Chapter 20: Blindsided
*****The Next Day*****
Dick didn't get up until noon, but he had a smile on his face. When he looked at the beautiful brunette next to him, his smile grew wider.
Faith had seriously rocked his world. Never before had a woman been so insatiable and creative in bed. Deciding to impress her, he got up to order them a huge spread of food choices. Then he got into the shower.
He finished brushing his teeth and was combing his hair when the front door of the suite buzzed. When he went to answer it, he saw Veronica sitting on the couch, flipping through a magazine.
"You're still here?" he asked as he walked to the door.
"Yep," Veronica said. "Logan's in the shower."
Dick smirked. "So I guess you two are officially back together, huh?" he asked as he signed for the food.
"I guess so," Veronica said.
Logan opened the door. "Morning, Dick. Did you have as much fun last night as I did?" he asked, leaning down to drop a kiss on Veronica.
"Most definitely," Dick said, grinning. "Buffy's friend, Faith, is the hottest girl I've ever seen. I think I'm in love!"
"You just met her," Veronica said. "Granted, seeing her so effortlessly put Madison in her place was highly satisfying."
"It was, wasn't it?" Logan said, flopping down next to Veronica. "What did you order for us?"
"This is for Faith. Order your own food," Dick said.
"Do I smell bacon?" Faith asked.
They all looked up at the girl, taking in her disheveled appearance. She was wearing a large t-shirt of Dick's and panties. Both men took note of how her attractiveness did not at all dim even with messy hair. Logan was smart enough to not comment while Dick silently thanked God for sending her his way.
"I got a bit of everything," Dick said, lifting the lid.
Faith grinned as she saw the scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, and sweet treats all spread out. "This is awesome!" she exclaimed as she grabbed a piece of bacon of one of the plates.
"Do you want to get dressed?" Veronica asked.
"I did. I put on a shirt," Faith said, winking at her.
Logan bit back his laughter. "It's great to meet another friend of Buffy's. We've really enjoyed getting to know her and her friends the past few months," he said.
Dick poured her a coffee. "Tara and Willow are the best," he said, grinning.
"Willow has never really liked me, but Tara is a real sweetheart," Faith said.
"Why doesn't Willow like you?" Veronica said.
"She doesn't like to share Buffy," Faith said with a smirk.
"Hot girls don't usually like to share," Logan said, lifting Veronica's hand and kissing it.
She glared and pulled her hand away. "Are you going to order us something to eat?" she asked pointedly.
"Sure. Breakfast or lunch?" he asked.
"Just order what Dick ordered," Veronica said, annoyed that Dick didn't order more food.
Logan got up to do so while Dick offered to pour her some coffee. "There's cups in the cabinet over there," he said, pointing.
Veronica got up to grab a cup, surprised at his good manners.
"Faith, how long will you be in town?" Dick asked. "I would love to take you out tonight."
Faith grinned. "You were a lot of fun," she said. "I don't think I've ever bumped uglies with a rich guy."
"Bumping uglies? Seriously?" Veronica repeated.
"Since you're going to be B's stepsister, I'm going to ignore your bitchiness 'cause B would kick my ass if I upset you," Faith said, glaring. "However, I'm not awake enough to put up with it for long."
"Oh, don't let Ronnie bother you," Dick said. "She can't help but be bitchy sometimes. Ever since her best friend was murdered and all her friends tormented her in high school and then Logan's murderous father tried to burn her alive, she's been a bit uptight."
"Gee, Dick, you forgot to tell her about how your mass murdering brother raped and tried to kill me senior year," Veronica said, through clenched teeth.
"Damn," Faith said. "You must have the same bad luck as Buffy. Her ex was once a mass murderer, too. He killed Willow's favorite teacher and Giles' girlfriend."
"Let's not ruin the morning with talking about the past," Logan said.
"So when are you leaving to go to Sunnydale?" Veronica asked.
Faith grinned, unoffended. "Today. I'm going to go see Joyce and Dawnie first," she said.
"Do you want a buddy to go with you?" Dick asked hopefully.
"Nah. I got to get to SunnyD asap as Kennedy won't stop bitching about some strong bitch that keeps knocking her around," Faith said.
"Who's Kennedy?" Veronica asked.
"She's like another little sis that none of us like but are obligated to help anyway," Faith said. "Got anyone like that in your life?"
"Not really," Veronica said.
"You have Dick," Logan said with a wink.
Dick was disappointed but didn't say anything.
"So why are you here? Buffy's like an expert in martial arts," Veronica said.
"Well, Giles didn't want to pull Buffy away from classes unless Glory is more than I can handle," she said.
"A girl named Glory is threatening this girl? Why doesn't she just call the cops?" Veronica asked.
Faith was finding this girl's constant questioning annoying and dug deep for patience. Buffy wouldn't like her offending her almost sister so soon. "Cops in Sunnydale are a joke," Faith said. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to finish my coffee before you keep up with the interrogation."
Logan whispered something in Veronica's ear, and then the doorbell buzzed.
"Food is here!" Logan said, standing up. "Let's go eat in my room."
