“Oh god, Tara!” Willow said as the wound seeped and dripped a dozen spots of blood over the floor. Striding towards the women, Tara reached up, causing Kennedy to flinch, and retrieved the first aid box on top of the fridge and turn towards the stairs. “I’m going to clean this up!” she said, her voice deep with menace and power.

Willow stared after her lover for a few seconds before turning back to Kennedy. “It’s good to have you home.” she said genuinely, “I’m gonna make sure she’s ok!” And with that, she turned and raced after Tara, leaving the potential staring dumbly after her.

“Knock knock, can I come in?” Willow called, leaning her head against the bathroom door and awaiting a reply. “Tara?” she asked loudly when she received no response.

Jiggling the handle, Willow sighed heavily when she found the door to be locked. “Tara!” She yelled, her tone dominant and demanding. “Talk to me!” Silence reigned the hallway and Willow gritted her teeth until her jaw ached. “Patefacio!” she whispered under her breath and smiled when the lock clicked and the door swung slowly open.

She stepped inside before looking and as she closed the door, she saw Tara sat with her back to the sink, her eyes focused on the open wound in her arm although she made no effort to clean or dress the injury.

Willow dropped to her knees next to the blonde and brushed her hair from her face. “Baby?” She asked softly, her fingers gently guiding Tara’s eyes up to meet her own. “What’s going on?” Despite the gentle texture of her voice, Tara knew she wouldn’t be fobbed off with a lame excuse.

“I don’t know.” she answered honestly, pulling away from the intense gaze of the redhead to regard her bleeding arm once again.

Willow frowned slightly as she got to her feet. Buffy had stocked the cupboards in each bathroom with various medical supplies for flushing and dressing wounds and had even gone as far as acquiring a suture kit for each first aid box.

Filling a small water bottle with warm water, she offered her hand to Tara who still hadn’t made any effort to move. “Come on, let me help you.” she whispered as she helped the blonde to her feet and gestured for her to sit on the edge of the bathtub.