I don't know how long I was out, or how I ended up where I did. Last thing I remember, I was bein' wailed on by a group of the ugly ass blue fuckers. Dunno why in the fuck I thought I'd go down there alone, must have a little brain damage left over from the last time I guess. So anyways the next thing I know, I'm back in the dorm with Buffy and my entire body hurts like a total motherfucker.

"B?" I managed to croak out, though it hurt like shit. Guess I gotta keep my mouth shut.

"Faith, I'm here." She whispered. I noticed I was in her bed, and she was sittin' on the ground right beside me holding a bloody wash cloth, like she was cleaning me up. "Are you okay?" I opened my mouth to reply, but she stopped me. "And I swear if you say 'five by five' I'm going to knock you right back into unconsciousness."

Goddammit, I guess I really pissed her off.

"I'm cool, B. Aside from all the blindin' pain and shit... I'll live." That's when I noticed something - she was covered in cuts, bruises, and blue gunk. Fuck!! "You saved me again, didn't ya?"

"Lucky for you, yes, I managed to swoop in and save the day just in the nick of time." Damn it she has her angry face. I hate the angry face, it always means I'm in deep shit. "What the hell were you thinking, going down there by yourself, still all injured from the last time?"

"I dunno... I just... I wanted to prove I could take 'em out on my own, you know?" Sounds pretty damn stupid when its said out loud... But it sure made sense at the time.

"Yeah. Well I think we both see how well that worked out."

"Look I'm sorry, aight? Fuck... Ya know I feel like shit already, you don't gotta play the guilt card."

She just looked away, and I swear it seems like she's just seconds away from tears, and I hate myself for makin' her feel like this. Why do I have to be such a fucken 'tard?

"I'm not trying to play the guilt card." She turned to look back at me and now I'm seein' the tears, so I'm ready to start kicking my own ass. "I just... I've found myself caring about you more and more each day, and to think about what might have happened if I hadn't shown up... You can't keep doing this to me. I don't know if I can handle it."

"I said I'm sorry, what more do ya need?" That probably wasn't the best thing I coulda said judging by the look she gave me, but gimme a break here I just got my face pounded in my some mutant Smurfs.

"I need you to promise me you'll stop putting yourself in these positions! That you'll actually try to keep yourself alive!" Oh. So she's just worried about me dyin'? Well shit, I can talk my way outta this one, concussion or not.

"Sure, B. Whatever you say." I don't think that was a good enough response, 'cause now she looks even madder. Fuck...

"Faith I'm serious." She took one of my hands, real gentle 'cause of all the scrapes and shit I got, and looked at me all intently. Even through the haze of my semi conscious state I could tell she's real fuckin' serious. "I can't lose you."

I looked back at her just as serious, so she'll know I'm not fuckin' around no more. My girl is worried, so i'll do whatever I have to, to make it right.

"I'm not goin' no where, Buffy. I promise." Use of full name: check. Make a promise: check. Flash the dimples: double check. She's a goner.

"You say that now, but I know you. You can't resist danger, and sooner or later it'll get the best of you. And I don't know what I'd do...."

Umm... well shit, usually I can charm my way out of anything. So what the fuck....? I think she noticed my confusion, and she musta thought it was cute or somethin' 'cause it made her smile a little. I'm startin' to be able to figure out what all her looks mean by now, and that smile means she digs something about me.

"Gotta say, B, that wasn't what I was expectin' to hear." I took a minute to gather my thoughts, try and plan out what to say so there's no more foot in mouth moments, and it seemed to be frustrating her so eventually I just said fuck it and let the words come out naturally. "Didn't think ya cared so much, to be honest. So then... Well, damn, i'll just have to be on my best behavior from now on so ya won't get so nervous, 'cause nervous Buffy isn't my favorite Buffy."

"Good." She nodded, I guess happy enough with that. Which is funny if you ask me, I don't think I'm makin' a hell of a lotta sense right now. "So you'll stay in bed for the next few days to recover?"

"If you make it worth my while, babe." Oh shit I didn't mean for that to slip out! 'Least I don't think so... The whole room is spinnin' so my head must be seriously fucked up right now, more so than usual. "Err... Take that however ya want it."

"Get some rest, Faith." She giggled, and i'll be goddamned it was so adorable. I love bein' the reason she does that.

"Fine." I held my arms out, and after a few seconds of confused starin' she got the idea and climbed into bed with me. "Thanks, B. Ya make a great pillow."

"Just what every girl wants to hear."


