Chapter Three: One Wicked Punch
"Willow, you sounded so urgent on the phone what's…"Giles' voice trailed off as his eyes fell upon the beaten slayer. "Oh good lord."
"She…she asked me to help her. I…I didn't know who else to call," Willow said, glancing at Faith. The broken brunette lay on her back, writing in pain as Dawn gently wiped a damp cloth across her forehead. Willow turned her gaze back to Giles. "I…I called Angel. He told me that she was released a week ago. I think the Council pulled some strings." Willow paused, looking once more at the fallen slayer, "He told me that she's really changed, Giles. I don't know if we can believe him or if we can ever trust her again…but look at her. She's…I don't know what else we can do."
"Hey guys, she's starting to come around," Dawn said, backing away slightly from the brunette as she opened her eyes. Even though Faith was barely able to breathe, the young slayer still stuck fear in Dawn's heart.
Willow and Giles crowded around Faith, worried looks covering their faces. "F-Faith?" Willow asked in response to Faith's silence. Faith was usually filled with sarcastic and dirty sayings; silence was a frightening alternative.
Faith's eyes met Willow's, "Hey Red," she said, attempting a grin. She moved to get up, but pain soon brought her crashing back down. "Ow, son-of-a…" She winced and grabbed her leg. "Damn, blue guys got me good, huh? Hey Half-Pint, wanna give me a hand here?"
Dawn slowly inched her way towards the slayer. Turning towards Giles she asked, "Are you sure she's not evil anymore."
Giles nodded his head, "Angel says she's quite rehabilitated."
"I am still in the room, guys," Faith said, a tad bit annoyed that they didn't trust her. But I guess that comes with the territory, she thought. "Look, I'm not evil, I'm not here to hurt anyone, and I'm still in a world of pain, so could someone please…" she gestured to her injured leg.
Dawn moved in front the Faith and stared her down. "Hey D, what's with the Jedi Death Stare?" she grinned at the young Summers girl, but her grin was soon wiped away when Dawn's hand slapped against her cheek. "Damn," she said, rubbing the handprint that now decorated her face, "Half-Pint packs a full punch."
"Dawn?" Willow asked, placing her hands on Dawn's shoulders, "You ok?"
"That was for Buffy," Dawn said quietly, lowering her eyes from Faith's stare.
Faith's demeanor changed instantly, "Don't sweat it D. I hurt Big Sis…I hurt a lot of people…She'd be proud of you for that," her eyes Met Dawn's, "'Sides, you pack one wicked punch." Faith smirked when she saw the younger Summers crack a smile. "Now how about helping an ex-con get on her feet…literally?"
Dawn nodded and moved next to the slayer, who winced in pain at ever movement. Placing Faith's arms around her shoulder, Dawn carefully led the beaten woman to the bathroom. "You sure you're gonna be ok Faith?" Dawn asked, feeling slightly guilty about smacking the already wounded slayer.
"Five by five, Half-Pint," Faith looked down at her bloody leg, "Although I think I could use a shower, wash some of the grime off of me."
Dawn nodded her head and left the slayer alone. As soon as the door closed, Faith released the tension that she was feeling in her body. Gently she lifted her shirt over her bruised shoulders, cringing as the material ran over an open cut. She unzipped her leather pants, regretting her decision to wear this particular material as is clung to her broken leg. Unclasping her bra, she let the bloody piece of material fall to the floor. She slipped out of her panties and into the awaiting shower.
As the warm water slid over her broken body, Faith's face contorted in pain. Her shattered leg throbbed and she threw her arms against the wall to balance herself. Gritting her teeth together, Faith whimpered as the jet of warm water hit her face. Damn demons, she thought, fucked me up…if I would have been on my game… Faith slammed her fist against the shower wall, causing the tiles to crack. "Damnitt!" she shouted, leaning into the water. Allowing the water to cascade over her curves once more, Faith slowly shut off the water. She wrapped herself in a towel and wiped the mirror clean of the steam. Sighing, she looked at her reflection in the mirror, but she didn't recognize the girl staring back at her. The girl in the mirror was weak, beaten, crying…this was not Faith. Faith was strong and confident, always ready for a battle. Something was dead behind Faith's eyes…her passion. "Oh Buffy," she said, lowering her gaze, "wish you were here right now girl. I could use my sister slayer…"
Faith opened the bathroom door and noticed a pile of clothes lying on the ground. She quickly changed and hobbled down the stairs. "Hey guys," she said, noticing that Willow, Giles, and Dawn were sitting in the living room.
"Faith, we were just talking about you," Giles said, barely glancing at the slayer.
"All good things, I hope," Faith joked.
"Well, I've contacted Angel and he's expecting you next week," Giles continued, returning his gaze to Faith.
Faith's brow furrowed, "Actually G-Man, I was planning on making good old Sunny-D my home sweet home."
Giles sighed, "I really don't think that's a good idea Faith."
"Let her stay," Dawn said, causing the dark slayer to cast a confused look in her direction. "I trust you," she stated.
"Well…I don't know," Giles started.
"Well I do. She's staying."
"Dawn, maybe Giles is right," Willow whispered, "We don't know for sure that she's…"
"She is. I saw her face when I mentioned Buffy. She's hurting, Willow," Dawn started, "And she's gonna stay here now."
"O…Ok," Willow said, still wary of the slayer, but was willing to give her another chance.
"Thanks Dawn," Faith said.
Dawn giggled, but stopped after receiving a confused look from Faith, "You used my actual name. It's funny to me…I was just starting to get used to Half-Pint and D."
"Well in that case," Faith said, throwing her arm around Dawn, "Care to show me around a few of the old haunts, D?"
"I think that best wait till tomorrow," Giles said, whisking the young Summers up the stairs.
"Sure thing G-Man. See ya in the morning D," Faith said, grinning at Dawn, who waved in return. Turning to Willow, Faith continued, "Look Red, I just wanted to thank you for being so cool with me."
Willow smiled, "If Dawn trusts you, then so do I."
"No, I just mean it's great that you're accepting me. Especially after everything that happened with Blondie…"
"Blondie?" Willow's eyes grew wide, "You…You're the one who put Tara in the hospital!" Her eyes grew dark as she glared at Faith.
"Look Red, it was an accident…I didn't mean…"
"Silence! You put her in the hospital! You attacked her! I knew we shouldn't have trusted you. Get out!"
"But Willow, it was…" Faith started.
"Get out, now!" Willow shouted, her eyes glowing in anger.
Faith slowly back away towards the door. She turned the knob and stepped outside, "I'm sorry," she said, closing the door and walking back to her apartment. "I'm sorry…"