Faith- early Sunday morning
I sat on the back end of the bed with my feet crossed over the blanket. B is sleepin' peacefully and so is G-man and Red. I didn't know Giles snored. He sounds like a train. Not being able to stand much more of him, I spun around slippin' to the ground. I walked over to B, who was still asleep and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm still here, B," I whispered, and she moved but didn't wake. I'm getting' bored cause I think I've been in there for the past few hours, so I left.
I got to my room pretty quickly because the halls were still a little empty, not much for distractions. I guess it's still really early. Alex is passed out on a hard plastic set of chairs outside the room. Teenagers can sleep on anything. I'd have all kinds of cramps. The other me is still in ICU, so I don't think I can have visitors all the time like B. But I'm glad Alex is here. She probably snuck out of the house or somethin'. If I wake up, she'll tell Buffy quicker then anyone else will.
Sittin' in the chair next to her, I watched as people walked by; some aimlessly, some with a purpose in mind. It's weird not bein' seen and kinda lonely, but I take in a lot more. There was just a shift change too as new nurses took places of ones that were here all night.
"You just going to sit here all day long?" someone questioned. The voice sounded chillingly familiar. I didn't want to look at him; because if I did, I would have to admit he was there. "Your going to give me the silent treatment now, Firecracker?" he asked. This smell crept under my nose, and I leaned away from him. He smelled like smoke and rotten meat. "What do ya want? Ya reek," I claimed, complaining, "It's hell, Firecracker, the smell of burning flesh. Get used to it now," he advised, leanin' in over my shoulder. I reared back away from him. "What the fuck?" I snapped, flinchin' forward, but he put his hand up in my face. "Don't stake the messenger, I was sent by them," he said, pointin' down to the floor. "Them, who's them?" I questioned. I thought he could be The First, but somehow I know it's not.
"Let's just say my new bosses for now. You'll meet 'em soon enough," he assured. I shook my head. "I don't have time for this," I scoffed while standin' annoyed. "Well, that's interesting. By the looks of it, you've got all the time in the world right now. They saw that you were in an in-between and decided to take the opportunity. We're making the most of the situation. C'mon let me show you something," he insisted as he draped a smelly arm over my shoulders and directed me to walk down the hall.
I didn't say anythin'. I just picked up his hand up off my shoulders by a finger, lettin' go of it off the side. He walked ahead of me a little pushin' open a set of doors. We walked through the doors onto a large, lush, green yard. The street along with drive way is full of cop cars and fire trucks, and two ambulances jus pulled up. It's my house. I'm standing in the middle of my yard. "What happened?" I growled and spotted Giles, so I waved in his direction. He was on the sidewalk talkin' to a cop. "They can't see you. This is only a glimpse of what's to come."
I stared up at the doorway and watched as I came strollin' through the huge, front door. A cop held my shoulder. As I walked past with the cop holdin' my arm, I noticed the cuffs around my wrist. I was only in basketball shorts and tank top. "What the hell is this?" I ranted. "Look," he ordered as pointed at the front door. I ignored him, watchin' myself instead. I couldn't help but watch in awe as I was bein' searched roughly over a hood. I looked like I wanted to kick his ass; but for some reason, I did nothin'. Wonder what I did?
"MAMA!" a kid screamed. I whipped 'round to see a little boy barrelin' through the front door. Before he could hit the lawn, he was grabbed up by someone. A bigger, female cop came into view, walkin' out onto the yard with a young blond boy under her arms strugglin' so hard it was hard for even her to hold him. The boy reached towards me by the cop cars. The cop carried him to another civilian car in the driveway and forced him into the back seat.
Flashbacks of southeast Boston and the day I left home weeded their way to the surface of my memory. It wasn't anything like this, but I know I didn't want to get in the car with All-American Foster Creeper Mr. Jones. "I wanna leave," I mumbled and turned around. "Ah Ah, we're jus getting to the good part," he taunted, turnin' me back around to face the scene. A man walked out next, carryin' someone in his arms; the body hung limply. I didn't get a good look, but there wasn't any blood thank god.
