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Thanks for all the reviews so far. Here`s a slightly longer chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 21

The meeting at the Magic Box had ended and the rest of the gang had spread out, doing more researching and planning on their strategy for tomorrow night. Tara and Willow would give them magical back up if anything went wrong but judging from the amount of vampires they had encountered the night before they had to be prepared and would need a few extra hands.

Tara and Willow had carried a still unconscious Xander to the back room so he wasn`t just lying around on the floor and then went back to planning what they would have to do the following night. Buffy had been talking to Giles for the past ten or so minutes while Faith just sat at the table and stared at her. And Rhaya was looking through the weapons chest and at all the different kinds of weapons the magic box had.

Buffy felt like the back of her head was on fire. She knew Faith was staring at her from the moment she got up from the table to speak with Giles. It made her entire body feel all warm and tingly, like an electric current was running through her entire body making her feel buzzed. As their conversation came to an end Buffy had no choice but to turn around and acknowledge Faith. When their eyes locked she felt like time stopped for the both of them. As cheesy as that sounded, it really did feel like that moment when their eyes met that everything froze just for them.

But Giles clearing his throat destroyed that moment and both slayers unknowingly glared at him at the same time but he didn`t seem to notice."I would advise you both to have a good night's rest, you will need your energy for what`s about to come tomorrow night. And I`m afraid that I`m going to have to ask Buffy to speak with Spike and ask him to assist us tomorrow evening. We will need all the help that we can get."

"What?!"Shouted Buffy indigently but before she could voice her protests someone beat her to it."No way,his more trouble than his worth, and we can handle it. With Red and Blondie's fire power on our side plus two kick-ass Slayers we`ve got enough fire power to take out an entire warehouse." "Faith, I must point out that it is crucial for us not to underestimate what is to come. There might be more vampires then we have anticipated and even though I do detest the notion of asking Spike for help he is a good fighter, and do I have to mention that he had helped us during the whole Glory debacle."He saw his slayer slightly flinch by his mention of Glory but he had to make his point clear.

"No! He almost hurt B-Fuck!!"She quickly composed herself,"If he gets in my way I`m gonna dust the asshole, S`all `I`m sayin`, "She sighed angrily and stood up to go to the back room."I agree with Faith, Giles, do we really need to ask for Spikes help?"As she said this her eyes followed Faith retreating form to the training room."I know that you and Spike have, err...W-well, "he began cleaning his glasses and Buffy had to hold back an eye roll at that, "W-what I`m trying to say is that you may not get along with him but his help will be greatly beneficial to us."He was about to continue his speech to try and convince Buffy of all the positive things that could come from Spike helping them but she interrupted and said."Fine I`ll ask him. But don`t expect him to say yes. You know he only helps us when he can gain something from it. And just for the record, I am totally against asking him for any help and only doing it because you forced me to!"And with that she stomped off to the training room where she knew Faith would be.

Giles just sighed and shook his head at his Slayer. She could be very stubborn at times.

When Buffy got to the training room she was right in her assumptions that Faith was going at it on the punching bag and it looked like it was about to collapse thanks to Buffy previously beating it into an almost oblivion."Hey,"she said softly walking down the stairs and taking a seat on the work out bench. Faith stopped her assaults on the punching bag but didn`t look at Buffy."Are you okay?"Asked Buffy frowning when Faith didn`t respond. She heard her darker counterpart sigh and looked up. Faith was looking at her with various emotions swimming in those dark and intense eyes of hers. But Buffy could tell that she had her walls up around her as usual."Five by five, B,"she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. Buffy wasn`t convinced though.

"I know you're lying Faith."This caused Faith to become angry and she glared at Buffy, "Is that right, princess? "She sneered at the blonde. Buffy ignored her tone and continued, "I can take care of myself. I know Spike is dangerous but I can handle him, and Giles is right we do need every extra hand we can find." "Oh, I know you can handle bleach boy just fine, "said Faith with contempt and spite in her voice, "we all know you would really love to ask him for an extra hand, "she sneered at the blonde once again with her anger just bubbling beneath the surface. But what she didn`t expect was the fist that came sailing towards her face which she barely had time to dodge and got knocked to the ground on her ass.

