Main Pairing: Buffy/Faith (eventually, later on), with some of the other normal pairings of the season.
Rating: R to be safe
Setting: This takes place a little after the whole Finch ordeal. Faith never slept with Xander and hasn't turned to the Mayor…
And remember, this is an AU of sorts, don't be picky, just be creative and go with the flow of things. I mention that, for things obviously have been changed around in order for this story to work and form into what it is. Episodes have been rearranged and even changed within the season as well. I hope you can pick it all up as you go :)
Author Notes: Thanks for the reviews guys!
Sorry about the lag again. Been super busy and I work full time now. Been trying to work out where I want to go with this story. I think I have an idea, we will see. I tried to write all the characters the best I could, so I hope you enjoy!
Lost Inside
Chapter 3: Broken
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"I think our pet is broken. She doesn't move, doesn't speak…it saddens me," Drusilla muttered as she gazed at the unmoving slayer that hung limply from the wall. Spike scoffed, bored, as he rose from his place next to her and walked over to the unmoving slayer.
"I say we go have ourselves some fun, see the slayer, return our friend here…" he suggested as the vampire crouched down next to Faith, studying her a moment.
"Hmmmm, turmoil. You wish to play with them…bad boy," Drusilla smiled as she rose from her seating place, stretching her limbs. Spike smiled wickedly.
"Time to step it up a bit," he grinned as he turned back to the hanging slayer, reaching up and releasing the cuffs and chains from around her wrists. As soon as they were loose, the battered slayer fell limply to the ground. Faith stirred a little as the blonde vampire jerked her up, only to have her fall to the ground again a few feet away, unable to hold her own weight just yet.
"So weak…yet so strong," Drusilla stated, looking at the brunette as she tried to move again, never making a sound as she struggled to stand.
Spike scoffed in annoyance before muttering, "Too weak eh? I can fix that…"
Library, Nightfall…
"Well, we don't know anything else more on the Mayor front do we?" Buffy asked as she leaned against the counter, facing the others. They were having a meeting about recent events, getting everyone on the same page. Willow, Oz, Xander, and Cordelia were sitting at the library table as Wesley stood a little off to the side, close to Giles's office, looking through an old book.
"No, I haven't been able to get anywhere on it. He has a lot of barriers up and I can't seem to get into anything, but I'm still working on it," Willow admitted, feeling a little frustrated at not being able to supply anything.
"Hey, anything helps right? Keep at it, I'm sure you'll get some thing," Buffy reassured, trying to sound supportive.
"I quite agree. There has been no further information that I was able to gather about him or anything really as of yet," Giles supplied, coming back into the library through his office, and leaning against the door frame.
"Allen was enough of a tip to start digging but there's nothing to report as of now," Wesley added as he momentarily looked up from his book.
"I love how he basically repeats everything that Giles says," Xander stated with a grin as Wesley gave him a stern look.
"Patrol hasn't been very active the past few nights. Makes me a little uneasy," Buffy stated as she tried to recall the past few nights.
"Yeah, it's usually calm before the storm huh?" Xander asked as he looked over at the blonde.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Cordelia supplied, not looking up, as she filed her nails.
"Oh wait!" Buffy exclaimed as she suddenly remembered something, "A vamp, last night, said something. Something along the lines of 'he's back, and they will kill you' just as I was dusting him. I honestly can't keep track of all their threats anymore."
"Who the hell would come back to Sunnydale?" Cordelia voiced, still filing her nails.
"Do we know anyone that left that would come back?" Oz asked as everyone looked at him.
"I don't know. Maybe he was lying," Willow supplied.
"But he would have no reason to lie in the first place," Xander stated, "Well, that is unless if he was trying to get his last dusting moments prolonged."
"What about Faith?" Giles asked.
"Huh?" Buffy replied, looking over at him.
"Has Faith mentioned anything? You did patrol together a few nights ago did you not?" the watcher asked, looking at her.
"I actually haven't seen Faith the past few days," the blonde admitted, looking away slightly.
"I called Faith the other day about training but she never answered, that girl…" Wesley added, uttering the last part softly in annoyance as he placed the book he still had down.