Buffy came runnin' out after that and was tackled by two policeman on the grass. One pulled a gun. Surprisingly, she didn't fight them; so they just left her in the grass while standin' over her. My B. "My future?" I muttered. "This could be an outcome of your choice," he said, which kinda pisses me off because he's way past being young grasshopper cryptic.
"Cut the bullshit, why are ya showin' me this?" I asserted, getting' right to the point. "You're only going to make their life harder. Why not stop this all now?" he explained. I took a deep breath. When I looked up, there was a woman walkin' across the lawn. Walkin' right for us. "No…" I said before backin' away. "C'mon, Faith, you don't want to put your precious B through this pain. Look at her," He demanded, pointin' in B's direction. The woman continued to walk towards us. She became increasingly familiar as well.
"Joyce?" I called out as she approached. I'm really happy to see her. "Hello, Faith…and haven't you people bothered this girl enough? My grandchildren are going to have a chance," Joyce sassed then snapped her fingers in the air and Finch disappeared. Joyce turned to me, "Thanks, so um…is this real?" I had to ask meekly. Joyce spun me around, "Yes, something like this might happen; but the future is subject to change, you know that," she described as we walked. "Let's go to some easier scenery," she suggested and I blinked. We were in a white room. "Great! A white room; I'm gonna die?" I guessed as I faced her. She chuckled.
"That's up to you. Life will go on with or without you there," she confirmed, "By the way, your children are going to be beautiful….and I can see how happy Buffy is with you. Don't worry; you have my blessing because I know how important my grandchildren are, just as much as you are. You all deserve a chance but… If you wait to long, your choice will be made for you." "But I kinda like it here, can't I just stay here for a while. Ya know, get a break from all the craziness," I pleaded. "The choice is by your hand."
Buffy- mid-day
I sat up when Giles walked in carrying Dominick. Giles walked right up to the bed and set Dom on the edge by my legs. When I smiled. he didn't hesitate to crawl the rest of the way to me, stumbling over my legs. Looking into his soft doe eyes, I saw so much Faith in him. He definitely has her attitude; he'll make an interesting teen.
"How is she?" I grilled Giles while straightening out Dom's disheveled shirt because he tends to army crawl sometimes. "Buffy…" "I don't care, I feel fine. Tell me what's wrong with Faith," I argued. Dom stopped playing in my lap and glanced up at me. Willow noticed my change in demeanor and paced up to the bed, picking him up away from me. There goes my comfort.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, annoyed by all of what has been going on. I'd say I'm pretty stressed out already. With Dawn and her sudden bullshit, not being able to see Faith or even know how's she's doing. I just wish someone would listen to me. After a long pause, Giles sat down on the empty bed next to mine. "I might have given Faith too large of a dose of the antidote. The antibodies that gave her back to us is now attacking the rest of her organs and slowly causing them all to shut down. The doctors don't understand of course, but I do. For the sake of you and future slayers, I can not tell them anything about her. I've already had to have Angel's people wipe three red flags" he informed, and I sunk into my bed a little. A nurse walked in and we all got sort of quiet.
Giles saying, 'I might have given.' always means I gave. "Buffy, there's still a chance she can pull through," Will encouraged me. I gawked up at her. "Is there anything you can do?" I begged and my best friend shook her head. "I'vee already tried," she stated while shifting Dom onto her hip.
"I wanna see her," I commanded. "I'm not sure if that's wise as of now, Buffy, you're still recovering," Giles lectured. "And he is right, Mrs. Summers, I would much rather you have your rest," the nurse butted in from the background. I gave her the 'who asked you?' glare, and she finished what she was doing before leaving quickly. She probably wasn't even a nurse.
A few hours passed, an eventually I was able to get Willow to give me my phone. Right after she did, a doctor came in and asked to speak with them in the hall. They've been gone ever since. So I texted Alex; and she said that they weren't in Faith's room, so that's where I'm headed.
