glass and a trail of cool condensation traced down in front of it. "This is the mark of a true monarch of magic."

"Freedom, peace…" Rack kept his voice soft and understanding. "That scratching in your brain will stop and you'll feel normal again."

"You are a witch Strawberry." Rack sat down next to the table and loosened her tie. "A witch is only normal when she is powerful, when she is using her power and filling herself with that power full up."

"But I'm not a witch, I can't be a witch, I'm a bad witch, I hurt people." Willow snapped back into resilient mode.

"There are no bad and good witches, there are only witches." Rack moved closer to her, his voice low and even. "There are only witches and those who are not gifted. You are gifted Strawberry, you are blessed. Would you turn your back on the universe and deny that which you are?"

"Father." A door in the shadowed corner of the room creaked open and a thin stream of light shone in around the figure of a slight woman.

"What?" Rack turned around and barked at the door unable to believe someone had interrupted him.

"I'll be right back." Rack's face turned into a feral grin. "If you feel powerful enough to free yourself, you know where to find me." He blew a kiss at Willow and moved back through the door into the hallway. "This is such a treat." He commented to the younger girl as he pulled his tie free and opened the top three buttons on his crisp white shirt. "Don't let anyone disturb us."

Buffy felt her body grow cold as she reached the front walk of her house to see the front door sitting back broken on the stairs.

"TARA!" She screamed completely petrified as she ran up launching herself through the broken entrance. "Tara?" She raced upstairs towards the bedroom trying not to focus on the tracks of dirt that led to the kicked in door.

"Oh God oh God." Buffy didn't know what to do as she took in the overturned bedroom. The bed where the Wicca had once been sitting in her perfect lotus position was empty, the pillows and blankets pulled off the bed haphazardly to pile on the floor nearby.

Locking her jaw she took a deep breath trying to figure out what she was going to do

Rack entered the dimly lit room slowly trying not to startle the figure that had been sat in the high-backed chair in one corner of the room. He turned and quietly relocked the door.

"Can I offer you something? A drink, something to eat?" He spoke gently as he moved closer.

"I am sure that you are more than capable of opening that door Miss?" He questioned for her name.

"Maclay." Tara replied her voice expressionless. "You're the person who took Willow aren't you?" She added trying to drive back her fear.

"I have offered Willow somewhere to stay Miss. Maclay. As with you she is more than capable of leaving at any time if she wishes. I can no more hold you here than I can make it rain." Rack moved over and sat down in the twin to the chair Tara was in.

"You're… this place…" Tara looked around and then focused on Rack. "What are you?" She asked almost as intrigued and horrified.

"I am a facilitator." Rack smiled softly at her through the darkness. "I facilitate magic users to reach their full potential."

"You, you're the one Amy brought Willow to aren't you?" Tara said with growing horror. "She doesn't need you anymore, she's beaten the addiction you helped cause."

"Her addiction was necessary." Rack leaned back impressed by her deductions. "A true phoenix cannot grow stronger less she burns and is reborn."

"Oh Miss. Maclay." Rack laughed long and loudly at her. "You are so sweet and darling aren't you?" He pushed up and moved over to her. "But the question I would ask of you now is…" He reached out his hand towards. "Is what do you taste like?"

"She tastes like strawberries, fresh and juicy." He offered the information as he licked his lips and moved his hand closer.

"If you really knew Willow…" Tara heard and felt her voice crack further, "You would know she tastes like sunshine and cotton candy."

"I have no intention on forcing you." Rack rested a lone fingertip on her collarbone. His eyes closed as he slowly licked his lips again. "Cream, pure and fresh."

"That's the most you're ever going to taste." Tara shivered hard as an icy cold wave rippled through her very soul.

"It's a good thing I'm patient Miss. Maclay." Rack moved back and sat in his chair. "The question is if what you say is true, and I have Willow… do you really have the time to be patient?"

"I can be patient because there is a reason you brought me here and I might not know what that is, but I do know at least that if you had what you wanted from Willow already, you wouldn't have bothered to bring me here." Tara tried to keep logical and ordered, though it was getting harder by the second.

"You are a smart one aren't you?" Rack smiled at her and nodded in submission to her deduction. "I do indeed need something from you, just as you need many things from me."

"Well your cooperation could be the difference between her living and dying." Rack spelled out as he decided that playing mind games with Tara would have to be a very exact maneuver based in honesty to a certain extent.

