Return to Looks Like Rain Chapter Seven



Looks Like Rain
CHAPTER EIGHT

Author: Rosemary
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimers: They are Joss Whedon's.
Feedback: Por Favor. a.nunn@att.net or on the Search and Rescue thread on the Kitten Board


Willow was still hanging on to the locket when the doctor returned.

"Willow, I have some information that we need to go over about the surgery for tommarow. Are you up to this or should I come back?"

"No, this is fine. Have you seen my mom out there?"

"No, she isn't, which to be honest suprises me," he said, chucklling.

"Yes, I know. I'm sorry for that. I think I'll always be like eight years old to her."

"The other girl is there. Do you want to talk with her?"

"No, no I don't actually. But maybe you could ask her if she knows where my mom is for me?"

"Of course. I'll be right back."


Susan was sitting in the lobby with her legs crossed, compact mirror open, and staring at the lip that was now about two sizes bigger then before.

"Hi, umm, Willow was wanting me to ask you if you knew where her mom went."

"To her girlfriend Tara's house. I hope she dosn't end up like me. That woman is a psycho," Susan answered.

"Okay thanks," he said as he turned and walked toward Willow's room.

"Wait. Did she ask to see me or...?"

"No, she made it clear she didn't want to see you actually."

"Are you going to tell her where her mom went, because that's going to set her off. I think I should come with you."

"No, I don't think you should. Mainly because she said she didn't want to see you."

"Look, I know Willow. You don't. She will want me there after this. I know she will so I'll just walk over there with you anyway."

Susan got up and walked toward Willow's room. The doctor just looked at her and shook his head.


The doctor went back in the room.

"Willow, the girl outside said your mom went to your girlfriend's home."

"She what?? Oh please tell me you're kidding? Is Susan out there?"

"Yes. Do you want to see her?"

"Yes please."

The doctor left to get Susan and Willow tried to reach for the phone but it was impossible.


The doctor called Susan over and she went into Willow's room.

"Hey, Willow? What do you need?"

"Do you have a phone?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Cause I have to get to my mom before she gets to Tara's. I don't want her to go there."

"Sure, here."

She handed Willow the phone and smiled to herself. This was just too easy..


Sheila was almost to Tara's place. She knew something was wrong and she would find out what it was if it was the last thing she would do. Susan wasn't to be trusted.

She remembered how hurt Willow had been when she found out about Susan and her boyfriend. Susan had wanted the house, but Willow had paid for it by herself. Susan never contributed a dime. Ira had been alive then and he had represented Willow in the case and Susan got nothing. Just the clothes on her back which, to be honest, should have been Willow's as well. The amounts of the credit card bills that Susan had run up was in excees of twenty-two thousand dollars and Willow had no idea Susan had even opened the accounts in her name. The worst was the bills from the men's clothing stores and the jewllers which turned out to be wedding bands for her and the boyfriend. It was a terrible time for Willow and she would be damned if this woman would interfere in Willow's life again.

She decided to try Tara again but still got no annswer. This time though, she did leave a message.

"Hi Tara honey, this is Shelia and I'm coming to your place now. We really need to talk about some things and I hope we can straighten this whole mess out. Okay Sweetie I should be there soon." She hung up the phone and put it back in her purse.

She noticed that the car behind her seemed to be speeding up and slowing down every few minutes and she was begining to feel uncomfortable with the way the person was driving. She signaled that she was going to pull over, but the driver seemed not to slow down. She was becoming even more uncomfortable and decided she would pull over now and hope that the car would slow a bit so that she could do so safely.

As she began to pull over the car behind her sped up, slamming into the back of her and sending her car into a spin. She tried to regain control but it was immpossible. She was spining now and she was on the opposite side of the road, facing the oncoming traffic. The last thing she remembered was her phone ringing as she was hit head-on by the eighteen wheeler, and her car burst into flames.


They had been riding for a good twenty minutes when Tara stopped and turned around. "We can't go much farther now. I have to be back at the house for when Willow's friends come to get the rest of her things. He said he would be here by five thirty and it's almost five now."

"Okay. Do you want me to stay here with you or should I just go home?"

"I think it would be nice if you would stay, but I don't want people to think anything. S-s-s-usan is going out of her way to make this look bad so I guess I should do this myself. Thanks though."

