Faith just got done dusting a vamp. She turned around and Angel was gone. Covered in dust and sweat, Faith decided it best to walk home.
"That's not like my Faith. You never were one to quit on the job."
"Go away." Faith didn't need to look, she knew that voice anywhere.
"Come on firecracker, there's no need to be disrespectful." The first said, taking the form of the Mayor.
"Whatever."
Faith kept walking, ignoring the First. Her mind was set on figuring out where Willow was.
"Faithy, what's the matter? Don't' you want to make me happy...there's a great reward in it for you."
"No, thanks. I have all I need." Faith was starting to lose her cool. "Just go. You're not gonna get anything from me. Not this time. Not anymore."
"But firecracker...you wouldn't want to let me down now, would you?"
"What do you want?"
"That's more like it." The First/ The mayor smiled. "Tell me something about your little Witch."
"She's not a little witch. She's a powerful Wicca and if you hurt her-"
"You'll what? Kill me? You can't kill what you can't touch Faith. But you know that already... don't ya Faithy?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you do. You can't lie to be about those scars on your arms and legs. I know how they got there. In fact, I helped you put them there." The first then morphed into Alan Finch. The first man Faith ever killed. He circled her as he spoke. "You see, I'm the reason you're in so much pain. The reason you had to drag that pretty little knife across your pale skin at an attempt to let out all that remorse"
"Fuck you." Faith growled. "What do you want with her? Where is she?"
"Still concerned with the red-headed bitch. Don't worry, I'll take care of her. Just like you took care of me." The first morphed into a giant demon, one similar to the Mayor's true form, and with a bright flash, disappeared.
-------------
cut to:
Buffy is fast asleep on Spike's cot. Spike is sitting on the end on the cot by Buffy's feet. He's watching her sleep.
"What's wrong with you, Slayer." Spike whispered to himself.
Spike sat on the edge of the bed, and lit a cigarette.
"Ugh! Why do you smoke those things? You can't breathe and they just make you smell bad." The smoke causing Buffy to wake up.
"Fine. I'll go outside. Let you get your beauty rest."
"What-- no come-back?"
Spike stood and flicked his cigarette into a metal bucket that was at the foot of the bed. "Not this time. Sorry to disappoint you, Slayer." Spike started to walk toward the stairs.
"Spike, wait."
"Why? So you can yell s'more? No thanks."
"No. I- I wanna talk."
"Talk all ya want. But I'm not gonna listen." Spike walked up the stairs and made a quick escape to the porch.
He sat down on the front steps and leaned his back against the wooden post. He pulled his cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and placed one of the butts to his lips.
"Can I bum one?" Faith asked, tired as hell, as she trudged up the Summers' walkway.
"Sure." Spike handed her the cigarette he just lit. "Couldn't find her?"
Faith shook her head no.
"I do know that she didn't run away on her own. Someone took her."
"What?"
"I had a little encounter with the first."
"You ok?"
"I'm fine. I just- Red's out there and she's probably scared..."
"You're scared too."
"I know." Faith bowed her head.
The camera zooms in close to Faith's face and we see a single tear fall down her cheek. The camera takes a new angle and shows us the top of Faith's dark hair. We see a bloodied hand come up and pull aside some of the hair. The camera pans out and we see Willow, sitting on the fool in her jail cell. One hand is on the top of her head, which is bent down and resting on top of her other wrist. Her arms are still chained together. So are her ankles. The metal from the handcuffs is cold against her bruised face.
Outside the cell, on the other side of the bars, we see five bringers, pacing back in forth in front of the cell.
"Shhh.... Baby. It'll be ok." The first said mockingly- looking just like Tara.
"You're not her."
"Don't you miss me?"
"I miss her. Not you."
"Oh but you do, Willow." The first morphed into Warren, "You do miss me, Bitch."
Willow didn't speak. She couldn't.
"Now here you are, just where your little slayer friend wanted you. In jail, paying for the things you've done. Paying for MY murder."
The was a soft knock at the door.
"Go away." Faith yelled.
"Faith, please, can I talk to you?"
Faith climbed out of the bed and put on a long shirt. She opened the door. It was Kennedy.
"What are you gonna rag on me for this time?"
"I'm not here to yell. I just—I wanna help."
"Help what?"
"I wanna help you find Willow."
"Why should I trust you Kennedy?"
"Because, I care about her... and we kinda need her in this battle."
"Translation: I wanna be the hero so Willow leaves Faith and makes Kennedy look like the hero... I don't think so. Stay out of my life."
Faith slammed the door in Kennedy's face.
We see Dawn come out of her room and approach Kennedy.
"I heard what you said."
Kennedy just looked over at Dawn as she stood there in the hallway.
"I know you wanna help," Dawn said, "so come downstairs with me and help, instead of bothering Faith."
Kennedy nodded, and followed Dawn to the living room.---------------------Cut to: The basement.
Buffy awoke with a start. She though Spike was there when she went to sleep. She was disappointed when she saw she was alone. The slayer rubbed her eyes. She dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. It was still dark outside. Spike came in from the porch. He walked into the living room and sat down. He noticed Buffy in the kitchen, but chose not to acknowledge her. Buffy followed him into the living room.
"What are you doing?"
"Sitting. What's it look like I'm doing."
"Why'd you leave earlier?"
"I didn't want to disturb you."
"I wanted to talk."
"I didn't want to listen."
"Spike,"
"Buffy, you walk around here with your head held high, like you're the boss of everyone."
"This is my house, I am the boss."
"I mean, with this battle. You aren't listening to anything anyone's saying to you."
"Is this about Willow?"
"No. You keep ignoring me."
"I've always ignored you."
"You don't notice when things go wrong. You tell me you wanna talk one minute. Then you want nothing to do with me. You kiss me and then you tell me to go to hell. Talk about mixed signals."
"I'm sorry Spike...what do you want me to do—ask you about your day? Hello, dear, how was your day? Any good kills?" Buffy rolled her eyes and sat down.
Spike rolled his eyes. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Do you think I made the right decision, making Willow leave?"
"Honestly?" Spike looked at Buffy. She nodded her head. "No. I think it was a terrible mistake. Red's a powerful kid. I think you need her more than you want to admit. Just a thought."
Spike stood.
"Where are you going?"
"Bed. It's almost morning." Spike started walking away. "Goodnight Buffy."
"You've got another three solid hours of dark."
"Goodnight."
We see Buffy standing behind him, watching him walk away. Her mouth is open and on her face is an expression of bewilderment. She couldn't believe he was against her.
------------------------------
Dawn and Kennedy had been in the kitchen, sitting side by side at the kitchen table deeply engrossed in some literature. They saw Buffy go into the living room and could hear what they were talking about.
"You think she'll kill him?"
"Nah. She'll just kick him out."
The two girls shared a laugh. Spike entered the room.
"Just passin' through. Goodnight."
"Night Spike" The two said in unison.
Buffy followed him.
"You guys should get some rest."
"We will, Buffy." Kennedy said reassuringly.
"Don't worry," Dawn said, "It's not a spell book."
Buffy walks down to the basement and the camera shows us what the two girls have been hovering over the table for: The latest issue of Cosmo. Dawn turned the page while Kennedy hovered over her. Kennedy looked at Dawn with lustful eyes...and quickly turned her glance back to the magazine.
"Orlando Bloom is so hot." Dawn said.
"Not really my type." Kennedy smiled.
Dawn shyly looked away.
"So what does this Cosmo shit have to do with us helping to find Willow?"
"It doesn't...This is helping you stay out of Faith's business."