Title: Pretended Love

Author: Malana

Disclaimer:  I, of course, own nothing.  BtVS belongs to Joss, ME, ect. I'm not sure who owns The Pretender, but it sure

isn't me. *sigh*

Distribution: Just tell me if you want to take it.

Feedback: Feedback is always appreciated.

Spoilers: None really.  Now and forever: No Spuffy!

Summary: The Centre wants Willow.  Will Jarod be able to save her?

Rating: PG-13

 

 

    "What do you mean he's dead?"  Lyle stared at his sister is shock.

 

    "I killed him.  Oh god, I killed him,"  Willow muttered, rocking back and forth.

 

    "Shit."  Miss Parker swore and stood up.  She looked down at Jarod's body. "We have to do something."

 

    "Call the Centre."  Lyle suggested.

 

    "No."

 

    Lyle and Miss Parker looked at Willow, surprised.

 

    "Call Buffy.  Giles, Spike, they'll know what to do."

 

    Miss Parker exchanged a glance with her brother and nodded.  Lyle took out his cell phone and dialed the Summers' residence.

 

 

-1 half-hour later-

 

    Lyle paced paced the living room of the Summers' home.  Miss Parker sat in a chair, glaring at him. 

 

    Giles came down the stairs and entered the room.

 

    "I gave her sedative.  She'll be out for a few hours."

 

    Lyle nodded distractedly and kept pacing.

 

    "Spike is t-taking care of the b-body,"  Giles stuttered a little.  "It will be hard on her, but at least this way she won't have to deal with the police."

 

    "And you're okay with covering this up?" Miss Parker asked.

 

    "W-well.  It was an-an accident.  And she was doing it to s-save Robert's life.  R-robert told us about Jarod.  I know he was a murder.  To get the police involved, especially since it was a-a magical d-death...I just don't think it's a good idea."  Giles removed his glasses and wiped them on his shirt.  "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get a cup of tea.  It looks to be a long night."

 

    Miss Parker watched as Giles left.  As soon as he was out of earshot, she turned to his brother.

 

    "What the hell are we going to do?" she hissed.

 

    Mr. Lyle stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair.  "Well, we have to contact the Centre.  The Triumvirate will want to know."

 

    "You mean you have to contact the Centre.  It was your girlfriend who killed him. I'm sure was hell not taking the fall on this one."

 

    "I can deal with this," Lyle said confidently.  "As soon as I can reasonably get out of here, I'll call Father."

 

    "Congratulations, Brother. You succeeded in making an innocent girl into a murderer."

 

    "Oh, don't go for the moral high ground with me, Parker.  I'm just doing my job. This has made things more difficult, but things are still doable."

 

    Miss Parker rolled her eyes. "You've got to learn when to call it quits.  Willow just killed someone. I doubt she'll be ready to go do some spells for the Centre anytime soon."

 

    Lyle waved a hand dismissively.  "I'm going to handle it. I'm not out of the game yet."

 

-2 hour later-

 

    "So, what are we going to do now?" Broots asked.

 

    Miss Parker had finally managed to get out of the Summers' house, and back to her hotel.  She had given the news of Jarod's death to Sydney and Broots.  Sydney hadn't taken it too well. Miss Parker hadn't expected him to.  He had listened to her story with a blank face, than excused himself, saying he needed some air.  Miss Parker didn't really know how she felt about Jarod's death.  She felt...something...but she wasn't sure what it was.

 

    "I'm not sure," Miss Parker admitted. "It changes my plans. I still want her to know the truth about what's going on.  But at the same time, she just killed someone.  And if she finds out that Jarod wasn't a bad guy after all..."  she trailed off.  Sitting down, she rubbed her temples.  It was going to be a long couple of days.

 

-The same time: The Summers' Residence-

 

    Giles entered Willow's room, closing the door behind him.  He looked down at the bed, where the young witch lay still.  She looked so peaceful that he almost hated to disturb her.

 

    "Willow," he said softly. "Robert just left, he said he had to go see his sister."

 

    Willow's eyes opened, and she sat up. "Oh, thank god. I was getting really sick of just lying there."

 

    Giles smiled softly, "Well, it looks as if the first few steps of the plan have actually worked.  Let's hope the rest of it is as successful."

 

    Willow got out of the bed and stretched. "It's going to be fine, Giles. Jarod and I worked everything out.  Don't worry."

 

    "I do worry," Giles put a hand on Willow's shoulder. "From what Jarod's told us, these are dangerous people we're messing with. Things could go badly."

 

    "Have you heard from Jarod yet?"

 

    "Spike called.  Jarod's in his crypt. The spell wore off, so he's up and about now. Spike's headed over to the hotel room.  So, it looks as if everything shall be in place for tomorrow.  I just hope that we all get through this mess."

 

 

 

-The next day-

 

    Willow stood outside of Robert's hotel room door.  She drew a deep breath to steady her nerves.  Just a little more time and all of this would be over.  She prayed that it would work. 

 

    She muttered a few words and her eyes turned black. 

 

    Lyle was sitting on his bed when the door to his room burst open.  He turned in surprise.

 

    "Willow?"  Lyle shot to his feet. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"  He walked over to her and reached out a hand.

 

    "Don't touch me!" Willow jerked back. 

 

    Her voice sounded strange and Lyle noticed that her eyes was black.

 

    "What's going on?" Lyle was concerned.  Something could be seriously wrong. He didn't want his plans to be further jeopardized.

 

    "He was telling the truth."  Willow said flatly, "I killed an innocent man.  Jarod was telling the truth.  You son-of-a-bitch."

 

    Lyle's eyes widened. "W-what are you talking about?"

 

    Willow reached into her pocket and held up a small disc. "Spike found this in Jarod's motel room.  It's surveillance footage from the Centre.  Everything Jarod said was true, you bastard."  Willow spit out the last part.

 

    Lyle backed away, "All right. We can settle this peacefully."  He fumbled in his jacket for his gun.

 

    Willow waved her hand and the gun flew across the room. "You came here.  You made me fall in love with you. I trusted you.  We all did. Everything you told me was a lie.  An innocent man's blood is on my hands, and your to blame. I should kill you right now."

 

    "You don't want to do that, Willow. You're not a murderer."

 

    Willow let out a harsh laugh. "I am, actually. And all because of you."  A frightening smile crossed her face. "But I'm not going to stoop to killing you. I refuse to be like you. You have until tonight to get out of town.  You or anyone in the Centre comes after me again and I *will* get angry."  Energy crackled at Willow's fingertips. 

 

    "Come on, Willow. I can explain everything. It's not what you think."  Lyle tried desperately for one last lie. "I love you, don't do this."

 

    Willow just stared at him. "Bored now."

 

    With that she lifted up her hand and hit Mr. Lyle with a bolt of energy that threw him across the room.

 

    "Remember, be out of town before nightfall." With that, she turned and stalked out of the room.

 

    Lyle groaned and pulled himself up.  He grabbed his phone and punched in a number.

 

    "Parker," he said when his sister answered the phone. "It's time we got the hell out of Dodge."

    

 

 

TBC