A/N: Cookies? I have taken so long to continue this story and I'm ashamed. Now I'm not going into what the hell has been going on with my life but many things got in the way and this chapter just kept getting pushed around. However I think this is the longest chapter thus far. I'm hoping that makes up for some of the long wait. I hope I still have some followers out there and be sure to let me know if you are still with this story.
Disclaimer (I haven't done one in all the chapters but this applies to all the chapters and the entire story): I don't own any of the characters related to the wonderful creations by Joss Whedon. I only own the computer I type this on.
Enjoy.
Ch. 14 Plans
"Wake up" A voice demanded.
The vampire took a few moments to open his eyes and when he did, darkness greeted his sight. He quickly got to his feet looking around to find the owner of the voice.
"Angelus you are far away from home." the voice spoke up once again. As his vision adapted to the darkness he looked around but he was alone in the middle of what seemed a war zone.
"You should get back, little girls are not going to kill themselves you know?"
Angel began to climb his way out of the ruble he seemed to have been transported to hoping to find some answers. He ignored the voice that kept whispering things fully knowing it was the First trying to get to him.
Once he emerged from the hole he was in, he realized exactly where he was. "Sunnydale."
"Yup. Didn't think I'd get to see the mess I made."
Angel turned around to come face to face with his English counterpart. "Spike. ." Angel took a step towards the other vampire only to pass right through the blonde's body.
"Oh don't get you knickers in a bunch. I'm dead dead." Spike said.
Angel began to walk away from the other vampire thinking it was the First's attempt to once again mess with his head. However his fast pace was no match for the power that 'ghost Spike' had. The British vampire appeared in front of the man. Angel halted his pace.
"Listen here, I don't got much time here and you know very well I'd rather be visiting a certain blonde slayer but I'm not. I was sent here to you. Now listen to me." Spike waited for Angel to respond.
"Were you the one talking to me earlier?" The older vampire asked as he looked around.
Spike took out a cigarette from his jacket and a lighter and lit the cigarette. "I just got here."
Angel looked at the other vampire confused "How can you do that?"
Spike shrugged "Hell if I know. I just know once I did my little clean up scene here the powers that be have been using little old me as their messenger boy."
Angle still confused pointed at his mouth. "No, not that, how can you smoke? Aren't you a ghost or something?"
Spike took a long drag from the cigarette "Don't know. Looks like the powers have a sense of humor huh?" The blonde vampire quickly finished his cigarette.
"So are you going to explain to me what's going on?" Angel questioned impatiently.
Spike grinned, "It's inside of you Angel. Can't you feel it?"
"Angelus?" Angel asked feeling frustrated. Had he lost control to Angelus?
"It will burn you Angel, from your ashes it will rise." Spike began to fade away and Angel was left alone once again.
"I'm not the key"Buffy whispered. The blonde slayer was still reeling from the nightmare she had been sucked in. How could this be? She asked herself. Faith was holding her not saying a word. Buffy didn't know if Faith figured it out or if she was still processing but the message was loud and clear. The fates were playing a cruel trick. Buffy moved her self closer to the other woman.
"Faith?" the younger slayer had a far off look and Buffy once again tried to reach the woman. "Faith listen to me, this doesn't change anything."
Faith chuckled and shook her head. She disentangled her self from Buffy. "It changes everything." The brunette walked towards a mirror and she looked at her self. She looked into her eyes and all the memories of everything she had been trying to atone for came rushing back. The death of Allen Finch and the professor plagued her thoughts. All the hurt she had created for everyone. "I'm the bad guy now aren't I?"
Buffy quickly rushed to Faith's side "No. You're the good guy now remember? Don't do this Faith please don't do this."
The blonde was trying to stay as calm as possible. Her stomach was turning her heart about to break because she knew exactly where Faith was going. The younger slayer was going down the same path she had after the terrible death of the mayor's deputy. She could sense it in their connection. Faith was already pulling away setting up walls so that no one, not even Buffy her self, could reach her.
"You need to get away from me Buffy." Faith opened the door wanting nothing more than for the blonde to leave her room.
"I'm no leaving you. Faith this isn't high school we will get through this." Buffy tried to put her hand on Faith's shoulder but the other woman quickly moved away. "Fine I'll leave." She made her way towards the door to the stairs. Before the brunette could exit the room, Buffy blocked her path. "You have to think about this."