Veronica hated not getting answers, but she stood up to agree. A wave of dizziness hit her, however. She grabbed the arm of the sofa.
Faith was the only one that noticed. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I just got up too quickly," Veronica said, brushing it off.
"What's wrong?" Logan asked.
"Just a bit dizzy. Probably from lack of food!" she said pointedly. They went into his room.
"Sorry about Ronnie," Dick said. "She's a private investigator, so nosey is, like, her middle name."
"It's cool," Faith said. "Not used to it. That's all."
After they finished breakfast, she went in his room to clean up. Dick followed her, asking if he needed to get a bag from her car.
"Nah. I'll change at B's," she said, stripping naked.
Dick gulped, trying to control himself. Then she gave him that knowing smirk.
"So you want to go another round before I jump in the shower?" she asked.
Dick stripped so quickly that Faith laughed, enjoying his enthusiasm.
*****A Few Hours Later*****
Buffy returned from her shift at the hotel as Logan had informed her that Faith was at her house when he brought Veronica down for a late lunch.
She wasn't too surprised to see Xander and Weevil there. However, Dick's presence caught her by surprise. He was sitting on the couch next to Faith, who was nearly in his lap.
"I am missing the party," she said, looking at the group in her mom's living room. Her mother was on the couch with Faith and Dawn. Xander and Weevil were on the loveseat.
"Not too much," Joyce said. "Eli and Xander just arrived. Faith's been filling us in about Ohio and how boring it is compared to Sunnydale."
"You can always switch with Kennedy," Buffy pointed out. "I'd love for you to be closer. If Kennedy can't handle this new hell bitch, you can."
"That's true," Faith said, grinning.
"I wish none of you girls had to risk your life," Joyce said, frowning. "It's not right."
"Hey, don't say that. We're hot chicks with superpowers," Faith said. "What's not to like?"
"What do you mean?" Weevil asked.
Buffy sighed. It was past time she told Weevil her full truth.
"What? They don't know?" Faith said. "Shit, I'm sorry."
"They know some things," Buffy said. "Dick and Logan know about witches and have been learning a bit of magic from Willow and Tara."
"What? They really are witches?" Weevil asked.
Dick grinned. "It's so cool. Willow can levitate!" he exclaimed. "I learned to call the four corners, but that's it. Willow says I just don't have that much power, but Logan has real potential Willow said."
"Really?" Dawn asked excitedly. "That's awesome. Maybe Willow will teach me!" she exclaimed.
"No!" Joyce and Buffy said.
"So not fair," Dawn complained.
"Let's wait until after Mom's surgery and revisit this, okay?" Buffy said. Dawn nodded.
"Weevil knows about vampires and hellmouths 'cause his cousin lives in Sunnydale," Xander said.
"Neither of them know about slayers," Buffy said, trying to think about how to explain it.
"What's to know?" Weevil asked, upset that she still didn't seem to trust him.
"It's not that I didn't think you could handle knowing the truth," Buffy said to him. "It's just that I'm trying to live a normal life for once. Talking about what I am keeps me from doing that."
"What's a slayer?" Dick asked.
"It means that we are vampire slayers. Normally, one girl in all the world that pushes back the forces of darkness," Faith said. "Buffy was called when she was fifteen and moved to Sunnydale, which is a beacon for vampires and demons and anything else that wants to open the hellmouth and destroy the world."
"I drowned my sophomore year when a master vampire attacked me," Buffy said. "Xander brought me back, but another slayer was called, Kendra."
"I liked Kendra," Dawn said, looking sad.
"Kendra was killed, and then Faith was called," Buffy said. "Faith's heart stopped after a vampire nearly drained her before they could get blood in her. That's why we have Kennedy."
"Kennedy is a real spoiled bitch, and I about beat her ass more than once," Faith said. "It was finally decided that I'd get the small hellmouth in Ohio, so Buffy could go to school. Kennedy could stay and manage the hellmouth. Giles and Wesley flipped for it to see who got stuck with her. I got Giles."
Buffy glared. "That so wasn't fair. He's too far way," Buffy said with a pout.
Faith shrugged. "You had him for nearly two years, so it's fair," she said.
"So you're not just gifted at the physical?" Weevil asked.
"Well, yes," Buffy said. "But it doesn't come naturally. It's supernatural. I mean I was always athletic, ice skating and cheerleading. However, a slayer has fast healing, instinctive fighting skills, and can normally master any weapon."
"Plus, we're very strong," Faith added.
"That's so cool!" Dick said. He looked at Faith. "So you really are a hot chick with superpowers."
Faith grinned, and Dick couldn't resist kissing her. However, the kiss was a bit too carnal for Joyce, who cleared her throat loudly.
"Guys, cut it out," Buffy said. "You're embarrassing Mom."
"Sorry," Dick said. "It's just so incredible. Faith is like the most amazing woman I have ever met!"
Faith had never had a guy look at her with such open adoration before, and she found it a real turn on.
Buffy couldn't help but smile at Dick's clear infatuation with Faith—it was past time Faith had a guy look at her like that.
"When are you going to Sunnydale? Maybe we should go with you," Xander said to Faith. "I can say hi to the parentals."