"Perhaps but she could already be dead, couldn't she?" Tara wasn't sure how she said the words as she peered through the darkness for the man's eyes. "Or she could have already given herself back to you."

"Interesting theories." Rack put his hands up and rubbed his palms together slowly. "If she was dead then I believe I would be much more anxious and willing to simply take what I need from you. While if she has already given herself back to me I think even you know that as a test of her loyalty I would want her to be having this conversation with you." He stopped the movement and looked at her. "Or I could be bluffing you right now to delay time while I have that little bottled blonde who you lead to my door is being beaten and killed at the end of my driveway."

"What do you want?" Tara asked bluntly, knowing that her color dropped another shade at the mention of Buffy.

"What I want is unimportant…" Rack stood up and shook out his long hair. "What is more important is what can you give me."

"I want you, and her and everything you can give me." Rack gave her a stunning smile. "Then whatever is left I will let you leave with."

"I want to see her." Tara breathed the words quietly, though her stomach was churning sickeningly.

"I'm not sure that would be a good idea." Rack shook his head. "She's very consumed at the moment."

"With choice, with the reality of what she has become." Rack smiled suddenly. "Actually let me check on her and then maybe you can see her."

Tara nodded silently and tried to force even breaths from her body as the man moved.

Rack had entered Willow's room without any noise and for the longest time the redhead hadn't opened her eyes to his arrival.

"You do realize that even meditation will betray you in time." Rack broke the silence to get her attention.

"I don't have to talk to you." Willow spoke, her voice hollow, sounding strange even to her own ears.

"You don't but I thought you might be interested to hear that someone is here who would like to see you." He moved closer to her, her bonds still intact and the glass was untouched.

"I doubt anyone even knows I am missing." Willow replied still not opening her eyes.

"Miss. Maclay seems to be both aware that you are missing and very concerned for your well being." Rack moved over to the wall and leaned against it.

"Blonde, beautiful, tastes like cream to your strawberry." Rack had a flash of knowledge come to him.

"You've tasted her! If you've hurt her I'll…." For a second Willow's eyes grew blacker.

"You'll what?" Rack raised an eyebrow in question. "You don't have the strength to free yourself or do something as simple as take a sip." He pointed to the glass. "Yet you claim that you'll do something to injure me."

"You know I could do it, you know I could get out and I could hurt you if I wanted to so perhaps you should stop playing games with me Rack." Willow attempted some scare tactics of her own.

"Oh yes I am well aware of what you can do." Rack moved over and kneeled before her. "Do you think I would waste time on someone weak? Do you think me that shortsighted? I knew the moment you were brought to me that you could squash me like a bug but it is in that ability that I know you will also need me to temperance the tempest inside you."

"You need magic, it flows through your veins." Rack reached out and gently held her face up. "How much are you willing to risk to deny that? Are you willing to risk her?"

"You wouldn't hurt her." Willow stated though she wasn't at all sure even she believed it.

"Why wouldn't I?" Rack held her chin a bit tighter. "If I need to break you, wouldn't her broken blood spent body bring you that much closer?"

"You wouldn't waste such a source of magic, if you have her here, which I know you do, then you know how powerful she is and you wouldn't waste that power by killing her." Willow hoped she was right.

"I'll bring Cream in here and you can decide which one of you is freed and which of you gives in." Rack stood back up.

"Yes." Willow said instantly. "I want to see her and we'll sort it, we'll sort everything."

"Show me how serious you are." Rack moved over and picked up the glass bringing it closer to her. "Have a drink and then I'll bring you Tara."

Bringing her suddenly free hands round in front of her Willow wrapped her fingers round the sore rope abrasions around her thin wrists. Then reaching out slowly she closed one hand round the cool crystal glass.

Looking up at Rack she brought the glass t0 her lips and let a small trail of liquid seep into her mouth. The hacker was somewhat surprised to find out that it was pure clear mineral water. Swallowing the tiniest mouthful she pulled the glass away.

Tara's head snapped up as the sound of a door opening alerted her every sense. Looking up to the door her capturer had used earlier she was surprised to see it still closed.

"Tara!" Willow's dry voice called the minute she saw the door in the far wall beyond her open to reveal the blonde sitting in a tall chair.

