A/N Well I'm not sure if I still have any readers out there. My personal and academic life took me hostage for a while preventing me to finish and edit this chapter for a long time. I refrained from writing this chapter due to my recent break up with the girlfriend. I didn't want this chapter to be all sadness or reflect the depression I went through. But at last, I've been able to write something I feel good about and ready to present to you guys. Enjoy.
Warning: As with previous chapters, I had to proofread and edit this on my own so expect errors. I know something always slips by me.
Disclaimer: Only own the computer I type this on (and trust me it's getting more and more worthless everyday).
Ch.10 Revelations
Buffy saw her friend fall to the floor in slow motion. Seconds later the blonde was next to her friend kneeling. Faith quickly picked up the phone and speed dialed the number she never really thought she would.
"Willow!" Buffy yelled as she cradled the witch's limp body.
"No. I'm fine. Willow my friend she collapsed send someone now!" Faith yelled the last part.
Faith made her way towards Buffy and Willow. "Buffy, let's move her to the bed while help gets here."
Buffy looked up. She was fighting back tears. She couldn't believe that moments earlier she had been happy being alone with Faith, and then watching her best friend collapse sent fear running through her body. Upon hearing Faith's suggestion she nodded and gently picked up her friend and set her down on Faith's bed. Buffy moved some hair away from Willow's face and waited expectantly to see the redhead open her eyes. She had noticed immediately that her friend was indeed alive since her chest rhythmically rose and fell, yet that gave her little comfort. The blonde felt a hand on her shoulder fully knowing it was Faith. She instinctively turned around and fell into the other slayer's arms.
Faith had watched as Buffy's body became tense and could sense all the worry her blonde counterpart was having. It wasn't normal for her to want to comfort anyone but seeing Buffy like this, her body just moved to embrace her and give her whatever comfort she could. The hug was cut short as a woman and two men walked in with a gurney. Faith stepped away from Buffy and allowed the woman who she recognized as one of the nurses.
"What happened?" The nurse asked as she looked towards Buffy.
"Don't really know, Red had just entered the door and she was talking to B and then she collapsed." Faith answered instead as Buffy was still in a bit of shock.
The nurse moved to check Willow's vitals. She looked confused for a moment but then relieved. "She seems fine. Looks like she just fainted. Has she been doing anything rigorous? Like too much training?"
Buffy shook her head and upon hearing her friend was, for the most part okay, she spoke. "No she's not a slayer. She's a witch. She recently did a spell to shield the building." Buffy looked down at Willow.
"That could have caused it." The nurse then signaled the men with the gurney and they moved to secure Willow to it. "We will take her and find out if indeed it was just that."
Buffy watched as the two men and the nurse left the room. As much as she wanted to follow them, she knew she had to inform Giles and most importantly Kennedy.
Faith sensed that need and again placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Go ahead and go with them. I'll tell Giles and Ken."
Buffy couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth run through her at Faith's offer, but she didn't want her to be running around getting hurt. "Thanks but you should be resting. I don't need to be worrying about you too."
Faith frowned. She didn't want to add further burden the blonde so she nodded in agreement. "Let me know how she is doing then?"
Buffy nodded and quickly made her way to the other woman. She placed a kiss at the corner of her mouth and walked out of the room. Gears shifted in the slayer's mind and set her sights for Giles and Kennedy.
Giles was deep in thought as he was reading a book when he heard Buffy calling out for him.
"Giles!"
The British man walked out of his office and faced his slayer. "What's wrong Buffy?"
"Giles, Willow collapsed in Faith's room. They took her to the medical floor. The nurse said it was probably the spell she did to shield the building." Buffy started to pace around her watcher. "I reassured her that she could do it." She looked down feeling guilty.
"Buffy," the watcher started trying to find comforting words "I also told her it was safe. She must have strained her self with the spell." Now the watcher was blaming him self for having Willow do the other spell to find the key. He was in such worry for his slayer he forgot about Willow. "I'm sorry Buffy, I should have known better." He placed his hand on the blonde.
"She is going to be fine right?" Buffy looked up to her watcher searching his eyes for his response.
