A/N: Hey everybody, sorry it's been so long...had to work a few things out but it's all good now. I would really like to thank those of you that took the time to review my story. It really helped to know that someone was actually interested. I also hope all those loyal Faith fans out there understand where the story is going now, caus I think the first chapter might have been a trun off and that was definetly not my intention. Anyway I've rambled on long enough, thanks again to all who read and all who review this story- it good to have feedback!

Losers Never Win

Ch 4

Buffy's point of view

You have no idea how worried about Faith I am. If anything happens to her I'd never forgive myself. I've really realized over the past few years, after she came back, how much I missed slaying with her. It's just so much fun, and I totally think they should make synchronized slaying an Olympic event caus we would rock.

I didn't, and still don't like the idea of chaining her up all alone. Even the vampire gets to be chained up out here. Oh and don't even get me started with this guy. I think he's been takin too many happy pills or somethin caus the stuff that's comin outa his mouth is just a little loony kookoo if you ask me.

Faith is in there though, all alone, and in hand cuffs no less. The vampire is out here, with us, but all he can do is stare at the doorway leading into the training room where Faith is. Like I said before, he has got to be crazy or something. We asked him why he was following us and he copped out some story about a prophecy of a future that was in danger.

Now, with my line of work I should actually give the guy a chance but the clincher here, the thing that really ha me stumped, is the fact that this guy's a vampire but he doesn't have a scar any where near his neck. Explain that. I know he's a vampire I can sense them, smell them, they are just way different than humans in many ways but still, this guy, no neck marks.

He said the council turned him using magic. I guess that could be possible but I just gotta ask…….why? Why him? Seems to me like they would get some big burly demon or like a whole squad to follow us around. Then again, that wouldn't exactly be stealthy. If they didn't want us to know they wouldn't want a seven foot demon walking around. Not the best plan. So I guess I can almost see why a vampire would be practical.

Giles has been interrogating him ever since we put Faith in the other room. He was unwilling at first to share info, saying it could disrupt the future. I quickly took care of that by reminding him of what he said earlier about not being able to lie to 'his superiors'. That put him in a 'talky' mood real fast. I don't think I've ever seen a G.I. vampire before. This is almost kinda cool, I think he's like my own personal body guard and has to do whatever I say. This could have its benefits, but I wanna make sure before I get my hopes up.

Giles just asked him what part Faith and I play in the future war but he hasn't answered yet. I betcha I can make him talk.

"Answer the question….that's an order!" He he, that was fun. I could totally get into the whole commando thing. Not that kinda 'commando' thing, oh you know what I mean.

"Listen I really, 'really' shouldn't. Trust me this part could freak you out a little and really mess up the prophecy. So technically your order is being overridden by a higher order, sorry." No you're not. Well that's just no fair, I didn't know orders could override themselves. Jeeze this G.I. Joe stuff is confusing.

"Yes, indeed, but I think it rather beneficial to your health for you to comply with whatever she says, for your sake." Yeah listen to Giles, again for your sake.

"I'm telling you, this is some really messed up information for your brain to try and take on when you're this young. You don't wanna hear this." This young? How old does he think I am? Jeeze I can handle demons and giant snakes but he thinks a little peek into the future is gonna freak me out. Is he sure he's been following me for as long as he says he has?

"And I'm telling you, I want to know, okay? It doesn't matter what it is, even if its really bad I'll still make sure it happens I just really need to kn……oh god." I was right on the middle of my sentence and I feel this sharp pain shoot through from my back to around my appendix area in the front. I look down and see a bloody blade sticking out of my stomach. Oh, that's just freaking perfect.

"Oh god, Buffy!!" Willow screams and starts towards me but stops cold suddenly. She is looking over my right shoulder and I can tell whoever just stabbed me has got to be quite shocking.