"No problem. Hey, when will you be back to work?" he asked as they turned and began to go back to Tara's house.

"I, I think I'll be in tommarow. I need to get back into this 'cause I don't think I can stay here much longer. I am actually thinking of going back to Kentucky and getting back into work with my dad and brother. I think it might be a good idea."

"Tara, why are you even thinking that way? How did this turn out like this? What happened?"

"It's just a mess. It's a mess and I just want to do what's best for Willow and I think this is what the best is."

"I hope you dont do that Tara. Jack and I will miss you if you do."

Tara just smiled and continued on her way back to the ranch.


"Come on, come on answer the phone mom," Willow said to herself.

"She is probably there already Willow. I think you should just leave it alone. Just let her do what she thinks she has to do," Susan said trying to sound conserned.

"Susan, why are you talking to me this way? I really do appriciate your help this afternoon, but I really don't need any advice from you. So here. Take your phone and just leave. Please."

Susan snached the phone from Willow's hands and walked out the door.


Leo had arrived at Tara's place and he saw her coming up toward the house with Roger.

"Hey Leo, how ya' doing?" Roger asked as he put his hand out.

"Good Roger, thanks. What are you doing here anyway?" Leo asked

"Tara and I are friends. I think she needs a friend right now. Look, I know Willow is the one who is really suffering here, but it's not easy for Tara either."

"Really? Well then why don't you tell me why she dropped-" He never finished as his radio went off.

"Leo, this Todd. You better get down here man. We got us a bad mess of a wreck up here."

"Alright, Todd. Where are you?"

"On the Old road just past Playson. Single vehicle, eighteen wheeler head on. Car went up like a torch. The Fire teams still trying to put it out. Leo, there's something else. The driver? It's Shelia Rosenberg."

"Oh God, you're kidding me?" Leo said.

"No, we ran the plates. It's her for sure. They haven't gotten inside the car yet but I can tell you she's gone. There is no way she can't be. I'm sorry... I don't know what to do now. How do we tell this to Willow?"


Leo walked up to Tara and told her what was happening.

"Tara. There's been a accident down on Playson and Old 240. I need to get down there for now, so I'll be back either later on today or tomorrow. It's a mess apparently and I think it will be a while to clean it up."

"Okay sure that's fine Leo. If I'm not here, here," she said reaching into her pocket and pulling out a key. "Just let yourself in."

She turned to walk away and Leo called to her: "Tara. It's Shelia Rosenberg. The woman in the wreck."

"What? What did you say?" Tara said spinning around to face him.

"The driver of the vehicle was Shelia Rosenberg."

"Was? Did you say was? Oh God. No, please dont tell me that. Please," Tara was crying now.

"I'm sorry Tara. I am really," Leo said sincerrly.

She turned and made her way into the house. She looked up and saw the answering machine blinking and went to check the message. The sound of Shelia's voice stung Tara's ears as she relized that Shelia was on her way to see her.

"Oh no. No, not again. This is my fault again," Tara said as she once again was overcome with guilt.

She noticed the number on her caller ID then. Susan Deems' cell phone.

She turned away, closed her eyes and headed upstairs to her room.

She picked up her phone and dialed the number to the hospital.

"County Hospital, how may I direct your call."

"Hello..."

"Is anyone there?"

Tara hung up the phone laid on the bed, grabbed a pillow and held it tight as she began to cry again.


The scene was horrific. The car was completely burned out and the body of Shelia Rosenberg was barely recognizable.

Leo was called over and he confirmed what they already knew. This was indeed Shelia Rosenberg. Willow's wonderful and loving mother, who was now being pronounced at the scene of the accident. Leo turned and walked away without looking anywhere but ahead.

He got to his squad car and he felt his stomach turn and he couldn't control the gagging as he lost the contents of his stomach.

The coroner pulled her out from the car, took his pictures and placed her in a body bag that was then lifted and placed in the back of the van.

Someone had to tell Willow, Leo thought. Not him. Not this time. He couldn't do it. He picked up the radio and dialled in to the station.

"Hey Eddie, it's Leo. Someone needs to tell Willow. I just IDed her mom and she... she's gone."


Continue to Looks Like Rain Chapter Nine


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