"Willow?" Tara turned instantly to look at the redhead her heart leaping into her throat. "Oh Willow." She said her voice cracking instantly.

"Are you okay?" The redhead pushed herself up and forward stumbling slightly on her blood starved legs.

"I'm fine." Tara pushed up to and moved to the door. "Are you?" She watched the hacker stumble a little.

"Tied up for a bit, nothing important." Willow moved over quicker. "We have to get you out of here, he's crazy."

"No Will, we have to get you out of here there's too much magic abuse going on here. We need you out of here." Tara shook her head. "We can't have you loose everything that you're fighting so hard for." The blonde stressed.

"I won't let him touch you." Willow shook her head back. "He only wants one of us, I can get him to free you and you'll be safe."

"Will, if you sacrifice yourself neither of us will get out of here." Tara breathed.

"But…" Willow stopped herself as the reality of their predicament. If she gave in Rack had said he would let Tara go but if her magic was fully and completely out of control… if she lost herself again, lost her morality and her humanity what was there to keep her from forcing Tara to stay. "You should have never come looking for me. I deserve this." She leaned back against the wall her eyes welling with tears.

"No one deserves this." Tara stated quickly and clearly before she took a breath. "We need to stall him Will, and the only way we can do that is to give him what he wants." She tried to formulate some kind of plan. "Give him a taste of it at least, a taste of me." She clarified trying to keep her voice even.

"No, no not the plan, not a plan, not ever going to happen." Willow shook her head adamantly. "He can't have any of you, you can't let him touch you, not like that ever." She moved closer to the blonde. "I know you are so strong and I know how good your heart is. If he touches you that way, gets even the tiniest bit of you, he'll never give up till he has it all."

"What choice do we have Willow." Tara looked sadly at her ex-lover. "By now Buffy will know that I've been taken too." Suddenly Tara's voice trailed off and the blonde went even paler than she had been before.

"Buffy!" Willow squeaked slightly excited as she remembered the Slayer. "Buffy can fix all this. She'll come kick Rack's butt and it'll be fine. No magic and no tasting for anyone."

For a long moment Tara did not reply, she just crossed over to the nearest chair and sat down on it trying to still her racing mind.

"Willow." She said after a long moment. "I don't think this is what we think it is." She said slowly.

"This morning when I found out that you hadn't made it to your date with Heather and that you weren't at home either. That's when I came to the logical conclusion that you had been taken." The blonde explained.

"If the world doesn't end Heather is never going to speak to me again." Willow frowned. "But the most important thing is getting you out of her safe and without Rack doing anything to you."

"No, Will please listen." Tara shook her head. "Rack doing something to me or you so isn't the point here."

"The books." Tara explained. "Why else would Rack suddenly have picked you out and brought you here? I think Rack took the books Will, it's taken him this long down to narrow down you're magic signature from all the millions he must have tasted in his time but he managed to and then he pulled you in. He doesn't want you Willow, he wants you to release your seal on the book."

"But that wouldn't let him use them because…" Willow's brain stopped short of finishing the sentence as she realized what she was saying. "We have to get you out of here." She underlined again and Tara took a slightly shaky breath.

"He obviously doesn't know who I am as far as the seals go." Tara tried to keep calm. "So for now we have some time and bargaining space." She tried to think of something that even vaguely resembled a plan. "We just need to think of a way to give Buffy time to think of a way to help us."

"Giles, that is all great but it doesn't help me with the two biggest problems of my life right now." Buffy tried to keep the anger out of her voice as she momentarily held the phone away before leaning it back up. "Willow and Tara have both been kidnapped and some voodoo bastard has the books that can open the Hellmouth."

"I realize that things are most distressing for you Buffy." Giles attempted to keep his classic British calm as he spoke. "But like I suggested to you I think the best thing you can do is get Dawn and the others to safety and what till I get their. Olivia has just told me she has me booked on a flight that should get me to you early Monday morning."

"Monday morning? Giles I think you're missing something here." Buffy didn't hold the panic out of her voice. "Sunnydale could be a big fiery hole by Monday. I need help and answers now!"

"What else can I suggest Buffy? From everything you have told me: the unsuccessful tracking, the booby trapped black magic feedback loop on the books, the tracing of Tara's tracer spell, whoever has the book and is doing these things is a high level magic user. To deal with that you need a magic user. The only one among you who has any magic experience apart from Tara and Willow is Anya and this is way beyond her abilities. You need someone who knows both magical law and practicalities. I can't get to you any quicker. Are you sure you have no clues at all as to who you might be dealing with? There's been no magical power drains recently, no strange magical occurrences?" The Englishman tried to find a compromise.