`Damn B still has a mean right hook! `Thought Faith who began rubbing her jaw which she knew was already starting to bruise. She stood up and wiped the blood from her mouth with her hand and smirked at Buffy. Buffy on the other hand looked horrified at what she had just done and began to apologise."Oh my god! Faith I`m so sorry!!"And she began to approach Faith trying to get a look at what she had done to her face but Faith backed away from her and Buffy stopped her approach with a flash of hurt crossing her face. But Faith didn`t care this time, Buffy had hit her and she wasn`t going to allow her to pretend she was sorry for doing it when she knew Buffy deep down wanted to kick her ass from the moment she returned to Sunnydale.

"No sweat B,"she said still smirking masking what she truly felt."I deserved that an', "But Buffy cut her off and said sternly,"No,"she shook her head furiously from side to side," it`s not alright and you didn`t deserve that."She paused taking a breath ,her voice sounding as if though she was on the verge of tears," I really am sorry Faith."She said the last part in an almost soft whisper as she took a few steps forward and took Faiths hand in hers. Faith didn`t move this time and stayed in her place with Buffy holding her hand. Buffy was so close she could feel the blondes' body heat radiate onto her. She had to fight with herself to keep her eyes open and from sighing in content.

But when Buffy cupped her cheek she couldn`t help it and her eyes closed and she sighed happily. She felt like her entire body was on fire and her bruised jaw was nothing but a dull ache with Buffy's hand on her cheek. Her names being uttered softly from Buffy made her open her eyes and lock onto hazel green eyes instead. They just stood there staring at each other and they both didn`t want to say anything for fear of breaking that moment between them. But Faith felt herself being drawn into the blonde slayer and she yearned to just have that one kiss that she knew would change her life forever. They both were leaning in but then suddenly Faith felt like this wasn`t how it was suppose to be, and they were both avoiding the situation that was going on between them.

Now Faith won`t deny that it took everything she had to pull away from the almost kiss with Buffy and it almost killed her to do it but she needed answers to her questions and to get some things off her chest and so did Buffy. She didn`t want the kiss to be meaningless like so many of her other kisses in the past.' Now I`m a freakin` sap over one simple stupid kiss!!`She was annoyed at herself and internally rolled her eyes at that. She was generally just plain confused at her own actions and it all had to do with the other Slayer who happened to be looking at Faith like a wounded puppy. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat and said taking a step back."B we need to talk, "and when she saw Buffy was about to interrupt she held up her hand but then decided to not tell her what she really intended to but instead said, "I know ya can look out for yourself, but I`m comin` wit ya when ya go an` see the Billy Idol wannabe an`you can`t stop me from comin wit."Faith stared her down and Buffy felt like the air in the room just got ten times hotter.

For some reason she began to feel those butterflies in her stomach once again but this time they felt like a stampede of elephants instead. Faith really cared about her but she just seemed to show it in a different kind of way and Buffy felt like there was some hope there for her. But pretended to be annoyed at her so she could hide how excited she was."Fine whatever but try not to beat him up before we ask him for his help. He tends to say no to people when his getting beaten to a bloody pulp."And with that she turned on her heel and began to leave."Meet me at eight, "she said without turning around and then was gone.

Faith raised her eyebrows at that, `damn was she bossy.' Shaking her head slightly she began to leave as well hoping that Spike wouldn`t push her over the edge this time because she didn`t have that much of patience left in her anymore and he would surely be dust before he could count to three. She said her goodbyes to the others in the magic box saying she needed to go for a walk and that she would meet up with them said that she would see Faith after she and Buffy came back from their patrol and seeing Spike and she just wanted to go back to Faiths motel room and rest for the following night. Some of her injuries were still healing. Faith gave her a key and told her to use whatever she need and then left.