I entered the room, and Alex stood up from the side of the bed. "Hey, Buffy…Take it easy," Alex advised as she pushed a wheelchair in my direction. "These things aren't toys?" I scolded her, knowing the only reason why she had it. "Eh…it's no fun alone," she wined as I sat down and was pushed to the side of the bed. "I'll uh… be outside," she announced before taking steps backward towards the room door.
There were two more machines in here than in my room. She isn't breathing on her own, and she's a little paler then normal. I slid my hand under hers easily because of the IV needle in her hand. I just sat there gazing at her. I didn't know what to do or say. God, so much has changed.
As I went to say something, Alex came back into the room. "Buffy, someone is here to see you," Alex declared. As she did, Robin Wood and Spike strolled into the room and around her. Wood was wearing a black suit, blue shirt without a tie, and Spike was in his usual long, black, trench coat; black-tee; and bad looking, leather pants. "What are you two doing here?" I challenged, smiling even though I wasn't really happy to see them. Spike headed closer to the bed, Wood kept his distance a little.
"Here on a kidnapping case, Angel put this team together," Wood revealed. I nodded, "So what is it that you guys do?" Alex quizzed. I gave her a stern look, "I just wanna know why they both had to come here of all hospitals." "We are 'fhe guys without names' in situations like these and a bit of a clean-up crew," Wood continued while stepping closer to us, checking over Faith then me. Here comes the questions. Annoyed, I jus buried my face in my hands.
"We wanna know what you saw at the house. We know you were there," Wood interrogated. When I didn't say anything, Alex stepped forward. "A garage full of cages. The room I looked into was empty," she answered. "That's it?" Wood nearly spat in my direction. "They were filled with hell hounds," I further explained and Spike nodded. "Bloody hell, where do they find this shit?" Spike ranted. "You probably know just about as much as we do. Will you help us?" Wood requested. "Sure, as soon as I get outta here," I relented; and I'm probably going to regret helping because of Wood, I know it.
Spike turned to Wood. "I'm gonna split; work on the case a spell. Later, Buff, hope ya feel better love," Spike concluded as he touched my back, sending cold chills down my spine. Then he left the room, thank God. "Stayed with Angel longer then you planed. Guess you like it, huh?" I asked, thinking corporate anything was more up his alley anyways. "It's been a ride, enjoyed it so far…It's a different life," Wood confessed and I nodded in agreement. "It's good to see the two of you are taking care of each other. I would of thought she would have taken off by now," he assumed. I crossed my arms under my pits and thought, 'Do I tell him about us or should I let Faith do the talking?' I want him to know before he tries anything.
"Nope, she's stuck around," I divulged, grinning something devious. His pocket vibrated and he took out his phone. Putting it to his ear, he turned to leave. "We'll catch up with you in a few days, Buffy, to brief you on what we know. I'll check in on Faith from time to time as well," He declared as he marched out of the room. I'll have o talk to him about that. We really don't need help if that's what he's thinking.
Alex stood in the back corner of the room. I didn't even notice she was standing there. She slowly ambled over to me. "That can overload anyone. I'm hungry, I'm going to go find some food. Talk to Faith, it will help you feel better," she spoke as she turned to leave. "Hey, Alex,"" I called out to her before she got to the door. "Hmm," she replied; she hangs out with Faith too much. "Grab me a burger or something solid," I requested and chuckled. "Here we go with cravings again," she said, twirling around to leave. So I cleared my throat. "You better not be an emotional preggo," Alex muttered as she got to the door. I peered up but didn't say anything.
I whipped back to the bed. Back to my lover, back to my Faith. "Okay, alright, baby, wake up. Please…I need you … This is just too much," I trailed off. What am I doing…Faith? "Baby, I love you," I said, gripping onto her hand; and she gripped back. I glimpsed down at it, hoping she'd do it again if I squeezed her hand a little. "Baby, I'm right here," I reminded her pleadingly as I leaned forward onto the bed. "Faith," I repeated, and she sort of blinked her eyes open slowly.
