The Path To Redemption
Chapter 1
Author: twin who likes to travel
Rating: PG-13
Summary: This is a prequel to Our Love. So obviously, this doesn't go along with what happened in the eighth season comic books, just like the rest of the stories in this saga. It begins at the end of the series finale "Chosen".
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Reviews: I would like them. Constructive criticism is ok.
Author's notes: I have no idea of how long this story might be. I also want it to be as good or almost as good as people think Our Love is. Because of that, the updates might not come as quickly as they did for my most recent stories. The words in italics are a telepathic conversation between Buffy and Willow. The date at the beginning is when "Chosen" first aired, according to a few websites.
Tuesday; May 20th, 2003; near the crater formerly known as Sunnydale
"Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business," Faith said as she walked over to join the rest of the team focusing on the crater formerly known as Sunnydale.
"There's another one in Cleveland," Giles interrupted before taking a moment to glimpse at the young crowd beside him, "To spoil the moment."
"We saved the world," Xander exclaimed as he tried to take in what they had just escaped.
"We changed the world," Willow announced as she strolled over to her best friend and placed a hand on her shoulder, making the blonde look over at her as she continued, "I can feel them, Buffy, all over. Slayers are awakening everywhere."
"We'll have to find them," Dawn stated as she peered down at the ground.
"We will," Willow assured her.
"Yes, because the mall was actually in Sunnydale, so there's no hope of going there tomorrow," Giles informed them as he moved to stand closer to the blonde and the redhead.
"We destroyed the mall? I fought on the wrong side," Dawn joked.
"All those shops, gone: The Gap, Starbucks, Toys 'R' Us. Who will remember all those landmarks unless we tell the world of them?" Xander babbled to stay a part of the conversation.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Giles reminded them.
"Can I push him in?" Faith asked the redhead, who had almost groaned at the words from her mentor.
"You've got my vote," Willow teased.
"I just want to sleep, yo. For like a week," Faith explained while playfully punching him in the chest.
"I guess we all could if we wanted to," Dawn claimed with some confidence.
"Yeah, The First is scrunched so…What do you think we should do, Buffy?" Willow asked as she began to smile at what they had done.
"Yeah, you're not the one and only chosen anymore. Just got to live like a person. How's that feel?" Faith questioned as she stood behind Buffy.
"Yeah, Buffy, what are we going to do now?" Dawn muttered softly as she cast her eyes at her sister.
"HEY, NOT TO SPOIL THE MOMENT, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BUS NEED TO GO TO A HOSPITAL!" Kennedy yelled from the side of the bus.
The group turned around to stare at her, saw the worry on her face, and hurriedly got back onto the bus. They each instantly chose a place to sit down as Giles got behind the wheel. As Faith got back on, she saw that Vi was still by Robin's side.
"How's he doin'?"
"I'm not a doctor, but he seems to be holding up ok, despite the injury. But it wouldn't be a bad idea to go as fast as we can," Vi declared firmly.
"You heard Vi; floor it, Giles," Faith ordered before facing the redhead again, "Do you think you could watch over him until we get to the nearest hospital? I kinda need some time to myself to think, yo."
"Ok," Vi agreed with a small smile that was shared with Faith and Robin.
The entire Scooby gang and Kennedy observed silently as Faith shuffled all the way to the back and sat down in the last row behind the driver's seat. They shared an expression of concern as they heard the brunette let out a sigh while idly staring out the back window before switching to the side window. Buffy and Willow then had a telepathic conversation, something that Willow hadn't tried in a long time.
Buffy, you should talk to her.
Why me? She won't want to listen to the anything that I would have to say. I bet she thinks I'm already planning on personally taking her back to prison. I'm not sure she'd listen to anyone other than Robin.
Is that what you want to do? I mean personally take her back to prison.
I don't know, Will. I mean yeah, it's a possibility; but she said she's trying to redeem herself. How's she supposed to do that by just hanging around in prison? I mean what if she would be willing to help train the hundreds, possibly thousands that are awakening or even continue slaying?
So then you're saying you don't want to take her back to prison?