"I'm sure she will. She will just have to take it easy. Shall we go see how she is doing?" The watcher walked them to wards the door.
"You go ahead. I have to go tell Kennedy." Buffy sighed knowing that telling Kennedy would be hard. She knew how protective and how much in love the new slayer was with her Best friend.
She made her way to the room the two shared. The blonde knocked and heard Kennedy yell out some form of consent for her to come in.
"Hey Buffy, Willow isn't here she was actually looking for you." Kennedy said knowing that the blonde was most likely there looking for her girlfriend. The younger slayer looked up and immediately caught on to Buffy's tension.
"Kennedy, Willow she, . . ." Buffy walked up towards Kennedy trying to offer some comfort. "She collapsed in Faith's room. They took her to the medical floor."
Kennedy didn't really respond. She just started to walk out of the room and made her way to the elevator. Buffy caught up with her and rode the elevator in silence. Giles was there and so was Xander both looked up when Kennedy approached the first nurse she saw. "Where is she? I need to see her." She said more as a command than a question.
The nurse only looked toward Giles for help, which he did.
"Kennedy. She is okay. It seems that the spell took a lot out of her. She collapse from exhaustion but she will be fine. She should be coming to any minute."
Kennedy nodded in acknowledgement but again insisted on seeing her girlfriend. "I want to see her. What room is she in?"
Xander was the one to assist this time. He pointed to the room down a hall and saw the Slayer practically run towards the room and disappear inside.
Kennedy paused once she stepped into the room. She saw her girlfriend laying on the bed unconscious. Part of her was expecting to walk in and see Willow awake and smiling. But as she held her breath for a few seconds waiting for some form of reaction, she made her way closer to her. She automatically grabbed her hand.
"Come on baby, wake up." Kennedy pleaded and she rarely pleaded. She wasn't one to feel helpless and resort to wishful thinking. She was always strong. Yet seeing Willow like this made her question her own strength. Even though she had been told she was going to be okay, she couldn't help but worry. She was snapped out of her musings when Willows eyes started to flutter open.
Her sight was blurry and bright. She blinked and tried to make out the shadow hovering above her but couldn't.
"Willow? Hey it's me Kennedy."
Willow blinked again trying to make her vision less blurry. After a lot of effort she could make out Kennedy's face.
"Hey don't look worried." She said in a whisper.
Kennedy smiled and kissed Willows hand. "How can I not worry? My girlfriend randomly collapsed." She began to caress Willow's face making her smile.
"Sorry about that. It's just I. . ." Willow then remembered why she had collapsed. She had walked into the room and saw Buffy. Her sight had been overwhelmed and she remembered feeling like a thousand migraines hit her all at once.
"You were what?" Kennedy questioned.
Willow shook her head. She didn't know if she should tell her girlfriend about the last spell she had used. She looked up and saw Kennedy waiting for her answer. "I just got a really bad headache and I passed out." She figured telling her half the truth was good for now.
"Headache?" Kennedy asked confused. "Hmm. I'll let the doctors know. You need to be checked out."
Willow again shook her head. "That's not necessary. I feel pretty good. But you should let the doctors know I'm up."
Kennedy laughed and nodded in agreement. She kissed Willow's forehead and made her way outside the room to an expecting group of people.
Buffy was the first one to approach Kennedy for answers. "How is she? Is she awake?"
Kennedy nodded. "Yeah she's awake." The younger slayer walked up to a nurse and advised her that Willow was awake.
Minutes later a doctor made his way to Willow's Room. After an hour or so of doctors and nurses going in an out of the room the rest of the gang was allowed to visit.
"Hey. How are you doing kid?" Xander said as he patted Willow's red hair.
"I'm good. Sorry I scared you guys." She said as she looked toward Buffy, Kennedy, and Giles and back to Xander.
"Willow don't ever scare us like that." Buffy said. Her friend only nodded in agreement.
"I'll try. The doctor said he is going to keep me over night but I'll be good to go tomorrow."
"That's great!" Xander exclaimed.