"Does she even show up to training?" Willow sarcastically mumbled. Giles sighed as he took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn't surprised about this, knew it would probably happen, and still felt guilty for it…and bad for allowing it to happen. He knew Faith was different from his slayer. He knew that she was different from all of them. He understood how things could be with the other slayer, yet chose to ignore it. And now, Faith was even further outside of their little circle, that some how got built, then she was before. And he let it happen…again…
"Speaking of Miss 'likes-to-kill-people', where is she? I think that if I have to be here, so does she. I mean, I'm here, and I'm not even a slayer," Cordelia stated, bored.
"And thank God for that," Xander said, earning a smack from the brunette, "What?"
"Did any of you stop to think that maybe the reason why Faith isn't here, is because no one bothered to actually tell her?" The watcher quipped, rather annoyed. Buffy didn't meet his eyes as some of the others looked at him blankly for a moment.
Giles knew that Buffy was the only Slayer in history who had civilians working beside her, who had close ties, support, and friends. He knew without a doubt that Faith didn't have all those resources and wanted to change that. Now more then ever, for knowing that it was those relationships, bonds, and ties to the world that gave the Slayer their reason to fight…
But with recent events, doing so had been rather hard. Not to mention the fact that he himself, hadn't remained true to the brunette slayer, taking part in her isolation from the rest of them…
Buffy on the other hand, did feel a little guilty for ignoring the brunette. Faith was seductive. To Buffy, she was alluring, attractive, in some ways…but in wanting to be who they were built to be as slayers, as killers…
The blonde didn't see slaying that way. Faith was all "come play with me" and seemed to approach slaying differently…and as tempting as it might be, as it might seem…it was wrong. It was wrong to Buffy, and wasn't what she saw slaying to be. Faith made her uncomfortable and uneasy. It seemed to worsen after Finch…
Faith was different from her. Her views, her behavior…
Faith was completely different from Kendra. The slayer connection, their relationship with one another…it was all different to the blonde. Faith wasn't someone you could just figure out. The brunette called many things into question for the blonde, and it made her uncomfortable. To her, there was a difference in slaying, in her definition of being a slayer…
And it wasn't just that. There were other things…
Things that confused her, that were confusing…and ignoring the brunette might be a little wrong, but it made it easier for Buffy…even if she didn't realize she was doing it…
She had gone to the Bronze with the gang instead of meeting Faith to patrol that one night. She felt a tad guilty, but justified it in needing a break. Willow was looking forward to it, and Buffy complied, for she hadn't taken the time to sit back and relax for a while…
( FLASHING BACK )
"Come on Buffy, it's been a while since you have just relaxed, hung out, done the typical thing that us normal teenagers do. Xander's going, I'll be there, it'll be fun. Oz's band is playing, Cordelia's…well, Cordelia will be there, but we'll still have fun, besides, I'm sure Faith won't mind taking over patrol for a night," Willow pleaded with her as they walked down the school hallway. The blonde had been spending a lot of time with Angel lately in the past few days, training with Giles, researching with the gang, among other things.
"Sorry Will, I guess I have been all Slayer girl lately…you know what? You're right. I'll be there," Buffy smiled as she looked over at the redhead. Willow smiled.
"See, now that wasn't so hard was it? You're allowed to have fun," The redhead teased, pleased, as they walked into their next class together. Buffy smiled back, feeling a quick pang of guilt for ditching Faith. But it quickly passed, something that happened more often now, easier even, as she pushed it from her mind, following her friend to their seats…
( BACK TO THE PRESENT )
Buffy was brought out of her thoughts as Giles spoke, "Maybe you should talk with her tonight, see if she has seen or heard anything. Then we can see if this is a potential threat or not. This might be worth being alert on. If activity has been low, there is a possibility that something is about to happen."
Before anyone could open their mouths in reply, the library doors opened. "Why don't I save you the trouble," announced Spike as he sauntered through the doors, causing some of the others to jump. Buffy turned around, took a few steps to the middle of the library, in front of the table, placing her hands on her hips.
"Spike," came the blonde's simple reply.
"Slayer," the vampire greeted, "It seems that some of my lackeys can't keep their mouths shut."
"Maybe if you quit recruiting morons, you won't run into that problem," Buffy retorted, "What are you doing here? More importantly, why are you back?"
