Higher Planes

Part 8

“So . . . you’re a bounty hunter?” Willow asked conversationally, trying to break the awkward silence between her and Vin as they waited for her father. “How’s that working for you? I mean, I didn’t think a lot of dangerous demons would come to Denver, because - Hello! - Sanctuary!”

A slight quirk of an eyebrow and minuscule pull in the corner of his mouth were the only signs of Vin’s amusement as he gained his first real impression of his best friend’s daughter.

Willow, however, saw none of this and took his silence as condemnation of some sort.

“Am-am I not suppose to mention that it’s a Sanctuary?” Willow asked him beseechingly, green eyes wide. “Is it some sort of big, fat, supernatural ‘no-no’?”

Vin opened his mouth to answer her, a questioning furrow to his brow, but was cut off before a single word could be formed.

“Because if it is, I’m really sorry. I don’t know much about the whole ‘demons are our friends’ thing because most of the demons I see, we kill - or rather, Buffy kills and the rest of us cheer on from the side.”

Vin’s eyes widened slightly at this, which Willow took notice of.

“Not for being demons!” she hastily added. “Because they try to take over the planet or open the Hellmouth or try to sacrifice people to some evil that’s evil-er than they are. Though I guess this time, I was the ‘big bad’ that was trying to end the world.”

Hey eyes began to fill up as she continued on.

“I didn’t mean to - really. I just felt so much pain and sadness from everybody on the planet, that I just wanted it to stop for them, and then maybe I would be able to stop feeling like I was empty inside without her.”

And the tears began to fall as a horrified Texas bounty hunter found himself way out of his depth.

Vin had no idea how to deal with the sobbing red head, panic settling quickly in his chest as he frantically prayed for Chris to hurry up.

The babbling had him stunned, but the sobbing had him terrified.

The goddess was apparently listening to desperate pleas that morning, because Chris was suddenly there.

Taking in the situation immediately, Chris would have laughed at his friend’s petrified expression, but instead decided to send him to the cockpit to tell Edwards to take off.

Barely noticing Tanner’s hasty departure, Chris settled himself next to the red head, where she’d crumpled when the crying had started again. Wrapping her in his arms, Chris gave her the comfort they’d both been desperate for.

They remained wrapped in each other until the plane levelled off some time after takeoff - Vin having the sense to stay up front with the pilot.

Chris gently moved his now silent bundle to one of the short couches, holding tightly all the while.

“I missed you.” he whispered into her hair, tightening his told on her slightly.

“I missed you, too, Dad.” Willow replied, a small smile in her voice. She’d missed his all-black wardrobe, his mock-glares when he tried to be annoyed with her, his irritation when she named his animals, but mostly she’d missed the safety and comfort and feeling of belonging and love she felt in his arms.

Her father gave the best hugs.

“What happened to your shields?” he asked her after a moment. The question had been rattling around his brain ever since the plane had landed in Sunnydale. The second he’d stepped off the plane, he’d felt her untethered magic. The shields he’d taught her to build years ago had been completely shattered.

“When I absorbed the magic books at the Magic Box, they just sort of went ‘pop’.” she explained hesitantly, unsure of what he would say. “I’ve tried to get them back up, but I can’t . . . I can’t remember how.” Willow finished whisper-soft, with a tremble in her voice.

“Are-are you mad at me?” she asked after a moment, lifting hesitant eyes to her father’s.

“No.” he sighed. “I’m angry at myself. I should have spent more time training you in the basics, instead of leaving it to a stranger who had no idea of your potential.”

“Why did you?”

“We had so little time together, especially once your powers started to emerge, that I wanted to spend time with you. I wanted to be your father first, and your teacher second.”

A beautiful smile was his reply.

“When we get to the Ranch, I’ll give you a crash course in shielding - you’re a quick study, so it shouldn’t take long.”

Another smile at the pride she heard in his voice.

“Until then, just open our connection and I’ll shield you until then.”

Doing as she was told, Willow felt him erect barriers around her powers, containing the powerful magic from random escapes.

And for the first time in days, Willow fell into a dreamless sleep, safe in the arms of her father.

End

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