Faith pushed passed Buffy preparing for a physical fight with the other slayer however as she made her way through the door and down the stairs Buffy was right behind her pleading with her.
Right before they got to the main floor Buffy once again jumped out in front to impede Faith's escape. "No! You don't get to walk away this time Faith. I'm not going to let you."
"What's with the double standard B? Last time I remember you took off when you found out you were the key. So back the hell off." The brunette pushed passed her and walked away relieved Buffy had not followed her.
Buffy waited a few minutes by the stairs debating weather or not to go after the other slayer. Against her need to be by Faith's side, the blonde decided to give her some space. She slowly walked back up the stairs to her room and collapse on her bed. She couldn't sleep but she just needed to let go of the tears that were waiting to fall. Buffy told her self that Faith just needed space to process everything. She reminded her self that this wasn't high school and both of them had grown up and changed. However she still feared that Faith would take some drastic measures.
After taking a few deep breaths, of fresh as you can get L.A. air, the slayer let some tears fall down her face. Her world was once again upside down. The slayer began to quickly make her way away from the building hoping the further she got away the easier it would become to think and breathe properly.
Faith finally came to a stop in front of a bar. She checked her pockets for some cash and made her way inside.
The small bar was pretty empty only a few people were in there drinking away their troubles. As she approached the bar the bartender greeted her.
"What can I get for you miss?"
Faith looked around "Give me a shot of tequila and a beer."
The bartender quickly went to serve her the drinks and took a few seconds to talk to her once again. "Heart break or midlife crisis?"
She looked at the man for a few seconds and ignored his question.
"Most people who come here is because of heart break or a midlife crisis, and you look too young for a midlife crisis. Even too young to drink" The older looking bartender cleaned an invisible mark off the tabletop.
"It's neither and I'm old enough so butt out pal." Faith said taking a long chug of her beer.
"Fine. You just looked troubled. Here have another drink on the house." The man poured another shot of tequila and waited for Faith to down it again and then moved away from the brooding slayer.
Faith wanted to think clearly and even though she knew alcohol would do the exact opposite she needed it to deal with the magnitude of the situation. How had it become so messed up? Angel was the hell god trying to kill her because somehow she was a magical key that opened up a hell dimension that would destroy the world.
"Fuck"
"I'll say. Drinking before the sun is down. Things are pretty fucked up huh?"
Faith turned to look at the owner of the voice almost tripping backwards as she saw it was Spike. "Hey love, you look like you've seen a ghost."
The slayer looked around to see if anyone else spotted the man but apparently it was only her who saw this guy. She tried to walk away fearing it was the First trying to get to her.
The blonde vampire frowned and shook his head "Why does everyone do that to me?" He followed after her outside to an alley. He extended his hand out trying to catch the dwindling rays of the sun. He couldn't really feel the warmth of the sun but he liked the fact he could walk out during the daytime.
"I know who you are so get the fuck away from me." Faith threatened holding her beer bottle so hard it was ready to shatter.
"No. You don't know. I'm not the First if that's what you are thinking and I'm bloody tired of everyone thinking I am. I saved the world you know? I died a Hero and all you people have been doing is thinking I'm the First."
Faith studied the vampire and burst out in laughter she chugged the rest of her beer and tossed the bottle against a wall.
"You must be Spike." Faith blurted out in between laughs.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Faith held her stomach and waited for the laughter to stop "Just saying big guy, that not even the First could pull off those lines. So what are you here for? Don't tell me you are like my spirit guide or something because honestly I can't handle any more terrible news."
Spike fixed his jacket "I don't know what I am. All I know is that I was talking to and old friend a while ago and now I'm here talking to my favorite person in the world."
Faith chuckled at the last part of the statement. She began to walk out from the alley and into the street. She could feel the alcohol effects on her but knew that it would take a lot more drinks to even give her a healthy buzz. However she could feel the empty warmth the alcohol provided. Spike followed silently behind her. After a good while of walking aground Faith walked up to a window and got some keys for a motel room. The sun would be setting soon and as much as she wanted to go out and do some slaying, she knew the moment she did word would get out and Buffy could find her.
She opened the door to the small rundown room and breathed in the stale smell that had become way too familiar over her stays in Sunnydale. "Home sweet home." She said as she plopped down on the bed.