After several minutes passed by the group was advised to let Willow rest up. Willow had wisely sent Kennedy to their room for a few minutes. Her stubborn girlfriend had insisted on staying by her side. Even though the redhead hadn't been able to get her to stay in their bedroom she had convinced her to go change into something more comfortable. That gave her time to talk to Giles.
Right as the Watcher was about to clear the room Willow spoke the words he had been dreading to hear. "Giles, It's Buffy."
The British man dropped his head and turned around to face the witch. "I was afraid you were going to say that. Willow I'm so sorry I had you do that spell. Had I known it would result in this, . . ." The man sadly looked at the girl lying on the bed. "I'm so sorry Willow."
"Don't be Giles, it was necessary. Now we know. What are we going to do?" She asked and tried to drive the conversation into business mode.
"I'm not sure. I must inform Angel. Willow we must not let anyone else know. The less people know the less problems they can get into." He placed his hand on her shoulder then turned to leave. "I shall see you to morrow. Rest up."
Willow watched the man walk out and began to rub her temples. She had this perpetual headache. She couldn't help but start to think about what she could do to protect her friends. She knew that finding out who the key was put her in grave danger. She had learned that harsh lesson with Tara and Glory.
"Hey what are you thinking?" Kennedy said as she leaned against the door frame into the room.
Willow was brought out of her thoughts and looked up to see her girlfriend.
"Nothing much."
"Really?" the slayer asked as she approached the bed. "Why don't I believe you?" She leaned down and kissed Willows forehead.
Willow grabbed a hold of her girlfriend's hand "I'm just really tired. I guess using magic this much tired me out."
Kennedy sat in a small space next to Willow and used her other hand to play with Willow's hair. "I'm sure you are. You gave me a hell of a scare baby."
The two women remained like that for a while until Willow's eyes slowly began to close. Then Kennedy reluctantly moved and settled into the bed she had been provided by the nurses.
Buffy had spent a few minutes chatting with Xander before she made her way back to Faith's room. She lightly knocked but didn't get a response so she slowly opened the door. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and upon not seeing a certain slayer in bed she began to panic.
"Faith" Buffy called out almost demanding her to appear before her. "Faith, I swear to god if you snuck out I am going to hurt you so bad." The blonde waited a few more minutes and checked the bathroom with no success. She picked up the phone next to Faith's bed. While she waited for the phone call to get connected she murmured to her self.
"I can't believe her!"
"Angel?" Buffy asked
"Yes." the vampire responded on the other line.
Buffy was fuming and worried sick. "Angel I can't find Faith."
"What?" the vampire asked confused.
"I left her in her room when I went to check up on Willow. I strictly told her to stay put. Angel what if she went out?" Knowing Faith, she probably snuck out to go clubbing. "She said she wanted to go dancing."
"I don't think she would have done that Buffy. I'll have my guys check the security cameras. If she went out we can know in a few minutes. Go to your room. I'll call you in a few and then we can proceed from there okay?"
Buffy bit her lip. Angel wanted her to wait? What if Faith was out there? She was in no fighting condition. She had also given the slayer her pain meds. She could have passed out somewhere.
"Buffy, she's okay. I'm sure she's in the building somewhere okay?" Angel said upon getting no response from the blonde. He could somehow sense the worry that over came the blonde.
"Okay." The blonde hung up the phone and rushed the few steps from Faith's room to her own. She wasn't going to wait. She was going to grab her jacket and go look for her.
When the blonde stepped into the room she noticed a figured on her futon. Once her eyes fully adjusted she realized it was the dark-haired slayer. She sighed in relief. She got closer to the other slayer and noticed her even breathing.
Buffy couldn't help but smile and softly chuckled at her self. She had completely over reacted. Faith had only been a few steps away and she had been ready to send out search parties for her. She didn't want to wake the sleeping Faith, but by the looks of it, the position she was in was not really comfortable. She didn't want Faith to wake up with more pain.
"Faith" She whispered close to the younger slayer's ear. She waited a few seconds but she wouldn't move. Then came the piercing sound of a phone ringing. Faith woke up and jumped up almost knocking into Buffy.
"Shh Shh, Faith it's okay. Just the phone." The blonde guided the other woman back down and went to answer the phone.