Buffy and Faith were walking through the cemetery that would lead them to Spikes crypt in silence. It was awkward. After the intimate and almost kiss moment that happened between the two they were walking on egg shells around each other. When one would accidently bump into the others shoulder while walking they would give a hasty apology or a `sorry` and then walk in silence once more. Buffy had been clenching and unclenching her fists for the upcoming confrontation with Spike. She knew he was going to say something that would set her off and Faith as well. It was something that she knew for a fact because it was just what Spike does. But she didn`t want a physical fight to ensue, she just wanted to go in and get out. Then carry on patrolling with Faith because it had been so long since they had patrolled together and she had missed it.

As they got closer to Spikes crypt Buffy could feel the tension coming of in waves of the ex-rogue slayer and wanted desperately to just reach out and give her some kind of reassurance that nothing was going to happen to her. But when they stood outside the door of his crypt Buffy said something she would soon regret later."I, err...I think I should go in alone and talk to him first. You know, he might think that we`re here to beat him up some more and you do have a history with his face and punching it, "she said with fake cheeriness. Faith clenched her jaw after hearing that. She wanted to tell Buffy that there was no way in hell she was going to let her go in there alone because that fuckin` chip in his head didn`t work anymore and he could hurt Buffy now whenever he wanted but just swallowed and nodded her head. Buffy just took that as a yes and proceed to enter Spikes crypt but not before Faith told Buffy something. She grabbed her arm and the tingles shot through both of them making them freeze, but Faith needed to say something, "Just...be careful B, please..." And with that she let her go and turned her back to Buffy. Buffy sighed and tried to get rid of all the warm tingles going through her body but knew it would be useless to try.

As she entered his crypt it looked the same as it did the last time she was there which was a few months ago. He was lying on his little couch shirtless watching some TV show while munching on what she could tell was stale popcorn."Spike, "she said slowly approaching the half seated half lying on the couch vampire.A"Bloody Hell"'was shouted out in shock from the bleach blonde vampire and it caused him to jumped up and spill all the stale popcorn on himself and the floor."Well someone`s a little jumpy, "said Buffy grinning."Of course I am!!A bloody slayer sneakin` up on a vampire in his own crypt will do that ta a bloke."He began gaining his bearings not wanting to appear weak in front of the blonde slayer whom he was infatuated with."Well now that ya are here I can give ya what ya came for luv,"he said wiggling his eyebrows while smirking and he let his eyes roam her body. Buffy felt her skin crawl and not in a good way. She wanted to puke and tear her own skin off from the way he was looking at her, with lust and desire. For the hundredth time that day she wondered why she had ever gone to Spike in the first place and did the things they had done together. Just thinking of it made her want to flee from his crypt and find the nearest bush to throw up in.

He gripped her around her waist so fast it threw her off felt his ice cold shirtless chest through her clothes making her shiver. She tried pushing him away but he didn`t budge and was like a solid wall. She felt the beginnings of fear settling in. For some reason whenever she was around him she felt weak, like he had found a way to control her. He began kissing her down her throat and she felt the rage build inside of herself. She was the Slayer and he was just a vampire that she could easily dust in a blink of an eye, and with those thoughts running through her head she got the strength to push him back and backhanded him across his face. He smirked at her because this was all a game to him and the slayer was his. She would always come back to him in the end. She may hang around her loyal little Scooby's and pretend to be all righteous but he knew deep down that she was just like him and wanted to be his. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Buffy punching him in the stomach.

"Bitch!!"He yelled clutching his stomach but making no move to retaliate."Don't you ever touch me like that again, "she said icily making the already dead vampire suddenly shiver internally at her tone. The glare she was giving him made him feel like he would turn into dust at any moment and that would surely have been the case if she hadn`t broken eye contact. She sighed heavily rubbing her temples and said."I`m not here looking for a fight, "then paused and looked at him pointedly, "or a good time EVER."She emphasised the Ever, "And only came here because we need your help tomorrow night. We don`t know how many vampires he has on his side."Spike was grinning like a maniac on the inside but just smirked on the outside. He grabbed his black shirt that was lying on the couch and pulled it on leaving the buttons undone and lit up a cigarette.