"So are you like going to watch me sleep or something?" Faith kicked off her boots.
Spike looked in the mirror hoping to maybe see anything that would show up. He was fed up with being used by the powers that be. He would be in one place then be in another in a blink of an eye and the things he knew made no sense. It frustrated the British vampire. He knew he was being used for good, but he hated that he couldn't really intervene himself. He was a slave and he hated it.
"Ewww I'm not Angel princess. I don't know when I'll be called away again or when I'll get the message the powers want you to know. So I guess until any of that happens I'm stuck with you." Spike settled into the small couch in the room.
"Oh no I can't get stuck with you. How about you tell the powers to hurry the hell up and send you that message so you can get out of my hair?"
"Pff I wish it was that simple." Spike said pulling out a cigarette out and lighting it.
"How can you do that?" Faith slid to the end of the bed and sat up.
"You are all the same aren't ya?" Spike took a long drag from the lit cigarette and exhaled. "A perk I suppose for being the Power's bitch."
"Well at least you got some benefit from playing for the good guys."
"Oh bugger not like you don't have perks." Spike stated somehow knowing that Faith and Buffy had a thing.
"Yeah like what? Short lifespan? Putting in danger those around me? Losing my sanity? Yeah those are all great perks." Faith shouted standing up and pacing the room.
Spike smirked "You know those are not the perks. . " the vampire got up "I'd think nailing the slayer would be worth it."
Faith stopped her pacing and stood face to Face with Spike. "What the fuck did you just say?"
Spike chuckled, "You and Buffy, you two have been doing some extra curricular activities haven't you?"
The brunette just stared into his eyes wishing she could somehow get her hands on Spike's apparition. She scrunched her hand into a fist and aimed for Spike's nose. She knew that her fist would go right through him but she still wanted to throw out the punch.
"OW! Son of a Bitch." Spike yelled out taking a step back holding his nose in his hands. He looked up to see Faith stunned at what just had happened. He took the opportunity to try and launch his own attack but he just slipped right through the slayer.
"Oh bloody hell." He looked up and began to rant "Oh sure let her punch me and what do I get to do ? Nothing!"
Faith shook off her shock and once again approached the vampire fist ready to throw another blow. Spike threw his hands up in the air "Would you quit that? I'm not gonna hurt you."
Faith dropped her fist and took a seat on the bed. "What the hell was that?"
The blonde vampire looked at Faith cautiously making sure she wasn't going to hit him again. "I don't know but I'm pretty sure you are not supposed to be . . ." Spike didn't finish his sentence before he disappeared from the room leaving Faith stunned.
Buffy lay in her bed for a several hours. The slayer wanted to go beat something again but she was also tired. She didn't feel like moving or making an effort to do anything. She wanted to stay there until Faith would show up and hold her, but she knew that wasn't likely.
"BUFFY!" Dawn shirked followed by pounding on the door.
"Go AWAY!" Buffy demanded. She didn't have time to deal with Dawns often-childish tirades.
"Buffy its Spike!" Dawn continued to pound on the door. Seconds later the slayer almost pried the door open and faced Dawn.
"What?" Buffy asked looking around.
"Spike, he's in my room. He kind of just appeared there! I thought he was the First but I don't think he is. He told me to come find you."
Buffy didn't speak as she began to walk rapidly towards Dawn's room.
"How can this be? You think he is being used by the First?" Dawn asked only to be met with silence. As they approached the room Buffy stopped and turned towards Dawn.
"Hey I need you to give me a few minutes with him okay? I need to make sure he is who he says he is."
Dawn frowned and was ready to protest but the look her sister shot her made her stop. The young Summers nodded and walked away.
Buffy slowly opened the door and saw the blonde vampire sitting on Dawn's bed holding his nose for some reason. Once he spotted her he quickly approached the slayer.
"Punch Me," He demanded.
Buffy stepped away from him confused. "What?"
"Would you just punch me!" He kept getting closer to the woman.
Buffy looked a bit unsure but she threw out a punch and went straight through the man.
"Bloody Hell." Spike yelled sitting once again on the bed.
"Okay what was that?" The blonde slayer asked.
Spike shrugged "Your guess is as good as mine slayer."
"What are you?"