"And Anya," Dawn said.
"I don't know. Maybe," Xander said. He still felt a bit sore at how mad she was that he wanted to leave. Although he loved her, he found her jealousy over Willow and Buffy exhausting. Plus, Parker had been a lot of fun last night. He couldn't remember the last time a girl was just fun since both his two girlfriends, Cordelia and Anya, were a lot of work.
"Well, Weev, do you want to come? If we're going to be dating, I guess you should know the full truth about me," Buffy said.
Weevil stood up and asked her to take a walk with him.
Buffy was nervous as she walked outside with him, but she was relieved that he knew the truth. "Have I scared you off?" she asked, turning to face him.
Weevil reached for her hand and tugged her closer. Then his arms went around her waist, and he gazed down at her. "Buffy, I have thought you were special since the day I met you. Every day since has only cemented my feelings," he said. "To find out you're basically a real-life superhero is a bit intimidating, but I am crazy about you, Buffy. I'm not going to be scared away."
Buffy smiled and kissed him.
When they went back inside, Dick was on the phone to Logan, inviting him to drive to the hellmouth with them.
Logan was still hanging with Veronica when Dick called and told him what he learned about Buffy and Faith. His mind was reeling with the news, and then Dick said, "So we're going to go to Sunnydale and kill vampires. You wanna come?"
"Slay! We slay," Buffy said in the background. "I'm not a killer—a slayer!"
Logan grinned, totally wanting to know more. However, his snookums had finally forgiven him. They'd spent the day playing both in and out of bed. Now they were snuggling in his bed, watching a movie. What to do?
He had slipped out of the bed to talk to Dick, and, fortunately, Veronica had no interest in knowing what Dick had to say.
"I'm with Veronica," Logan said in a low voice.
"I know, but you're going to miss out on this if you don't get your whipped ass over to Buffy's," he said. "Just bring Veronica."
"No!" Joyce and Buffy both said. Buffy grabbed the phone from Dick.
"Logan, I will tell Veronica eventually, but Mom's got brain surgery coming up. She doesn't need the stress of this conversation right now," Buffy said. There was no way Veronica would keep such a secret from her father, nor would Buffy expect her to.
"I understand," he said. "Give me a half hour or so."
He debated what to say to Veronica and finally said, "You know that Buffy's mom's going to have surgery this upcoming week, right?"
"Well, yes. Dad is seriously dating her," Veronica said.
"Dick said that Joyce needs some furniture or something out of her storage back in Sunnydale, so he was going to with Faith to get it for Joyce—he's at Buffy's house now," Logan said.
"What does that have to do with you," Veronica inquired.
"He wanted some help 'cause Faith has to deal with that Kennedy girl or something," Logan said. "Do you want to go with us?" He asked knowing that she'd refuse, but he'd be off the hook.
"A long car ride with Dick? I'll pass," Veronica said. She rubbed her temple. "I'm kind of getting a headache, so maybe I'll just head home and go to bed early."
"Are you sure?" Logan asked.
"Of course," she said. "Do you want to come over for lunch tomorrow?"
"You know I do," Logan said, reaching down to kiss her. "I love you."
Veronica smiled, feeling the rush of happiness she always felt when he said the words. Now she felt free to give him back the words. "I love you, too," she said.
Logan felt a twinge of guilt, but the thought of seeing Buffy kill monsters was too tempting to pass up. And he had invited Veronica to join them.
It was an hour later that thoughts of his girlfriend left him as he drove his car behind Dick's, talking to him and Faith on the cell. Faith had a rental that she was driving, and Dick didn't want to be parted from her. Buffy was riding with Xander and Weevil in Xander's car. Her little sister Dawn wanted to visit her friend Janice.
None of them had any idea what Veronica would face without them.
*****The Mars' Apartment*****
After she returned home, Veronica chatted with her dad a few minutes and went to the bathroom to grab some Tylenol. Then she took a nap. Her hair released itself from her scalp while she slept. When she awoke, she only saw darkness.
"Dad!" Veronica called out as she reached for her cell phone. It was so dark. For some reason, the screen of her phone refused to light up.
Keith came into her room. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked.
"Turn on the light, Dad. It's pitch black in here," Veronica said.
Keith frowned, turning on the light. "No, it's not," he said. He saw hair on her pillow. "Did you cut your hair?"
"What? Of course not. I was sleeping," she said. "Why would I cut my hair?"
"It's falling out all over your pillow," he said. Something wasn't right.
"Turn on the light!" Veronica said, a note of panic in her voice.
"I did," he said.
"That's not funny!" Veronica said.
Keith sat down on the bed next to Veronica and turned her face toward him. Her eyes were solid white.
"Veronica, something is wrong with your eyes," he said.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"It's completely light in here, and you can't see. There is something wrong with your eyes. Your eyes are entirely white," he said.
"I'm blind?" Veronica asked in disbelief.
"I'm going to get your shoes. We'll go right now to the hospital," Keith said, trying not to panic himself.
Veronica's heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to wrap her mind around what he said. Her eyes were open. The lights were on.
Veronica was blind.
*****To Be Continued*****
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