He blew out a puff of smoke and looked the slayer up and down with lustful eyes. `God! He never learns his lesson!!`Thought Buffy angrily as he looked her over like a piece of meat. She crossed her arms over her chest defensively and it just made Spikes smirk grow bigger."Wats init` fore me luv?"He asked licking his lips as he blew out some more smoke loving the fact that he was getting under the blonde slayers skin and he would have loved to be getting under her skin at that moment in more ways than one. It was as if though Buffy could read is thoughts when he saw a sour look cross upon her face."Look, do you want to help us or not? Because either way we`re going to do this with or without your help. I thought you were a good guy Spike. When you took care of Dawn for me when I died and looked out for the others..."She swallowed and shook her head not wanting to think about what happened with her and Glory. It only brought back the painful memories of her being in a fake heaven that was never real and it hurt. A look of shame appeared on his face and then warmth and understanding crossed the vampires face. It was like he had been slapped with something more powerful than the really powerful right hook of the blonde slayer. Buffy was leaning against the wall of his crypt as he approached her. He was just a few inches away from the blonde slayer and he looked her dead in the eye and said, "I remember, "and Buffy had to raise her hands up onto his cold and exposed chest to stop him from coming any closer then he already was. He loved the warmth being emitted from Buffy and he wanted to do so many things to her but a painful kick to the side of his ribs sent him flying away from Buffy and landing on his tiny little coffee table and in the process smashing it along with him.

Buffy looked wide eyed at the person who had just sent Spike flying across his crypt. Faith stood there, looking like the picture of pure and raw rage. Her eyes not her usual warm brown almost golden honey in colour to the blonde slayer, were now dark almost black from the anger she felt coming of in waves through their connection."Faith, "she wanted to say her name loudly as if questioning why she was in there and why she attacked Spike but her voice only came out in a hushed whisper that echoed around the walls of the crypt. She realised two things. One, that she was in Spikes crypt for a very long time just to be asking him for a favour and two, they were both standing in a compromising position that the dark slayer could have misinterpreted.

Spike got up from his now destroyed pile of coffee table pieces and began to swear, "Bloody hell!!Fuckin`bitch!!What`s her problem?!"He shouted clutching his now once again bruised ribs and looking at Buffy but glaring daggers at Faith. Faith clenched and unclenched her fists. She needed to pummel something or she would go crazy."Faith, he wasn`t doing anything to me, "said Buffy hoping that it would pacify the dark slayer but it did quite the opposite and if it were even possible Faiths eyes seemed to have lit up with a fire that scared Buffy."Oh,"she said her voice sounding strangely hollow and lost, "so you wanted him pressed up against ya? Fine, I`m sorry I interrupted ya, now I see how the perfect miss holier than thou, the Golden girl who everyone looks up to works. Give him a nice roll in the sack and he`ll agree to whatever ya want..."

SLAP!!

That smack shocked Faith out of her bitter rant and she held her cheek in the palm of her hand. It seemed that Buffy really liked hitting her in the face and her jaw was still slightly bruised from earlier AND Buffys` slaps hurt like a bitch! This time though Buffy had no remorse in her eyes and looked at Faith with fire, hurt and anger in her eyes. "I was not doing anything with him, unlike you I don`t fuck anything with two legs and a pulse."She said harshly and it shocked her that she was saying such hurtful things to Faith but didn`t let it show on her face. Faith had to admit that what Buffy said had stung, a lot. But she wasn`t one to lie down and take it like some pathetic good for nothing."Yeah well ya just look for the ones that have none. It seems to be a pattern with ya, first Soul Boy and now ya wit the Billy idol what`s your excuse this time huh? His chipped and he`s good now??"She laughed bitterly as she spat out some blood that came from her reopened split lip."Wait, wait, and let me guess?"She pretended like she was thinking hard and then said,"Mmmh...You're in love with him and his your soul mate?"She spat out with anger and hate and a line of bitterness. Spike just looked on with wide eyes.' This was better than Passions.' he thought excitedly and idly wondered if there was any stale popcorn left somewhere.