Spike smirked "Some sort of messenger for the powers I suppose."
"You remember the dreams?" Buffy asked taking a seat in a nearby chair.
"Every bit. So you and the other slayer are like together now?" He sounded a bit jealous
Buffy hesitated to respond looking down at her feet. " We are trying to but I'm not sure where we are at. Look I don't need you to get all jealous here okay?"
"Well it's obvious you two are supposed to be together you guys practically eye fuck each other even back in Sunnydale. OW OW" Spike held his head as a searing pain threatened to split his head wide open. At his distress Buffy went to his side but there was nothing she could do except wait for the vampire to come back from the pain.
Spike shook his head a couple times and spoke "I think I know too much and I shouldn't be talking to you."
Buffy took a seat next to the vampire and stared at him blankly. "Then why are you here Spike? Are you here just to frown upon me and Faith?"
"Listen kit, I'm here against the will of the powers. They are using me but not helping much. You need to go find the other slayer. Bad things . . . Spike began to fade ". . . They want you to kill it."
Buffy watched as the vampire faded away and she was left alone without warning. As she exited the room Dawn ran up to her.
"Can I talk to him now? Is he really Spike?" As the girl peaked into her room, her face saddened noting that the vampire was gone.
"Dawn listen, I'll explain later. I need to go talk tow Willow. Please just don't tell anyone about this." As Buffy began to walk away Dawn spoke up.
"It's because of that dream isn't it?" Dawn wanted some form of explanation for the bizarre vision thing she had while doing research.
Buffy nodded "Yes. Dawn please I promise we will talk about this later but right now I really need to go do this okay?"
Dawn waited for Buffy to disappear around a corner and then went back into her room.
"Will I need to talk to you."
Willow looked up from her book. "What's up?"
"Could we go to my room to talk?" Buffy looked around noting that there were several slayers helping with some research and Giles back at his office.
The redhead quickly packed her things and walked towards the slayer. The two scoobies walked in silence until they reached Buffy's room.
"So what's going on?" the witch asked plopping down on Buffy's bed.
"Faith ran off."
"What? Why? Did you two have a fight?" Willow's face grew weary and she placed her hand on the slayer's arm to try and comfort her friend.
"Kind off. I really don't want to get into it but I just need to find her. She's pulling away again and I don't want that to happen." Buffy thought about fully disclosing the new information but she rather everyone think she was the key. It would keep everyone, especially Faith, safer.
"Okay so what can I do to help?" Willow switched to business mode.
"I was hoping you could do a locator spell or something so I can find her and talk to her."
Willow nodded "Yeah. Let me just gather the supplies and I can do one in a little bit."
"Thanks Will.." Buffy looked a way for a few seconds trying to contain her tears. "So how's the research going?"
Willow noted Buffy's change in subject but decided to go along with it. "Well we are looking into ways to separate the hell god from Angel and it's very complicated. You don't have to worry about that though. I'm also working on a pendant kind of like that orb that repelled Glory. I should have it conjured up soon and you can wear it in case he gets near you it will separated you from him; I just have to work out the kinks. We also had the covenant set up an alarm system in case it shows up again. And on top of that, they have these demons that can alert us of vampires present."
"Thanks Will." Buffy said as she brought her friend in a hug. She, along with a few others had been working non-stop on this and she also was very grateful Willow hadn't press on the issue regarding Faith.
"Anytime. I'm going to go and gather that stuff for the spell. I'll let you know when its ready." Willow hugged her friend again and walked out of the slayer's room.
The noise in the building made the walls tremble. Kennedy stood in the gym in front of dozens of new slayer just like her self.
"All right this is not a drill!" Kennedy moved towards cabinets and chest full of weapons. "Jennifer!" she called out looking for the blonde girl who had been quick to assume a leadership position within the short time there.
"Right here." The young blonde spoke up and made her way through the crowd of girls.
"We need to get in formation. Those of you who have trained with crossbows go with Jenn. The rest grab any of the weapons in the chest and follow me. I need the crossbow up top. Lets go and remember stick with your partners."
Kennedy immediately began handing out weapons and crossbows. This is what they had been training for. The alarms had been set off warning them that Angel and the Hell god were nearby the area most likely making his way to the building.