"A magic user?" Buffy's mind stuck on the one phrase. "Does she have to be practicing?"

"Well obviously practicing would be better but not essential." The watcher went quiet. "Before you suggest her Buffy no this is not something Amy can do, from everything I have heard about that young lady, her presence in this would not be helpful."

"No, I have someone else. Very high black magic, she was even apprenticed into a dark coven." Buffy's mind started to formulate a plan.

"Yes… Willow trusts her and I don't think I have much of a choice." Buffy resolved herself.

"Be careful Buffy." Giles spoke tenderly. "I understand with both Willow and Tara in grave danger that things may not be easy to work through. Remember Buffy both Willow and Tara are brave resourceful young women."

"Thanks Giles." Buffy smiled softly at the heartfelt words. "I'll keep you updated but I think now I have to get Dawn somewhere safe and to go see an ex-witch for some answers."

"I can send you money if you need it." The watcher suggested. "She has a place here Buffy you know that don't you, her, Xander, Anya, all of you." He assured her.

"Right now I just want them out of the city, out of the country we can decide later if we have time." Buffy admitted.

"I'll be there as soon as I can Buffy." Giles vowed just before the line went dead.

"I think it's the best we can come up with in this short space of time Will." Tara looked at Willow with large blue eyes. "It'll be painful, but we can do it."

"We just have to promise that no matter what he does, we won't crack." Willow reached out and held Tara's hand tightly.

"Won't crack." Tara whispered but her voice was vaguely distant as she looked down at where Willow clutched her hand.

"I won't let you down, not this time." Willow vowed trying to catch the blue eyes before her.

"I know." Tara whispered slowly she closed her eyes and stepped a little closer to the redhead. "I promise I won't let you down either."

Buffy took a deep breath before banging on the looming door before her. She knew this was one place where she was particularly unwelcome but she had no choice. She needed expert help and the only expert she knew lived here.

There came various noises from behind the large door, the cover of the spy hold being pulled back and then the unlocking of the various door bolts before the barrier was pulled back several inches revealing that is was still in fact chained closed.

"Hi, I need your help." Buffy cut right to the point knowing that pleasantries would be lost in this situation. "Something has kidnapped Tara and Willow, and taken three really witchy books."

"This is so shit." Dawn flicked thick chocolate shake off the end of her straw onto the large glass and metal table in Xander's apartment.

"Dawnie, watch your lip there." Xander scowled at her as he went by with an armful of various canned goods and dumped them in a box.

"What like the world's about to end but I'm not allowed to say shit?" The teenager stared incredulously at Xander.

"No, you're not." Xander glared at her. "And the world's not going to end, it's just another close call."

"Buffy's only sent me away two times before Xander, her graduation and that whole Angel time. Oh and when we all ran from Glory." Dawn shivered. "The worlds gonna end." She stated again.

"A little optimism from the youngest Scooby please." Xander piled in more food. "Think of this as a vacation. You don't have to be in school and you don't even get shit about it."

"A vacation?" Dawn got up sharply. "Do you and Buffy think I'm stupid?" The direct anger in Dawn's voice was almost painful. "Willow and Tara are researching? They'll be following us in a day or two? Giles' coming all the way from England to help out because there is a 'bit of a problem'? Like hello? They're dead already aren't they?" She said suddenly.

"Dawn, I know it's scary but we really don't know that for sure." Xander underlined.

"I am so sick of this." The teenager strode to the door and grabbed the handle hard and pulled only to find it locked.

"Dawn, you have to stay with us." Xander followed close behind her. "I know it sucks but there is really no choice here okay? We're going to Tito's Aunts place in the desert first and from there we can get word on how things are going. Buffy only wants us to leave so that we are safe."

"I want us all to be safe. Where's Tara?" A sob broke from the young woman's throat as she slide down the door to land in a small heap on the floor. "Where's Willow?"

"Anya." Xander moved over and tried to comfort the teenager. "Help." He mouthed the world to the ex-demon.

At this point Safe In Her Arms diverges into two different endings. Choose which one...

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Safe In Her Arms

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