Buffy was hurt and angry and she felt her eyes fill up with tears that were threatening to fall. She felt her voice crack."It...isn`t like that. I-I w-was just feeling so empty and dead on the inside. When they brought me back I was..."Buffy swallowed, thinking about when they ripped her out of a place that wasn`t really heaven but she didn`t know that at the time and it made her hurt all over again. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and Faith felt like she deserved more than a slap from Buffy in that moment. The pain on the tiny blondes face made her want to just go up to her and wrap her arms around her and never let go but she let Buffy continue what she was saying."I just wanted to feel something, anything...And I-I, "Faith couldn`t take it anymore and said,"B, Buffy,"and realised her voice sounded just as emotional as the blondes and swallowed the lump in her throat and said, "It's okay,I`m,I`m just really sorry for jumping to conclusions like that and I never meant ta hurt ya,"then whispered the last part, "I`d never hurt you, ever..."Then she turned and began to walk out shouting, "Sorry about the table Billy, "and then she was gone.

Buffy stood there for a few seconds just staring, then her body started to move of its own accord after Faith."Oui!"Shouted Spike after the blonde. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him annoyed and irritated."I`ll help ya, where we meetin`?"A ghost of a smile appeared on Buffys` face but it vanished as soon as it came."Sunset, my house, "and then she was gone."Spike was shaking his head as he watched her running out of his crypt."Never a dull moment between those two, "he said aloud to no one."But damn!!The dark ones got a powerful kick on her."And he began to rub his slowly now healing ribs once again.

Buffy ran through the graveyard but she couldn`t find Faith anywhere and she frowned. She concentrated and used their Slayer connection and finally felt a slight tingle and began to follow it. It seemed Faith was going back to her motel and Buffy grinned. Faith had tried to give her the slip but she didn`t count on Buffy using their slayer connection to find her. She saw Faith walking towards her motel room door and as she opened the door Buffy was just a few feet away but she didn`t seem to notice her and it would only surprise Faith more that Buffy had come after her. She was going to finally go up to Faith and finally tell her everything she felt. In that moment she wanted to pour her heart out to the Dark Slayer. Tell her that she had feelings for her that she was falling for her and might possibly be in love with her and had been from the moment she had seen her. Her heart swelled at the thoughts and her heart felt lighter too, but everything came crashing down around her and her heart dropped into her stomach when she saw Rhaya greet Faith at the door as she pulled Faith into a hug that seemed far from a friendly hug to her.

She didn`t know if it was possible for her heart to break anymore but she was wrong, because she felt it breaking into millions of tiny pieces as she stood there watching. When they were finally out of sight and the door closed behind them she turned around with tears streaming down her face as she walked back home with lost hope and a broken heart she was afraid would never be mended. Maybe she was destined to be alone. Maybe it was a sign from the Powers that Be telling her she should just accept her fate of loneliness for however long she would live. The thought made her heart break even further.

She could never catch a break. As she walked the streets of Sunnydale with tears streaming down her face not caring about anyone seeing her like that she felt like a dark cloud had formed around her. This was just how it was going to be for her. Forever alone. As the cold wind of the night blew against her tears streaked face making her shiver slightly, she sighed and resigned to herself to the facts that she would have to accept her fate, which was inevitable as a slayer...

She just hoped that no one was awake when she returned because she didn`t want to talk to anyone at the moment. If only some things were that simple.

Things seem to be very rocky at the moment between our favourite two Slayers but don`t worry things will fall into place.

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