All my worries and fears left me as she opened her eyes. She didn't open them much, but she opened them and looked right at me. "Faith, babe, I'm here. I love you so much," I responded and she squeezed my hand again. She closed her eyes again; and not wanting to be as far away as I was, I stood and laid onto the bed next to her.
Hours later that night, back in my own room.
I love my mini Scoobs. I don't know what I would do without them. Graduation is right around the corner, but I have a feeling one or two of the seniors will stay with us a little longer. Vi brought me a bag of clothes. I just stopped checking myself out of the hospital. I finished buttoning my shirt and slid into my jeans. Willow shuffled into the room. "Oh no. You're not leaving, Buffy," Will warned. I didn't say anything, I just reached forward and grabbed one of my sneakers, putting it on. "I'm not leaving the hospital. They won't let me sit in Faith's room if I'm a patient," I reasoned. "The whole point of recovering," Will added. "I feel fine," I griped as I slid in the other shoe and stood, picking up the backpack. Little, white lies don't hurt.
Willow followed me all the way to Faith's room. As I headed in, the first thing could I see is Alex popping a wheelie in the wheelchair. She dropped the chair to all four wheels. I heard Faith chuckle, and I forgot to scold Alex on playing around in one of those things again. I glanced at my baby. I feel like I'm melting all over again. "Hey, b," Faith greeted asshe rubbed her eyes a little. I didn't expect her to wake back up for a while. "How long have you been up, baby?" I inquired. "Like ten minutes. I told her you've been in an out of the room. Since then, she's been all perky," Alex mentioned. I set the backpack on the floor.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Faith held my gaze for long moment. "Where's the doc so I can get outta here too" Faith muttered before peeking over at Alex. Alex shrugged her shoulders, wheeling away from us. "I'll go see if I can find him. C'mon, Alex," Willow offered, grabbing up Alex by her arm as she left. I sat on the edge of the bed again.
"Where's Dawn?" Faith started. "I think she's back at the house," I assumed. "She's…" "An angry hormonal teenager…," I interrupted. "She takes after ya, that's for sure," she teased with a small smile. "Wood is in town," I voiced quickly, hoping Faith didn't catch the statement. But she did. Faith didn't say anything; she just bit her lip and glanced away from me. "Was he here?" she murmured. "Yeah, earlier today. He's working a case on the new Watchers Council, same house we were at," I explained. "Aight. Now, I really wanna leave," Faith determined while pulling the blankets off her and sliding off the bed. She stumbled getting to her feet; but once she was she stable, she motioned for the backpack I tossed it to her, and she set it in front of her. She started digging though it. I wanted to tell her to sit back down, but she continued to go through it. She looked like hell froze over. Once she picked out enough clothes, she began getting dressed. I looked over my shoulder after a doctor walked in. "Oh no…You're staying at least one more night," the doctor instructed.
Dawn- Exactly a week later, Sunday
The light coming in my room didn't allow me to sleep any longer then nine. So I'm laying here awake, starring at Lucas. I watched as his eye lids fluttered, and his eyes darted from side to side. Makes me kind of wonder what he was dreaming about. The light bathed his tan skin in a golden hue. Strange, I never thought I could be so infatuated with someone. I'm so glad he's back home; he just does something to me.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! "DAWN…WAKE UP…. DAWN!" Buffy yelled as she pounded on my door. Lucas woke up, KNOCK! KNOCK! "DAWN!" She kept yelling. It was as if everything clicked at once. Lucas and I rocketed out of bed. "WHAT…I'M UP!" I yelled back, trying to sound more annoyed. I could hear a baby crying. Lucas started grabbing clothes off the floor to put them on. I grabbed what was closest to me. "DAWN, I NEED MY KEYS…It's ten o'clock, and I wanna get over to the hospital before the lunch rush hour," Buffy snapped. It's been an entire week, and everyone's precious Faith is still in the hospital, recovering. I don't know how, but they convinced her to stay. I'm over it. "Give me a second, ok?" I tried to talk, pulling up a pair of PJ pants. Scanning over at Lucas, he just had his pants and socks on. Buffy doesn't know he's here. At least, I don't think she does.