"Angel?" She asked knowing who it was.
"Buffy we've checked the video's she did not exit the building. I'm going to send some people to look for her. I'll meet you in your room okay?" Angel said.
Buffy felt a little guilty. She had mobilized Angel and made him worry for nothing. "About that, I found her. Seems she was waiting for me in my room. I'm sorry I should have checked first."
Angel released a breath he had been holding. The vampire had also worried. He felt very over protective of Faith. The incident only made the old vampire confirm everything that was going on between the two slayers. "I'm glad. Good. Is she okay?"
"Yes." the blonde smiled and raised her hand to stop Faith from talking while she finished talking to Angel. "I found her asleep on my couch. The pain medication must have knocked her out but she just woke up. Thanks Angel."
"Okay. Buffy take care of her. Have a good night." Angel said.
"I will. Night." The blonde hung up the phone and immediately answered the question that was written all over Faith' face.
"I thought you had gone out. So I called Angel. I went to your room and you weren't there Faith." Buffy said with a silly look on her face. "I kind of panicked."
Faith raised one of her eyebrows. She was still really groggy from the pain medication. She only nodded. "I told you I'd stay put B, How's Red?"
Buffy felt a little guilty. She trusted Faith, yet completely panicked when she hadn't found her in her room. "She will be okay. She just got drained from doing a spell." The blonde leaned down to be at eye level with Faith. She wanted to clear the air. "Faith, I'm sorry I thought you had gone out." She grabbed a hold of Faith's hand. "I just didn't see you in your room and a Million bad scenarios ran through my head. I'm sorry. I should have known better."
Faith really never seized to be amazed by Buffy. "Don't worry about it B, I was really giving you a hard time earlier. I can see why you would have thought that. But even if I wanted to go out, it would be no fun without a dancing partner." Faith smiled and winked summoning a deep blush from the blonde.
"I promise I'll take you dancing once you are all better." Buffy stated. She really did want to go out and just forget about all the bad things going on and loose her self to the music and Faith. She had only done it a few times and had quickly become an addiction. She had never felt so alive and right dancing with Faith.
"I'm going to hold you to that." Faith then moved to get up.
"Where you going?" Buffy asked.
Faith laughed and looked at Buffy like she should know. "My room. I just wanted to know how Red was doing and I came to wait for you. This couch thing is not very comfortable."
Buffy smiled "Yeah it's more for decoration. I'll walk you to your room."
The two slayers made the short walk to Faith's room and Buffy insisted on helping the slayer climb into bed.
"Good night." the blonde said as she softly kissed Faith.
"Night B." Buffy heard as she closed the door to Faith's room.
The next day Willow had been checked out from head to toe and the Doctors had let her go late in the morning. Kennedy had practically carried her to her room and the witch was currently pouting trying to convince her girlfriend to let her walk about. All the Witch wanted was to go up to Giles' office and begin research, but Kennedy was being difficult.
"Baby, I'll be sitting the whole time. Please?"
"Willow. You collapsed not even 24 hours ago. I think they can research on their own for a day or two." Kennedy stated and gently pushed her girlfriend back onto their bed.
"Kennedy. I'm fine. The doctors said I'd be okay. Plus you have training to do and can't stay here with me." Willow stated. She had figured that she could just get away when Kennedy went off.
"Nope. I'm going to have Buffy do my sessions. In fact I'll talk to her in a few minutes." Kennedy started to walk towards the door. "If you even think of moving out of this room while I'm gone Willow Rosenberg, you don't want to see me mad." Kennedy then quickly rushed to find Buffy. She knew her girlfriend would only stay put for a short time.
Luckily for Kennedy She bumped into the blonde slayer almost outside of Willows room.
"Hey Buffy I was just going to find you."
Buffy tensed up "Is willow okay?"
"Yes. But I can't make her stay put. Could you take my training for today so I can watch her? She wants to go research with Giles. I just don't want her to exhaust her self again."
Buffy smiled and nodded. "Yeah I can do that. You mind if I talk to her?"