I stuck to my word, stayin' in bed for the next few days. Buffy was totally awesome when it came to bein' the 'doting girlfriend', which is really the only reason I didn't give her hell for makin' me stay put for so long. Well that and I'm pretty damn happy about bein' able to skip all my classes for a few days.

I swear I wouldn't be surprised if it was all some kinda weird concussion-spawned dream. I mean, Buffy has been waiting on me hand and foot(whatever the fuck that means), I didn't have to go to class, all I had to do was sit on my ass all day and eat. The only reason I know its real is that I didn't get any hot monkey lovin'.

Anyways its now time for me to leave the confines of the room for the first time - if you don't count bathroom breaks, 'cause Buffy isn't cruel enough to make me use a bed pan - in days. We're off to see Giles at his place so he can train me back into shape. Which is a crock 'o shit if you ask me, 'cause I mean come on! I'm a total bad ass, why does everyone feel the need to baby me?

"As you can see I've cleared some space in the living room to allow you more space to practice the activities you'll be doing." Giles said while leading me and Buffy into said living room. The couches and shit were all pushed up against the wall, and all the paddin' and shit was set out which tells me he thinks he's gonna be the one to take me on.

"Aw hell no, tweed!" I laughed, which made him raise an eyebrow in me all questioningly. "Ya think you can take me on, after what happened the last time?"

"To be fair, you're not in as good of shape as you were then. And I'd like to think your aim has improved...."

Buffy giggled, clearly rememberin' what happened. It was around the time I first showed in Sunny D, and he decided to take over as my watcher, therefore takin' all the duties that came with it. He put on these padded glove dealies and had me practice my aim by punchin' the shit outta 'em. Long story short, I got sorta caught up in the whole thing, so when he made a movement that was just a little too sudden, instinct kicked in - and by instinct I mean my foot to his groin.

Poor guy didn't see it coming. Spent the followin' week hobblin' around like he just got off a horse.

"Hey, I'm totally recovered. Want me to prove it?" I cracked my knuckles to add to the threat. He cleared his throat and removed his glasses to clean 'em off. "That's what I thought." I turned to Buffy and gave her my best grin, and judging by the look she's givin' me she knows I'm gonna say somethin' suggestive. "Ready to get all hot and sweaty together with me, B?"

"Always." She blushed. I tried to keep my mind out of the gutter, I swear I did, but it just ain't me. My mind is on permanent perv mode.

"I'll keep that in mind for the next time we're alone." I winked. Giles cleared his throat again, so I guess its time for business. Damn it.

So I pulled Buffy into the middle of the room and got into a battle stance. After givin' me a weird look (when I get the hornies and they don't get treated I tend to use a little more strength than necessary, musta tugged her a little too hard) she mimicked my stance.

"Please watch out for that lamp." Giles stuttered, while pointin' at an end table that was pushed up along the wall. "It's expensive, not to mention several centuries old. There's not another one like it, to my knowledge..."

"Wow. So there's actually somethin' here as ancient as you?" I laughed. Buffy took advantage of my distraction by swipin' at my feet, knockin' me right down on to my ass. "Fuck, B! Way to play fair..."

"Hey, there's no rules here F." She started to bounce up and down all excited, it was cute as hell. But she did just take advantage of me, so now I gotta kick her ass.

"You're gonna regret that."

I kicked at her feet but she just jumped outta the way. Too bad for her, as I kicked I propelled myself into a spin, so by the time she landed I'd spun around enough that I was able to grab at her and pull her down on top of me. Wasn't a very smart move though - 'cause she may seem light and tiny, but with all that slayer muscle and shit she's real solid. Landed on me so hard I squealed like a little bitch.

"Oh my God, Faith! Are you okay??"

I laughed - or tried to at least, the wind was still knocked outta me - at how quickly she checked up on me.

"Lot better than you're gonna be." I kicked her offa me, sendin' her flying across the room. I was up on my feet before she hit the ground, so I rushed over to put her in a headlock. By this point we were edgin' closer and closer to that end table, though it would be a few seconds too late by the time I realized that. "Oh, shit!"

Buffy had elbowed me in the face, which pushed the both of us right up against the table, the force of it knockin' the lamp off the side. Buffy flung her arms out in an attempt to catch it but it was too late.

"Umm... I hope that was insured?" She winced. I snickered, which just made her elbow my face again.

"No. No, you'd be surprised at the difficulty in ensuring something of such... importance." He removed his glasses and turned away, I guess not wantin' to see the remnants of his poor lamp. "I suppose that's enough of a work out for today. You can... check in with me after your patrol tonight."

Well at least I convinced him I'm recovered?