"Now remember no one takes a shot at him. The point is to contain him or drive him away. Any of you think it's a smart idea to go up against this thing I'll kill you my self if he doesn't, clear?" Kennedy made eye contact with several of the more rebellious girls who nodded. She quickly took her group down to the lobby and met up with her girlfriend who was working on a spell along with Giles to try and create a barrier.
Kennedy listened into her ear peace tracking the movements of a now confirmed Angel. The vampire was a few yards away from the building.
"He's approaching the entrance."
Angel was nearing his building he could sense all the weapons pointed at him and all the tension. He was a bit confused but figured that if Angelus managed to escape his prison, he must have done some damage he couldn't remember. He was nervous but determined to put back his demon into the depths of his mind. As he reached the doors a wall of magic and several dozen swords and crossbows greeted him.
"Not the welcome back party I expected." Angel said as he smirked and hesitantly inched his way forward.
Willow was the first to note that as soon as the vampire entered, the demons that were supposed to go off didn't.
Giles took a cautious step towards the vampire "Angel if that is you, you must surrender your self; do you understand?"
Angel looked around at all the wooden weapons pointed at his chest. He looked around for Buffy or Faith but didn't see them he wondered where the two were.
"I don't know what I did. But I'm willing to cooperate here. Giles it's me."
The British librarian nodded and approached him "I'm sorry but in order to prove that, you must surrender to us." The man approached Angel and he waited for he vampire to stick his hands up in the air. Willow then approached tightly followed by Kennedy.
The witch tied a rope around the vampire's wrist and then spoke a few words to enchant the restrains. Giles then signaled for one of the slayer so bring a restraining vest and cautiously put it on Angel.
Angel was a bit surprised in all the precautions they had taken. He wondered what he must have done for them to react like this. He panicked not knowing what he had done as Angelus. Every time he had lost control, he had been able to remember. It was part of his torture. Every time Angelus would kill and torture those around him Angel would carry all those memories, but not this time and that worried the old vampire. Before he could look around and use his supper senses to sense Buffy he was blinded by a cloth over his head that hindered all of his senses; obviously reinforced by magic.
After an eternity, and he was sure it was longer than that, Angel finally was able to see where he was.
"You must forgive us Angel we needed to take as many precautions as possible with you." Giles sat down on a chair across from the apparent cell he was in. He wondered if he was even in his building anymore.
"Don't worry about it. Where's Buffy?" Angel looked around as much as he could his body was immobile and he could barely move his head. He was in some sort of bubble that kept his body still.
"How about you tell me what you remember for the last couple of days, and you tell me about the blood you were craving?" Giles took his glasses off showing the stress he was under.
"Is she okay?" Angel wondered.
"Angel if we are to make sure everyone is safe here, you must answer my questions."
The vampire took a few moments and then looked directly at Giles "I started craving blood a while back. I told Faith about it, I'm guessing she told you about it. Faith, . . . is she okay?"
Giles only nodded and waited for Angel to continue. He rather not complicate the interrogation by letting the vampire know of Faith's current MIA.
"So the day we told Buffy that she was the key, I had an appointment with a healer. He was supposed to help me look into my self and the energy surrounding my curse to see if there was something going on with it. I was put in a trance. I was dragged out of the room and they carved something on me but it's not there anymore I checked. Then I got knocked out. When I woke, up I searched around for Faith but I didn't find her. I got here to the building and I remember seeing you. Faith caught up with me and I was helping her clean her injuries and I blanked out. Then I woke up in Sunnydale."
Giles jotted down some notes "Tell me about this trance you were in. what was it like?"
Angel closed his eyes and though back to that room he was in. "It was dark and I was face to face with Angelus. He seemed weak." Angel blinked a few times "I'm not sure why but he almost seemed afraid."
Giles stood up from his chair "Afraid?"
"Yes. He was afraid. I thought he was pissed off because I was trying to put him back, but now thinking back, he was afraid." The vampire tried to shake his head but his restrains prevented him from doing so. "So can you please tell me what happened? How did I end up in Sunnydale?"
Giles stood from his chair "Angel I know this is hard for you but until we fully figure out what is going on, I'm afraid any information we give you could potential put us all in danger."
The watcher walked away leaving Angel with his thoughts.
As Giles walked down a hallway and up some stairs he was greeted by Willow who quickly upon Giles' exit through a door enchanted the lock.