Kennedy nodded "Go ahead, I'm going to go grab her some books. Hopefully that can keep her occupied. Keep an eye on her for me."
The younger slayer then walked down the hall and Buffy made her way into her best friend's room.
"Hey"
"Hey Buffy."
"So what is this I hear you are giving Kennedy a hard time?" Buffy jokingly questioned.
Willow rolled her eyes "I just want to research. Plus she's just going to waste her time here while she could be helping out with training."
"It's okay Will. You do need to rest up. I got the training covered." Buffy said to counter Willows resistance.
"Yeah but Giles and I were starting on some good leads on the big bad." Willow figured she could be as honest as she could without revealing the truth.
"It can wait." Buffy placed her hand on Willow's shoulder "You need to take it easy. I'm sorry about this whole thing Will. I shouldn't have pushed you to cast that spell. I wasn't thinking about what it could do to you."
Willow placed her hand over Buffy's "Don't be Buff, I wanted to do it. We don't need the First coming in here messing with us." Willow smiled.
"Still. You are going to take it easy for a while okay? No more big magic stuff okay?" The blonde stared at her friend waiting for her answer. Willow only nodded.
After a few minutes of light conversation Kennedy came back into the room with two books.
"Hey thanks for keeping an eye on her." The young slayer said.
Buffy nodded. "It' wasn't too hard. Anyways I gotta go. I'll swing by later."
The blonde made her way out of the room and back towards her room. She needed to take Faith to her appointment with Mike. She had checked on her before swinging by Willow's room.
The dark-haired slayer had surprised Buffy. When Buffy opened the door after announcing her self, Faith was sitting on her bed ready to go.
"Ready B?" Faith asked with a huge smiled that accented her dimples. Buffy only nodded and made their way to the elevator.
"Faith I'm glad you are actually here." Mike stated relieved and satisfied the recovering slayer showed up.
"What can I say doc. B, is taking her job way to seriously." Faith winked at Buffy.
"I'm glad. Now could you please step into room 5? I will have one of the nurses go in and check your shoulder." Mike pointed to a room and then dismissed him self.
"You don't have to be here for this B." Faith stated. She felt like she was wasting Buffy's time and she didn't want that. However she also wanted the blonde slayer with her. She disliked hospitals and doctors.
" I know. But I want to be here." Buffy said and reached out for Faith's hand and stepped closer. Before Faith could object, Buffy lightly placed a kiss on her lips. The blonde pulled back and waited for Faith's eyes to flutter back open. She stared into the chocolate eyes "I want to be here with you Faith."
"Yes I understand. I will bring it with me, one more thing . . ."
Angel paused and squeezed the ridge of his nose "If you double cross me, I will end you." The vampire hung up the phone and proceeded to write down an address.
He had a tough job. He was running too many things at once. He had to take care of his 'special clientele' while helping the new slayers, fighting the first, and protecting Buffy, which he had found out was indeed the key.
He picked up the phone again.
"Darcy, Can you please have the finance department prepare fifty-thousand."
"Yes sir. May I enquirer for what this is?" The assistant questioned.
" A very expensive book. I'll personally pick it up in the afternoon. Also can you have a car ready for me around 7?"
"Yes sir."
"Thank you." The vampire then returned to his papers that were scattered all over his desk.
Giles had hardly slept. The watcher had been most of the morning finding contacts to get more information. It was always about information.
"Damn" The man anxiously flipped through his small notebook. He had just tried contacting one of his old acquaintances from his "Ripper" days. He figured that whoever was trying to bring forth a Hell god, would be messing with dark evil things. He picked up the phone again and waiting for an answer.
"Yes, hello this is Rupert Giles, I'm looking for Noah." Giles patiently waited to hear an old familiar voice.
"Rupert?" A deep gritty voice came through.
"Noah? Yes this is Rupert."
"Still alive then? I was sure death would have claimed you by now."
"I assure you it's not for lack of trying my friend." The watcher smiled and then quickly got to the point. "I apologize for my bluntness but I need to know what you know about Hell gods."
The man on the other line was silent for a few seconds. "Why?"
