Title: Pained

Note: 1. Chapter 2 was set 4 months ago from the 1st chapter in LA. Faith had her sentence reduced because of good behavior (parole? Not very sure what it's called). She now works for Angel.

2. I've finally noticed how sucky my summary is so I've decided to update it.

Summary: After Faith completed her sentence. She worked hard to rebuild her life. Apparently, she was much more successful compared to Buffy who had to rebuild her life to after willow resurrected her, causing Buffy to be bitter. Who went a bit wonky instead of Willow, turning on her friends and trying to kill Faith.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rating: M

Chapter 3

In the hospital

Angel

By the time I got to the hospital, Spike and Cordy were already there. Cordy was sitting on the plastic hospital chairs looking very uncomfortable while Spike was pacing endlessly up and down, mumbling to himself.

"I'm gonna hurt the bastard that did this so bad that he'll be begging for death… I'm gonna hunt that bastard down, rip him up from limp to limp, dung him in horse piss…" Spike was mumbling to himself.

"Stop it will you! You're making me nervous! Cant you just sit down and shut up!" Cordy snapped at him.

"How can I be so calm, my best friend is in there! BEATEN and RAPED!! How can I just sit there like nothing happened!?! How can you be so bloody cold?!"

"Of cause I care for Faith! How can you say that? I've been sitting here for more than 3 hours since she entered the operating theater. I definitely care for Faith, or not I wouldn't have wasted all that time sitting in this stupid glooming hospital for 3 hours!"

"Well you've never really liked her… Always ignored her and whenever she comes into the room you either walk out or cut her out of your conversations. Do you know how much she respects you?! She really looks up at you, ya know? She sees you as her role model. Something about you being a self-involved bitch to a selfless doer of good and all that crap." The last was said in almost a whisper but was heard by Cordy never the less.

Cordy let out a breath and said in a small voice "I know… and I am sorry…"

Pausing awhile she continued with her head down "it's just that… Faith is like this force of nature… She kinda just blows you away, doesn't really let you…"

"Argh… I just don't know how to react to her. I mean ever since she came out from prison, I could really tell that she's changed. But it's just so easy to hate her and bitch at her. I mean she still radiates this badass I don't need you vibe…"

Spike cut her off before she could finish. "You! Of all people should know that all that is just an act! She's just trying to protect herself and you never gave her a reason to open up to you. Ever since she started working with Angel she has been nothing but nice to you, but you time and time again, ignore her disrespect her and insult her. BUT NO she doesn't complaint, she thinks she deserves all that and still think you're a Saint!"

"Remember Cordelia! You were just like her in Sunnyhell. Queen C, you acted like a bitch thinking it's cool. She acted like a bitch to protect herself" Spike was almost yelling now.

"I know… I'm sorry… try and make it better" Cordy replied, almost in tears now.

"Oh I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to be so hard on you. It's just that Faith is the only one that truly accepted me for me. I'm just stressed out; I can't bear that I couldn't protect her. It's killing me inside."

Wow, I didn't know Spike cared for Faith so much. I've always though that he just wanted to get into her pants. I guess there's so much more to Spike than meets the eye.

Besides that, Cordy and Spike have been acting pretty weirdly recently. One minute they absolutely hate each other, and the next minute they are all over each other.

Hmm… I wonder if there is anything going on between them. Gees… I sound like a gossiping cheerleader. Ok, enough of that…

I was about to ask them what the doctor said, when the doors of the operation room opened up and the doctor stepped toward. In the background I could see a still unconscious Faith wheel into the ICU. The scent of a slayer's blood hit me like a truck, she must have lost a lot of blood. Darn I'm getting hungry, and the doctor is looking pretty tasty.

"So doc, how's our girl doing?" Spike was the first to approach the doctor.

"We did how best to patch her up, but honestly it doesn't look so good. She's suffered from massive blood lost and internal bleeding. Some of her major organs have been damaged too. She still not stable and we are not sure if she would make it. I don't want to keep your hopes up but if she doesn't wake up by tomorrow there's nothing much we can do."

Spike looked honestly scared after hearing the news while Cordy is just standing there with her mouth opened. I think she's in shock.

"Can we still see her?" Cordy finally finds her voice.

"Yes, that shouldn't be a problem"

I finally approach them "Don't worry Cordy, Faith's a fighter I'm sure she'll be screaming at the nurses and demanding to be released from the hospital by tomorrow."

With that I stormed off. I just wised I was as sure as I sounded but I gotta be strong if not for them than for Faith. I cant let them see me like this cause right now all I want to do is to bash some heads and lose some steam. I still can't believe that I let Faith patrol alone. It's all my fault that she's in there now.

I'm gonna hunt those bastards even if it's the last thing I do.

Spike

I can't believe that bint just stomped off like that. He didn't even bother checking up on Faith. When I was with Cordy waiting for the doc's update I could sense him. I really don't know what his problem.

Cordy looks really stunned, I think it's not such a good idea letting her see Faith in this condition. Don't want her to pass out plus she looks like she's really to crash.

"Come on luv, we have to get you home now. I'll come back later to see out girl."

"What do you think I am, 5? I'm perfectly capable to getting myself home." Oh bullocks, now she's pissed time for some damage control.

"Come on luv, you know that's not what I meant. I just don't want you to end up like our little firecracker." I replied in a soft voice.

"Oh spike I'm so sorry, but don't worry Wesley's gonna pick up me front in awhile. I better go wait for him now. Are you sure you'll be okie alone?"

"Don't worry about me, I might seem like a big ol' softie but I'm still a big bad by heart."

"Yea rite, wateva just be safe." She said and left.

I turn around and headed for the room they put Faith in.

The slight that greeted me as I walked into the room was terrible. Cordy told me it was bad but nothing could have prepared me for this. There she was lying on the bed in the middle of the room hooked up to all these weird machines.

"You gotta wake up luv, you're got everyone worried about you. Angel's all broody but no surprise there." I started talking to her prone form without even noticing.

"God what did they do to you..." I've never seen her so fragile, she looks so young without her make up and leather. I really wonder how old she is sometimes.

I react out my hand to tuck the strands of hair behind her ear. Just as my fingers were about to touch her cheeks, her whole body started shaking and jerking.

She suddenly sat up and started screaming…

Ermm is this story moving too slowly?

Feedback please