"So how is he?" The witch asked walking next to him past her girlfriend and 11 other slayers guarding the door.
"He seems like himself. He doesn't seem to recall when he turn into the hell god."
Willow nodded "Well that's consistent to the last time this happened. So what are we going to do with Angel? I'm not sure all of these restrains will hold the hell god."
"Yes, we must find a way to separate them two before he changes again. In the mean time we must keep Buffy away from Angel. Have you spoken with her?"
"No. She's been in the safe house since we got word that Angel was near by." Willow took a seat in the passenger side of a car and waited for Giles to drive off.
"Have we heard from Faith?"
Willow looked at her phone "Nope. We have several of the girls out looking for her in the places where my spell tracked her to but something keeps interfering. I have a bad feeling about it. "
The watcher took a few turns and arrived in the parking lot for the hotel. Willow was about to exit the vehicle when Giles' hand stopped her.
"Willow if we can't separate this thing from Angel we might have to eliminate him. I know I have no right to ask you this but it may come down to you against him. You still are the strongest weapon we have. I need to know you will not hesitate if it comes down to him or the world."
Willow took in a sharp breath "Geeze Giles I don't know if I'm the strongest weapon. We have an army of slayers." The witch tried to calm her self down processing everything the man had asked her to potentially do.
"I'm serious Willow. I'm not sure Buffy would be able to do this and less Faith. We may have an army but it's not enough. Something tells me this is far worse than Glory and you must be prepared to do these things."
Willow only nodded and exited the car.
"It's been four days Will, I have to get out here and look for her." Buffy reached out for her coat but Willow stopped her.
"Buffy you have to stay here. Angel knows you are the key and if somehow that gets out or already got out, . . ."
Buffy interrupted her friend. "I know but you have to listen to me. Faith is out there and we need her in this. What if the First got to her? She could be laying in a coma again." Buffy wrapped her arms around her body holding her jacket like it was her lifeline. "Will I can't sense her anymore. We always had this connection and the only times I wasn't able to sense her were when she was in a coma. It could be worse she could be dead Will." Buffy stared into her friends eyes hoping she wouldn't need to explain any more but Willow nodded and handed her a small pendant "Okay but you have to take a few things with you." Willow tied a band on her wrist and handed her the pendant she had taken out seconds ago. "We will be able to find you should anything go wrong. This thing. . ." She lifted up the pendant on a silver chain, "Will repel the First and Hell God. I'm not planning on Angel getting out anytime soon but just in case. You should take some of the girls with you."
Buffy sloppily hugged her friend "Thanks Will but I rather go alone. You guys need all hands on deck. Call me if anything changes." The blonde walked out past a small brigade of slayers set on protecting their leader. They began to follow her "Don't follow me."
The girls halted and watched the blonde slayer walk away.
Buffy walked a few blocks away from her safe house that had been set up by Mike and Giles. As soon as they got word of Angel's return Buffy was sent away to another location away from the HQ building. She had gone with her team of slayer guards willingly. Faith had been gone for almost Five days now and neither Willow nor Xander had been able to find the other slayer. Now all the resources were being channeled into containing and saving Angel. She understood the overall big picture priority but she couldn't let Faith slip to the back of her mind.
She looked at her watch noting how much she had wondered around. "Great" She took a seat on a bus stop bench and took a deep breath. "If I were Faith where would I go?" She said out loud. She looked at the map near by hoping she could just get some sort of hunch of where her counterpart could be. Then she felt it. The warm feeling that spread up her spine. Her heart sped up and her slayer senses re-awakened.
Buffy got up and began to sprint in the direction that her body guided her. She ran past a crowd outside a club and across several dangerous intersections. She finally stopped and looked up trying to catch her breath. Her muscles were heated and her heart was racing.
"Of course . . ." She wiped some sweat from her forehead. "She had to be here, like she doesn't have a nice room back at HQ" She looked around and walked towards the office for the motels.
"Excuse me. " the blonde peaked over the desk trying to get the attention of an older looking man.
"What can I do for you sweetheart?"
"Hi." She smiled "I'm looking for my friend. She is about this tall, brunette, has a real bad-ass girl attitude, beautiful dark-chocolate brown eyes?"
The man chuckled at the last description the slayer gave him. He pretended to think for a bit then he looked through his book.