I don't know. Maybe she could be a big help to us if we let her try. But if we did that, we'd need to do some work coming up with a new identity for her or altering her prison records. Would you be willing to do that?
Maybe if she was honestly wiling to help. I guess we'll know once you ask her
Alright, here goes nothing.
The Scoobies eyes were all on Buffy as she made a slow trek to where Faith was sitting at the back of the bus. Faith heard her coming and caught her out of the corner of her right eye.
"Faith…," Buffy tried to say but was stopped by Faith.
"Not now, B. I need some time to think about things."
"I just wanted to…"
"To say what? Not to get too comfortable because as soon as you can, you're going to drop me off at the nearest prison? Can it at least wait until after the stop at a hospital?" Faith almost snapped before turning her head to take in the scenery as the bus continued to head to the nearest hospital.
She didn't notice the appearance of hurt on Buffy's face as the blonde made her way back to where she had been sitting with Dawn, but her friends and Kennedy had. Willow then gave her an expression of regret at encouraging Buffy to try and talk to the other slayer.
I told you so, Will.
Sorry, Buffy. We should try again after the hospital.
Ok, but somebody else should try talking to her next time.
Buffy let out a sigh as she sat beside Dawn, who smiled at her before laying her head on the blonde's right shoulder.
Sometime later, a hospital somewhere between the crater formerly known as Sunnydale and Los Angeles, CA
When the gang spotted a hospital, Giles quickly pulled into the parking lot near the emergency entrance. The bus came to a jolting stop, which shook Faith out of the daze she had been in.
"What the hell, Giles?" Faith growled as she got out of her seat and began to march to the front of the bus.
"Calm down, Faith, we've found a hospital," Giles insisted before the others had a chance to open their mouths.
"Sorry," Faith told him as she quickly reached Robin, picked him up, and almost raced into the hospital.
The rest of the group almost gasped at hearing the formerly rogue slayer apologizing to their mentor. Then they shared a gawk at what could be an important moment in deciding what to do nest. They followed the slayer off the bus while assisting the other injured slayers. The group got in just enough time to hear Faith shouting for someone to help her with Robin.
"SOMEBODY HELP US!"
"What happened here?" A doctor inquired anxiously while he was joined by a few a few nurses along with a gurney.
"We got in a fight with some people, and he was stabbed."
"Get him into the ER and check his vitals," the doctor commanded and stood in front of the brunette as she tried to follow after Robin was whisked away, "Sorry Miss, but you can't be in the room. You and the rest of your friends will have to wait in the waiting room. Well except for those who look like they need to be checked out as well."
"But…," Faith argued as she was interrupted by the same guy.
"No buts. We'll take good care of him," he affirmed as he moved in the direction they took Robin.
"You better," Faith demanded as a nurse suggested to the other injured to go with her.
The Scoobies, Giles, and Kennedy sat down in the nearest chairs while Faith started to pace around them.
"Faith, maybe you should sit down for a little bit," Kennedy advised softly.
"Maybe you should mind your own damn business, Kennedy," Faith warned before spinning around to exit the hospital.
"Where are you going?" Willow quizzed nervously.
"I…I need a cigarette," Faith revealed as she reached for the pack, in her denim jacket, remembered where she was, and went outside.
The gang watched her leave, until the redhead requested, "Kennedy, go with her so she doesn't…"
"Take off?" Kennedy guessed and was met with a nod.
Kennedy got out of her seat and trailed after Faith.
Less than a minute later, the sidewalk outside of the hospital
"So Red sent you out to make sure I don't run since Buffy couldn't do it?"
"Kind of. Do you wanna talk?" Kennedy mumbled as she sat down beside Faith, who let out a puff of smoke.
"Not really, yo. I just wanna smoke this thing in peace. So if you're goin' to stay, then be quiet," Faith requested and added when she noticed the other girl eyeing her, "WHAT?"
"Got another?" Kennedy replied with a small smirk.
"Sure. You better not let Red catch ya. She's bound to turn you into a frog or somethin'."
"Not likely. She's kind of scared of them."