The vampire gave a sick grin as he spread his arms, "What? Not happy to see me? Thought I would come back, shake things up a little."
Buffy rolled her eyes as Spiked continued, "It seems, I have something of yours."
The blonde narrowed her eyes at him, "What are you talking about? If I recall, we made a deal."
The vampire snorted, "Yeah, well, us vampires aren't very trust worthy. You should know that by now. But you see, I am starting to think you lot aren't very trust worthy."
"Could you actually quit wasting our time and actually produce a sentence out of that dead mouth that actually makes sense?" Cordelia suddenly asked.
"Better watch your mouth. I have something of yours that I have come to return. I would say that I have something you want…but I'm not too sure now…" Spike replied. Wesley was about to comment but was interrupted as the vampire continued, "I got bored with them after a while, saw that you didn't notice their absence, ruined the payback plan, so I've come to bring them back."
Everyone was silent and Spike smiled smugly. Buffy's face fell.
"Angel…" she whispered, emotions racing through her, thoughts rushing through her head. He would be the first person that Spike would go after. She hadn't seen him since the day before yesterday…
"Honestly, I'm disappointed in you Slayer. Even though I would very much enjoy torturing that neutered pounce, it wasn't Angel that I had fun playing with the past 4 days," Spike stated as he reached back behind him, staring Buffy in the eyes, as he opened the library doors, "Dru? You and our little play toy can come in now."
Things seem to freeze, go completely silent, still, as Drusilla walked through the door, holding a badly beaten and tortured Faith, her remaining clothes barely on her. She was barefoot, and had various gashes, cuts, burn marks, and wounds all over her body. Blood seemed to be painted on her, her black jeans practically ripped and shredded, just barely covering her. Her tank top was hanging on by one strap, the other torn away, and was practically ripped off at the bottom. The clothes hung on her, just covering her modesty. Her body left no imagination to what kinds of things the two vampires did to her. Buffy barely registered the gasps from behind her, her eyes drawn to the other slayers face. The brunette's face, once a pleasure to look at, caused her heart to almost break. Faith's matted and wild hair hung in front of her face a little bit, hiding little of what was recognizable left.
"Faith…" the blonde murmured, the sight of the other slayer alone causing much emotion to rise within her. She looked up at Spike angrily.
"Hey, don't be upset with me love, be angry at yourself for not noticing," the vampire stated, seeing the slayer's expression. He was enjoying the moment now, the looks on their faces…
"Misery, misery, misery…she still hasn't spoken Spike. I think our pet is broken," Drusilla stated, holding her arm against the neck of the brunette, holding her to her body, the brunette's eye's remaining downcast, never once rising to look at the others in front of her.
"And to think that the little bird here actually thought you would come for her…such hope…what a pity," Spike stated, looking at the blonde slayer. He watched the flow of emotions pass thorough her face, looked at the others around her. He would be lying if he said that playing with them, seeing them like this wasn't fun. It was entertainment to the vampire.
Buffy's throat clenched, the emotions she was feeling threatening to spill out. "Let her go," she demanded through clenched teeth. She was angry. Angry at Spike, angry at what has happened, angry at herself…
Spike looked at her, choosing to toy with her, "Why? I mean, we have bonded you know? Got down and personal the past few days, while none of you noticed she was gone. Why would…"
"I said, let her go," Buffy repeated, glancing at the brunette slayer, seeing the brunette shut her eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again void of emotion, refusing to look their way…to look anywhere...
"You are a weird lot, you know that? I just feel bad for poor old Faith here," Spike stated, gesturing to the brunette, "Holding out for the only person that she remotely has faith in and cares about, only to be shoved off, pushed off and forgotten. Ouch. You really know how to treat a person and make them feel wanted and welcome don't you?"
Buffy took a step forward, "You don't know what you're talking about. This is all just one big game to you isn't it? You think you can just come back here and shake things up? Wrong. You shouldn't have come back Spike." Buffy stated angrily. Spike only smirked. He was getting what he wanted out of the blonde.
"Hey, if denial works for you, so be it, it's not my problem. We had plenty of fun with her anyway. Too bad she wasn't that vocal for us," Spike stated as he watched the blonde look over to the brunette again, worry and guilt etched on her face.