Giles leaned over a table full of books. "Noah, the First evil is threatening to bring forth a Hell god and open another dimension. I can assure you that helping me will save your business. You need not worry."
"The first? I heard rumors you and your slayer had closed down that hell mouth in California. How the hell did the First regroup so fast?"
Giles shook his head. He was reluctant to release more information to his one time friend but it was the only way to get the information he needed.
"We are not sure yet. Noah your expertise here could help. All I know is that there is a key to the dimension and the First needs some sort of vessel to summon the Hell god in order to use that key." Giles inwardly flinched every time he said key, he saw his pseudo daughter flash in his head.
"Rupert you are indeed in need of my expertise. However I cannot relay all of this information over the phone."
"What can you tell me?"
"I will call you at this number once I can arrange for us to meet. See you soon Rupert." With that cryptic good-bye the call ended.
Giles hung up the phone. He shoved his notebook in his pocket and headed for Angel's Office. He knew Noah would want some form of payment. He also didn't trust Noah very much. The man he had known decades before had turned into a dealer within the demon community. Noah was a very dangerous alliance to have but it was the only real lead he had.
"Well Faith it looks like your arm is healing at abnormal speeds. It's to be expected from a slayer." Mike finished pulling and testing out Faith's injured arm. "You will have to do some therapy for it though. A lot of your muscle got torn up and you are going to have to rebuild it."
The man pulled out two rope looking things from his white coat.
"This blue one you can use with a door." The man stood by the door and hooked one end of the elastic rope on the doorknob. "It will give you some resistance and help you get full motion of your arm."
Then he pulled out a green rope. "This one can also be used like this but you can move up in resistance by tying knots on it."
Faith looked at the man like he was crazy. "Can't I just do my normal training?"
Mike shook his head. "No. You have to first regain all the muscle you tore up, and then you can go back to training. It's necessary you go through therapy. Your shoulder, despite having 'super slayer' healing is still human."
"I'll make sure she does it." Buffy chimed in.
"Good. I will have the lab results from your blood by tomorrow but so far everything looks good. I will see you tomorrow yes?" The doctor looked up.
"You got it doc. One more thing though, when would you say I could be ready for activities such as jogging or dancing?"
Mike looked a bit confused "Excuse me?"
Buffy only smiled and looked on as the man in front of Faith processed the question.
"I'm dying here doc. I want to go out for a jog or go dancing. Can I do that?"
"I wouldn't recommend it. I would be more comfortable to say that in 4 to 6 days you would be better equipped to do so. You can however do some walking and of course your therapy."
"Thank you." Buffy replied before Faith could ask anymore questions regarding training.
"Well I will see you two tomorrow. Remember to do your therapy twice a day." The doctor exited the room.
Buffy took a few steps closer to Faith. "I know you are restless, but just wait a little while longer. I promise it'll be worth it." The blonde felt compelled to say something to make the other slayer smile. Although Faith had been a real trooper through the whole visit she could sense Faith's anxiety. She understood the need to be active.
"I just want to do something B." Faith said standing up and grabbing the elastic ropes the doctor had left for her. "Something more than this."
"I know." Buffy reached out to grab Faith's hand. "How about we go back to your room you do your therapy and then you come with me to the gym."
Faith's face lit up. "Training?"
Buffy shook her head. Faith really was stubborn." Well not for you. But you can use the treadmill in there and you can watch and criticize the new kids. It'll be fun. Remember you are going to have to help out with them."
Faith reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But if any of them give me shit. . ." Buffy stopped the threat coming from Faith's mouth with a kiss.
When she pulled back she finished Faith's sentence. "I'll show them why we are the chosen two."
Faith smirked. She was really digging this over protective blonde. "Yeah?" Faith asked as she leaned in to capture the blonde's lips this time wrapping her arms around her waist bringing the feisty blonde closer.
A/N I can't make promises of a quick update since Finals and Term papers are going to start chocking the life out of me in the next coming weeks. However, hopefully during the summer I can dive back into my writing mode. Please Please Please Please review an let me know what you think about the story. I am still very addicted to reviews. There was an intervention but failed miserably. So please wonderful readers keep me addicted to reviews.