Buffy started to turn the handle of the door. "Dawn…I know we need to talk. There's just been a lot going on; and more then I anything, I think we both just needed our privacy from each other," Buffy rationalized as she opened the door a little. I rushed to it. "Yeah right, privacy; like what I should be getting right now," I scowled as she opened the door further, holding a very upset Dom on her hip. I spied over my shoulder quickly to see Lucas was gone. Good he got out of sight quick. Buffy adjusted Dom on her hip as she indicated for me to take the crying, baby boy.
As I took him, Buffy traveled to my desk and grabbed her SUV keys. I hummed as I started rocking Dom side to side. Buffy woke this baby up wrong. How is she going to take care of her own? See, another reason why those two are a bad idea. He sniffled as he stopped crying and started rubbing his eyes. "Has Faith told Wood about Dom?" I questioned because he hasn't been to the house yet. Wood has been here a week, scoping out the watchers house with the mini Scoobs. While Buffy takes care of a hospitalized, yuck fiancé, and they still haven't told him. I wonder if they will tell him.
"That's none of our business. She'll tell him…eventually….I'm pretty sure he broke her heart, Dawnie," Buffy scoffed the last sentence as she trekked back in my direction, putting the keys in her pocket. I hate it when she calls me that. "Right, because she loved him," I uttered coldly as Buffy took hold of Dom and placed him on her waist. She didn't say anything; she jus starred at me for a second then Dom started full on crying again. I don't know how I got him to stop. Maybe he senses her vibes like slayers. "Shhh shhh," Buffy mumbled as she bounced Dom a little, trying to calm the baby down, but it wasn't working. After a few moments of that, she left.
Once Buffy was more than halfway down the hall, I whipped around slamming my door. Lucas popped up from the other side of my bed. "That was close," Lucas whispered, breathing a sigh of relief. "Right, but you need to go before she comes back wanting to talk," I warned as I took steps in his direction. "I really don't want to, but I will.. Hey do wanna come out tonight? I was thinking we could go to Budweiser lake, meet a few of my friends," he questioned while beckoning me to say yes. "Ummm…I don't know. It's's a school night; and even after Buffy gets back from Faith, she'll be up because of the girls sla…" "So…it's a full moon anything is possible," Lucas interrupted me. He gave me a puppy dog face and I melted. "Fine…you have to come get me early though. Buffy stays at the hospital pretty late, but not late enough. I want to leave before she gets home," I ordered.
Lucas took a step towards me, closing the few feet of space between us. "I love you, too, babe. You'll see, it'll be fun." Lucas was so close I could feel his heartbeat. "No, you have to go," I stated before pushing him and his little friend away from me. He laughed as he grabbed his shoes and heading for the window. I mouthed 'I love you.' as he slid into his always tied kicks then opened the window. I admired the muscles on his back as he climbed out then I meandered to him. After Lucas put on his t-shirt on, I leaned out the window. "Call me," I said then he kissed my lips lightly. "Yep, later," he reassured and disappeared.
Later on that night, at the end of a jog
I jogged up the sidewalk and practically in the house through to the foyer. Now I'm hungry, I don't know why, but I'm really hungry. I walked into the kitchen to see Buffy making a bottle for Dominick. Didn't think she'd be home anytime soon. Every night she's been at the hospital till at least nine. I wasn't planning on having to have to ask her if I could leave.
"Hi, Dawn," Buffy greeted as if I wasn't going to say hi to her. I wandered to the fridge, heavily sighing because I wanted to avoid this conversation. "Hey, Buffy," I responded back as I opened the fridge. What is she doing home? "How was the run?" she continued, attempting small talk. "Easy…," I chimed in, grabbing what looking like meat. I turned back to the island. Buffy stood on the other side, shaking up what looked like some weird milk. "I'm going out tonight. I'll be late, so don't wait up," I informed her quickly. She stopped shaking the bottle. I bit into the cooked meat, having enough time to chew and swallow while Buffy processed what I just said. By the way, the meat was gross.