"She's drowning from a broken heart. Bad slayer," Drusilla stated, loosening her arm from the brunette a little, "Such pain, such loneliness, I can still hear her unvoiced cries and screams…"
Drusilla stopped speaking suddenly, her eyes going wide, as the brunette slayer quickly moved, shoving her one arm at the vampire, "Now you know how it feels," rasped out Faith as Drusilla looked at Spike, shock and surprise written on her face.
"Spike?"
And with that whispered surprise of sadness, Drusilla fell away to dust. Faith remained, standing tiredly, with a metal spike, one that was used on her…to hurt her, to torture her…that she had picked up and slipped into what remained of her jeans as Spike beat her before arriving…
There seemed to be a second delay, of silence, of stillness, before everyone moved, "Dru? Dru!" Spike yelled in shock before turning to the battered slayer, taking a step towards her, his body shaking from anger.
Xander jumped out of his seat, grabbing for whatever would serve as a weapon, the others following his lead. Buffy took a few quick steps foreword, seeing the vampire's movement, and Spike stopped in mid stride. He looked at them all and registered how badly out numbered he was. Anger, grief, and rage ran through him as he turned to the brunette, knowing that he didn't stand a chance, "You think this is over? It isn't. I'll hunt you down, make you miserable, make you pay… I promise you that, and I'll take pleasure in killing you. I will be back for you, mark my words," he spit out, in a promised threat, at the slayer.
Spike then turned and looked at the makeshift Scooby gang that stood poised, not only a few feet away from him, and scoffed. "I hope they were bloody worth it…you're really alone now," and with that, he reluctantly turned and quickly exited out of the library, the doors echoing from his retreat.
The quick moment of silence that followed was shattered as the metal spike that Faith suddenly let go, clattered to the floor, her own blood still covering it. The brunette stared at it for a moment, and Buffy couldn't help but take a step toward her, to reach out, something…
Faith seemed so lost, expressionless, and practically broken…
The image didn't sit will with the blonde slayer.
"Faith…" Buffy whispered as she tried to take another step towards the other slayer. The brunette then noticed her, backing away from her as she got closer.
"We should probably get her to a hospital," Giles suggested, knowing that the brunette slayer was in bad shape.
"No."
"What?" Buffy asked, hearing Faith's uttered words as the other girl backed up a few steps again.
"I don't need to go," the brunette stated, looking up at the blonde briefly, making eye contact with her for the first time since she was drugged in, only to quickly look away, avoiding the other slayer's eyes.
"Why…what…Faith, you're badly hurt. You…" Buffy started to say as she tried to approach the brunette again before being cut off.
"Don't…get…just, stay away from me," Faith muttered, stepping away from the blonde again as she backed her way towards the library doors, eyes still not meeting anyone's, as she quickly turned and exited.
The others stood there in silence and in shock.
"Ok…is it just me, or is Faith just totally crazy for passing up on going to the hospital when she can barely walk?" Xander broke the silence.
"Not to mention all the nice cuts, gashes, burns, and possibly broken bones she has. And I wouldn't go back out when the very person that did that to me was still lurking out there. And did you see her clothes? They're barely serving as clothing," Cordelia stated as she turned towards Xander.
"She couldn't have gotten far," Giles said as he turned toward his slayer.
"She really needs some medical assistance, those injuries…" Wesley started as Buffy quickly interrupted him, his voice falling upon deaf ears, "Right. I'm going after her, I'll check back in with you later."
After a quick nod of approval, Buffy quickly exited the library, intent on finding the brunette slayer…
Meanwhile, Faith had already exited the school, wanting to get as far away from it, and Buffy, as possible. Even with her injuries, she was able to move pretty quickly. She felt suffocated…the need to get away from them all…from everyone, was great. Her appearance was the last thing on her mind, as an inner battle that was far more greater took place. She ignored the pain she felt, that coursed through her body, and fled.
Nothing could help her now. In the brunette's mind, there was no doctor or hospital that would be able to help her…
For they couldn't heal the dead…
TBC…
Are you liking this
so far? Should I keep at it? Reviews are great tools my friends, lol.
As I mentioned before, I can make this a longer fic…
I am still rolling
ideas around, we will see.