"No! Buffy!!" The vampire is struggling with all he's got to break the rope that's keeping him in the chair. He's starting to freak out and rock side to side, with a few rocks the chair tips too far one way and tips over with him still in it. The chair breaks as he hits the ground and now he's trying desperately to free himself from the tangled mess.

I can fell my knees start to shake and my legs all together are weakening. Then I feel a strong hand on my shoulder, and I get this prickly feeling in the back of my neck and the little short hairs stand up. It can't be, no it isn't, she wouldn't.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!!!!" The vampire is on his feet now and looks really pissed. And yet for some reason I'm almost glad that he's so worried about me. I mean he's no worried boyfriend but it's nice to have someone really care about you in that way, and I'm sorta feelin that right now. Oh god am I seriously swooning over 'another' vampire!?!? What is wrong with me? Not to mention he's a bit young looking for me.

"Why don't you make me Tyler? You've done such a good job protecting them so far, why don't you drag that cold body over here and make me let her go." Oh god…..I can't believe it's her. She……why? I don't understand, it can't really be her….can it?

The vampire, Tyler I guess, takes a step forward and I feel the hand tighten, and another arm wrap around my stomach above where the blade is sticking out. It hurts really bad and I really don't want who I think this is to touch me but right now I'm kinda glad she is caus I don't think I'd be upright right now if it wasn't for her.

"Just……let her go, please." I feel the arms tighten and I try to turn my head around to see for myself who it really is. She let's out a sigh and starts to speak again.

"Stupid boy, you know I can't let this prophecy come true, my master would be very unhappy. Now, I'm going to kill her, then I'll leave end of story." It's her voice but it can't be her, she's changed. Faith has changed, this person just sounds a lot like her is all. She's probly still in the training room behind us tied up wondering what is…….oh shit. What if this chick got to her first and she's hurt, or dead? I need to help her but I can't caus her voice twin's stuck a knife in my back.

"God damn it Serina let her go!! I swear I'll tear you limb from limb if you don't hand her over right now!!" He takes another step forward and the arm tightens even more. Serina? See, I knew it wasn't Faith…this Serina chick just has a similar voice; I knew it couldn't be her.

"Oh so you figured it out huh? What a smart little orphan, you're sister would be so proud. Ha Ha Ha!" He vamps out and his fists clench up. Then I feel something cold on my neck. What the hell?

"Now, let's not be rash. Just let her go and we can talk about this. Don't do anything you'll regret." Giles always manages to keep a level head in times of crisis but he sounded a little shaky just then.

"Anything I'll regret? Like, oh say this:" She runs the cold knife along my collar bone slowly and it stings like hell. I grit my teeth and try not to cry out.

"Serina! Let her go right now and you might walk outa here tonight!" Tyler takes another step closer and the knife presses hard against my throat. This is not making any sense, why does he care so much? He's free; why is he sticking around?

"One more step and I'll slice this bitch wide open. Don't think I won't Tyler!" He looks really pissed off, this whole night is just too weird. Suddenly he lunges forward and tackles us to the ground. He puts his hand up by my neck just as Serina or whatever tries to slit my throat. I get thrown to the side a bit and watch the knife slice into his hand and cut him real deep.

The cut doesn't seem to faze him at all though as he immediately turns to me and lifts me up. He runs over next to Giles, Xander, and Will and sets me down in a chair. He looks in to my eyes and he really truly looks concerned. Like I said this whole night is just too weird, even for me.

"She needs medical help, I don't think I'm qualified to treat a stab wound like this. Can you get her to the hosp-" Out of nowhere Faith runs up and grabs him around the neck. She spins him around and throw him into a wall. How did she get out of her chains? And where the hell did that Serina chick go? I'd really love to kick that ass right about now.

"Faith, no he's tryin to help, don't hurt him!" She stops and looks at me weird, like she doesn't speak English or something. What's wrong with her anyway? Then she speaks and that's when it hits me that something's not right.