"No, it's a school night," Buffy commanded. I shrug my shoulders, not caring that she disapproved. I have perfectly good counter, "Whatever, the mini Scoobs are always out 'til all hours of the night. I'm only going out with Lucas for a few hours," I argued then turned to leave but ran right into Faith. "If ya sister said no, she means no," she almost snarled, walking around me into the kitchen in a set of PJ's and holding Dom. I gawked up at Buffy mainly because she was silent. Great, Faith's back. "It's a school night and the mini Scoobs are slayin'," Faith kept going.. What right does she have to say anything like that? Who does she think she is? "Uh…you're not my mother, and I'm about to turn eighteen," I scoffed, throwing the nasty, meat-filled, plastic container down on the island countertop. I huffed then stormed off before she could say anything else. I can't believe Buffy just let her do that, not saying anything.
I made it to my room and slammed the door. Standing for a minute, I searched. Luckily, I found my phone quickly. It was only six. I'm not sure if Lucas would be ready this early. Wanting to get out of this house, I dialed him anyways. After two rings, he picked up.
"Hey, babe." he acknowledged. "What are you doing?" I rushed out. "Just got off the phone with a boy of mine, getting ready," he claimed. "Good, hurry up because I want to leave here so bad," I complained. "What happened?" he questioned, worried finally. "Faith is being a bitch. I don't wanna be here, so hurry up and come get me," I wined. "Ok, I'll be there in twenty," he confirmed. "Ok, see you in a few," I finished as I hung up the phone. I didn't realize I was pacing. I'm still really hungry.
By the time I was showered and finished getting dressed, Lucas was here. He didn't come to the door, so I just walked out the house without being seen and we left. Budweiser lake is a small lake just outside of the city. A kid stole a Budweiser truck one night for a party. At the end of the night, he drove into the lake, sinking it to the bottom. They didn't think it was that deep. It's a nice and secluded area from what I heard, so I bet it's a good place to party.
As we pulled up to the side of the lake that I could barely see because it was already dark, I could make out a few cars and a small crowd of men and women who stood about ten yards in front of us with other cars behind them. Lucas put the car in park and gazed up at me, smiling. "I know they are going to like you. We treat each other as family. You'll be welcomed," he described, instilling some ease in me. "Ok, baby," I half whispered. We got out of the car and strolled over to them hand in hand.
As we approached them, the guys started cheering. I couldn't help but smile. "We've been waiting for this. It's about time he brought you around us," one yelled. I laughed as we stopped a few feet away from them. "She's here just in time too. Good job, boy, she's cute too," another man welcomed. I couldn't help but smile again and look up at the moon as they all did. "Oh, you marked her well."
Looking back at everyone else, they started taking off their shirts, getting undressed. "I'm not into orgies under full moons," I declared, taking a step back. "Who said this was an orgy?" a girl giggled as she began removing her pants. I gaped up at Lucas, confused and lost. He just smiled eerily. "Everything is going to be ok," he affirmed, but it wasn't comforting at all. "Ugghh" Lucas groaned and grabbed his stomach, bending over as he took off his shirt. "Are you ok?" I quizzed, putting my hand on his back. He cried in pain again, something inside him moved, and tiny hairs began to sprout all over his skin. I took steps away. "No fucking way," I gasped, spotting the rest of the people ahead of me. The same thing was happening to the rest of them too.
I checked back down at Lucas, watching the features in his face change. His nose extended to a snout then his eyes flashed and quickly switched to yellow. He opened his mouth wide as sharp teeth grew from the originals. He was in a lot of pain as he changed. I whipped around and ran to the car, getting in the drivers side. As I got in, I locked the doors and reached for the ignition. "Shit!" I screamed because I didn't have his keys. I gaped up at the now fully changed pack slowly approaching the car. "No no no" I cried as I reached for my purse, quickly grabbing my phone and unlocked it to find I had no signal out here. Fuck, what the hell do I do now, panic? Now would be a good time for a mini Scoob to show up. For once I wouldn't mind if they crashed a party.
TBC...
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One love- Ray