They shared a chuckle at the thought of someone so powerful being scared of such a thing. Then the duo sat in silence as they continued to smoke away. They weren't really paying attention to the time as it passed by or the door to their right. So Kennedy jumped at the noise that came from behind them.
"KENNEDY, PUT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW!" Willow hollered, making her girlfriend drop the almost gone cigarette.
"I warned ya," Faith chuckled as they both turned around to discover the witch glaring down at her girlfriend, who put it out with the tip of her shoe.
"You didn't need to send your woman out to babysit me. I just needed to calm down with a cigarette," Faith confirmed and kept going as she faced Buffy, who had joined Willow, "I aint gonna run, B. I promise. I just wanted a break. Besides, I know you're just itchin' to drop me off at the nearest prison or police station."
"I wouldn't say that," Buffy asserted as she stepped closer to the aggravated brunette.
"Whateva," Faith scoffed, "I'm sure you thought about it. The better than thou Buffy Summers gets to take her enemy back to where she thinks I belong."
"I just came out to tell you that the doctor came back out to let us know how everyone is doing. Oh, and I'm fine. Thanks for asking," Buffy chuckled to ease the tension between them and stopped when all she received was a sneer.
Before the other three could say another word, Faith jumped up, stomped out her cigarette, and almost ran back inside. This left the other three to gawk at her.
About thirty seconds later
"So what's up, doc? Is he goin' to be ok?" Faith responded before she glared at the smiles from the doctor, the rest of her group, and a giggle from Dawn.
"Your friend is going to be ok. If he had gotten here any later, it might be a different story. The rest of your friends are doing well too."
"How soon can he get out of here?"
"I would like to keep him overnight, just to be on the safe side."
"Can I see him now?"
"I guess so. But he's unconscious right now."
"Just lead the way."
"Come with me then."
"Faith," Buffy began but was cut off by the other girl.
"What now, B?"
"I was going to call Angel. Maybe see if we could crash at their place until we decided what we're going to do next."
"Good idea," Faith agreed, "Let me know what he says."
They all gaped in shock as Faith disappeared down the hall. First, the girl who had tried to kill them in the past apologized; now she was agreeing with Buffy. This was concluded with a smile as it seemed things were looking up for them for now. The blonde excused herself to contact Angel and his crew.
Around five minutes later, Robin's room
Buffy and everyone else on their team entered the room to see Faith sitting by his bed and holding his right hand with her hands.
"So how's he doing?" Buffy began as she and the others gathered around his bed.
"He's still out, but everything else seems aight. I want to stay here until they decide to let him out. Did you get a hold of Angel?"
"No, I decided we would surprise them. So what are you two going to do after he gets out?"
"I don't know, honestly. I was thinking maybe that we'd meet up with you at Angel's tomorrow. By then you, your friends, and Giles can figure what ya wanna do. I was also thinking that maybe I, Robin, and a few other slayers could watch over the hell mouth in Cleveland," Faith described before pausing briefly at their smiles, "I might need Red to come up with a fake identity or somethin'"
"I think I could do that," Willow told her.
"Cool, yo."
"Ok, well, I guess we'll be leaving now if you're sure you want to stay," Buffy hesitated just long enough to see the brunette nod toward her, "Give us a call, and maybe one of us can come and pick you two up."
"Sounds great, B. I guess we'll see ya tomorrow then. Tell Angel I'll talk to him then."
"Alright," Buffy sighed softly as she turned away from the dark haired girl keeping a vigil over Robin.
Once again, Faith didn't notice the disappointment coming from the blonde. However, none of them saw Faith checking out both Summers girls as they filed out of the room. The urges coursing through her caused her to ogle the girls from head to toe. The remaining seconds before the gang disappeared were spent with her eyes concentrating on the butts in the apparently tight fitting jeans worn by both of them. She shook the thoughts of what they were wearing under them and what it would be like to jump into to bed with either of them from her mind. She wasn't sure how to handle the fact that more of them had been about Dawn and not her sister slayer. She wasn't wrong when she commented that the former little brat was all woman sized now.