"You stupid slayer, don't you realize that your little bitch friend is not here at the moment? Wow, now I can't tell which of you two is the more idiotic one, I swear maybe it's the whole 'slayer thing that makes you-oof!!" She let her guard down while insulting me and this allowed Tyler to get the upper hand.

He grabbed her from behind and slammed her head against a bookshelf. Then he punched her twice in the ribs. I think he's holding back though, like he doesn't wanna hurt her. I'm still a little lost though, how did Faith get out of her restraints. And where did that Serina chick go that you know, sounded like her. Oh…god I feel really dumb right now.

I still can't believe it though. Why would Faith just turn on us, on me, like that? I thought we were finally okay again, that everything was gonna turn out alright. This is too much right now, I can't think. God my side hurts so bad.

"Faith! Can you hear me? Faith don't do this you have to fight." Faith's face changes and she braces herself against the counter a little. She looks like she's in pain and I want to just help her but my stomach really hurts and I'm feeling a little woozy.

"I-I can't she's too strong. I can't I'm sorry I just-Ahh!" She grabs her head and falls to the floor. Tyler walks up to her but doesn't touch her. He needs to help her but for some reason I want him to be careful that he doesn't get hurt.

"Faith, Faith stay with me don't do this, don't!!" He kneels down and grabs her shoulders. He shakes her but she isn't responding after she cried out in pain. Suddenly she grabs his wrists and turns them out; he winces in pain but doesn't look away from her. She head buts him and he falls back on his back.

"That was for the little therapy session you just had with my host here. But just wait till you see what result of you throwing me into the bookshelf is going to be. If you're at all curios come to that old warehouse by the docks at midnight, don't be late or she'll die." With that Faith takes off out of the store, but Tyler doesn't follow. He just sighs and remains on the floor.

"Who was she talking about. And what the hell is going on, I want answers right now." I try to stand but Giles stops me. I look up at him in frustration but he isn't looking at me; he's looking at Tyler. He's still laying on the floor but now he has his eyes closed like he's thinking. Then he sits up quickly and looks at me.

"You need to get to a hospital. Do any of you have a car?" Yeah right, like any of us own a car; I wish. Not even Giles has a car after his convertible got trashed by that Ferril demon. He just couldn't bring himself to buy another one. Poor guy.

"No, uh no, we'll have to carry her. Ah well, you, you will have to carry her. But let me tell you I still don't fully trust you and until you've proven you're worth you're still just another vampire." Tyler nods and seems to accept that little lecture Giles just gave him.

"Soooo…did Faith have a relapse or was I hallucinating? Because….. ya know I really don't have a problem with saying 'I told ya so'." Xander better not start with that again, I am so not in the mood. God…..she can't have just done that. This has to be some really real nightmare, and I'm gonna wake up any second and forget all this ever happened.

"Xander…just don't okay? She obviously needs help I mean she wouldn't do this if-."

"If what Buffy? If she was thinking clearly? If she was herself? I'm sorry but I would be more apt to back you up on this if Faith didn't already have a track record for this kind of stuff." I can't believe this. Even Will is against me? Great next thing I know vamp boy over there is gonna choose sides. This just sucks majorly. I look up as I see Tyler waling up to me.

He kneels down in front of me and looks directly into my eyes. He has green eyes if you were wondering…..I still need to know why he's helping us….and also, who was Faith talking about when she said 'don't be late or ''she'' dies'. Why would Faith take a hostage….was it for that 'master' person she was talking about earlier?

"I'll explain everything later okay? Right now I need to get you to the hospital, so you can get patched up." I nod and he leans down and wraps one arm around my shoulders and tucks the other under my knees. Slowly he lifts me out of the chair like I weigh nothing, must be the vamp strength thing, caus he doesn't even seem to notice me in his arms.

He carefully walks out of the magic box and everyone follows close behind him. I'm really worried about Faith, as soon as I get this blade removed and I get stitched up we're going to look for her. I won't loose her again………I won't give up on her again.