"I might have seen her. I might need some encouragement to remember." He slowly placed his hand on Buffy's forearm. The slayer quickly retracted her arm from the counter looking a bit shocked at the man's advances.
"Is there a problem here Steve?"
The sleazy man took a step back fear oozing from his body. However Buffy failed to notice since she immediately recognize the owner of the voice.
"Faith!" Buffy ran up to her and entangled herself around the woman's body. However Faith didn't react, she somberly waited for the blonde to let go and then walked out waiting for the other slayer to follow her.
The two slayers made their way into Faith's room.
"You didn't like your room back at HQ?" Buffy lightly stated looking around the room noting the bottles of alcohol scattered around in the room. She didn't want to fight with Faith she just wanted them to be okay somehow, regardless of all the shit that had been raining on them lately.
"Why are you here B?" Faith grabbed a half filled bottle of some dark liquid and took a chug.
"Faith I've been worried sick. We all have been worried."
Faith chuckled "Well I'm alive so put your worry to rest. Now if you wouldn't mind I have places to be." The brunette had spent most of her time drunk at random bars and picking fights with very large bikers and any otherworldly bad thing she could bump into. She was spiraling out of control and she knew this. She wanted to stop her self but didn't know how.
"The only place you are going is to the safe house we have for you. We can get through this you just have to trust us. Trust me." Buffy approached Faith who was struggling to respond, "You can trust me Faith."
Buffy looked into the troubled eyes of her girlfriend and leaned in to kiss her lips. She tenderly leaned back and waited for the other woman's response.
"I can't go back with you guys. I'd be putting all of you in danger. Now don't make me kick you out B. " Faith stumbled a few steps forward.
Buffy shook her head. Faith could be so stupidly stubborn sometimes. "I'm sorry Faith." With that the blonde took a shot at Faith's jaw and punched her hard enough to drop the other woman. Normally Faith wouldn't go down so easily but the blonde knew Faith was somewhat if not completely trashed.
The blonde checked to make sure Faith was knocked out but otherwise all right and then took out her cell phone. After a few seconds her best friend's voice broke through the phone rings.
Willows voice was filled with concerned "did you find her?"
Buffy looked down at Faith and exhaled a sigh of relief "Yeah I need you to send Xander out here to help me out."
"Is she okay? Buffy she didn't . . ." Willow failed to finish her thought.
"No Will, she's okay. Well she is knocked out, but she is fine."
Buffy briefly explained what happened and then patiently waited for Xander to arrive. The two scoobies safely transported the sleeping slayer to the safe house.
Giles was once again sitting across from Angel trying to get as much information as possible and gauge how much danger the vampire posed. It had been days and the vampire had not turned into the hell god. From what the watcher could tell, Angel was still able to remain divided between himself, Angelus, and the Hell god.
"Angel."
The vampire slowly opened his eyes fully knowing who was calling him.
"There is someone else." Angel said looking straight into Giles' eyes. "That's whom Angelus is afraid of. "
"Why do you suppose that?" Giles asked calmly trying not to give away anything. The safety of all the people in the operation including his slayer depended on his ability to keep Angel from loosing it .The fact that Angel was now self aware of the second being in him was very troubling.
"I don't suppose Giles. I can feel it. I didn't realize it or maybe I chose to ignore it, but it's there. What is it?" Angel continued to sternly stare at the watcher.
"I'm not sure. Could you describe what this thing feels like?"
"Giles I need to know. It's the hell god isn't it?"
The British man tried not to give anything away but his pause while writing was all the confirmation the vampire needed. Giles stared into Angel's eyes noticing all the turmoil the unfortunate dead man was in.
Faith slowly opened her eyes sliding her hands up to her head. She felt like she had been drinking for a few weeks and her face hurt like a mother. When she finally looked around with her somewhat clear vision, she saw Buffy's green eyes staring at her then she noticed the blondes lips tucked a bit under her teeth looking very cute.
"What the Fuck?"
"I'm so sorry Faith," Buffy handed her an ice pack "you were really drunk and got really stubborn."
Faith took her time to sit up and started to vaguely remember what had happened.
"Fuck. Fuck Fuck." The brunette made an Attempt for the door but it was locked and not even her slayer strength was able to force it open.
