Tara goes for help outside the Scooby Gang.

Tara realized there was nothing she could do for Dawn, at least on her own. Willow’s spell had affected the girl too deeply. She couldn’t handle this on her own – much as it galled her to leave anyone enslaved, she had to make a run for it, find help. She shoved Dawn aside and yanked open the door, slamming it behind her and fusing the lock to slow pursuit. She needed to find Giles, and soon…

But wait. If Willow had enslaved Dawn she might have gotten to any one of their friends. Maybe all of them. Tara could be running right into an ambush. LA, maybe? Willow wasn’t likely to have gotten to Angel and his friends there yet. But she could – if Tara disappeared from Sunnydale it would be the first place Willow and her slaves (Tara shuddered at the word) would look. She needed outside help, someone Willow didn’t know about. Of course! The answer was obvious. Instead of heading downstairs she went up a floor and knocked on Todd Garcia’s door.

"Hey, Todd,” she said when he answered, “I hear you’re visiting your boyfriend in Berkley this weekend.” When Todd nodded Tara smiled brightly. “Great! I’ll tag along, split the gas with you. I’ve got some friends in San Fransisco I really want to see.”

"Sure," Todd agreed. “I’m leaving first thing in the morning. Meet me at 6:00.”

“Why wait? You won’t have much time to see him if you spend most of the day driving. Let’s leave now.”

“But I’m not packed yet--”

“Be spontaneous!” Tara said. “He’ll love that. Let’s go!” Dragging Tom behind her, she headed downstairs, out the door, to student parking, and, hopefully, to freedom. If anyone could save her, save them all, from Willow, it was the Halliwell sisters. “Goddess, let the Charmed Ones live up to their reputation,” Tara silently prayed as she and Todd headed north to the City by the Bay.