"Faith calm down." Buffy went to pull the other slayer away from the door. Faith stepped away without a fight and cracked her knuckles.
"What the Fuck B? I don't even get a choice anymore? You guys decided to lock me up?"
Buffy shook her head " No we are not locking you up. Could you please calm down so I can explain?"
Faith paced back and forth punching the door and then finally felt a bit of release from all the tension she had been feeling. She looked back at the door that failed to show any sign of damage.
"What's up with this door? If you say I'm not locked up why is door solid?" Faith relaxed for a bit and stood in front of Buffy feeling her muscles ease back from all the tension they had been in.
The blonde took this chance to entangle her arms around the other slayer holding her in a strong embrace.
Faith just shook her head "I can't stay near you or anyone. If the hell god gets me,. . ."
"We can figure it out together. You are not alone anymore remember?" Buffy kissed her and pulled back "We've got Angel. He surrendered himself a few days ago. We got him locked up tight and we are safe with each other. We are going to get ahead of this and we are going to be fine."
Faith stared into Buffy's green eyes. She saw the confidence she needed herself to overcome this. She also saw the sparkle that the blonde always seemed to settle her inner demons and activate the tingles that would rise through her spine whenever she was around the other slayer.
"I fucked up B."
"I know. . . but that's okay. Now will you stay here with me?" The blonde pulled away from the embrace she had been keeping, and extended her hand out.
Faith thought about it for a few seconds and then entangled her hands with Buffy. She knew that the best thing would be to stay here for the time being. Getting in a full out brawl with Buffy was not going to help the situation plus she had missed the blonde too much.
Buffy smiled and leaned in for a long kiss. She slowly walked them back to a small love seat collapsing on top of Faith. When the ever so ill-timed oxygen became an issue, the blonde pulled away and smiled. "See isn't this better than getting knocked out?"
Faith smirked "Kinda, but you know that the only reason you were able to take me down that easily was because I was shit-faced." Faith captured Buffy's lips letting the slayer know that she had already forgiven her for knocking her out back at the motel.
Buffy nodded "Okay now you seriously owe me tons of snuggling time for the days you were gone. Plus I'm dead tired."
"Snuggling? I don't know if I can do that. " Faith questioned.
"Sure you can. Just put your arms like this . . ." the blonde reached around to find Faith's arms and set them around her body. "And just like that you are snuggling."
"Grab them and go! Get them to the vehicles and go now!"
Faith was the first one to jump off the couch and into a fighting position. Buffy followed suit seconds later she shook her tiredness away and looked around at the flood of slayers that came pouring in. She recognized most of them and immediately began scanning for Kennedy.
"Faith get Buffy to the car and stay with her. Sarah, and April go with them."
Faith and Buffy looked at each other confirming what they both feared. As Faith was being rushed out of the room she stopped along with Buffy to speak with Kennedy who obviously was the one controlling the situation.
Faith beat Buffy to ask the question on both of their minds. "What the hell is going on Ken?"
The younger slayer looked around and then listened through here ear peace.
"Yes we got them we are about to send them off. Keep me updated." She then turned to look at both of the slayer.
"The hell god is back. He hasn't broken through all the barriers yet but we need to get you guys to our other location ASAP. Now come on and move."
"Willow! Is she okay?" Buffy asked hoping her best friend was okay since most of the power containing the hell god was coming from her.
Kennedy looked down for a second "She's holding it together but I'm not sure how long she can do that. That's why we need to get you guys out of here ASAP. As soon as we have you two secure Willow can pull back a little. Now please get out of here. I'll be following you guys in a few minutes.
Buffy and Faith then hopped on an SUV along with a few other slayers and they drove off. Buffy reached out for Faith's hand and the two entangled their hands together. They were not used to running from trouble or from a fight. It was against their nature. They could both feel the unsettling feeling that was rising in their stomach. However they understood they had to stick to the plan and they were doing it to keep each other safe.
A/N: Wow congratulations you read through the whole chapter have some more cookies! Please please please review and let me know how I'm doing. I'm already working on the next chapter but I can't make any promises as to how long that will take, but if you like this story keep with it I will continue to update it. Lastly I want to tell all of you how incredibly awesome you all are. Interwebs hugs for all of you, and or cookies for those who don't feel comfortable with the hugs. Happy holidays! ! !