Part VII
The cool late October air nipped at Buffy as she quietly followed Xander at a distance. She had a healthy respect for his ability to spot being followed, and she had carefully chosen her wardrobe to blend in with the shadows. He showed no sign of spotting her, and she relaxed enough to take a moment to mull over what had driven her to do this.
The bruises she had spotted on him before had only gotten worse as the days went on, to the point where she had confronted Oz about it. He had been apologetic, but confirmed Xander's story, and went so far to show that he too had picked up some bruises recently. Willow had backed Oz when Buffy questioned her about it, but the bruises continued to get worse, and Buffy wasn't buying it any more. . .sparring had never beaten Xander up this much. She was going to find out what he (and, apparently, the others) were keeping from her.
Xander headed through a cemetery, and Buffy realized with a chill that Xander was heading for the old mansion that Angel had vacated a few months before when he headed to L.A. She continued to follow him, and sure enough, he darted through the front door of the mansion. She crept up to the ajar door and listened. She heard Willow and Oz, then the throaty chuckle that she had come to know well in the last year. . .Faith.
She slipped in, then crept up to the curtain that blocked the main room from sunlight and peeked through the crack. She saw Xander and Oz in workout clothes, then spotted Faith as she stepped onto a training mat and gestured to the two young men. Xander and Oz glanced at each other, then Xander shrugged and moved up to Faith. They began sparring, and Buffy immediately saw that something was amiss. Faith wasn't moving right. . .her moves looked sluggish compared to her normal fluidity, though she was keeping up with Xander quite well, and he wasn't a slouch in hand to hand for someone who wasn't the Chosen One. Buffy looked at the two combatants on the mat, glanced at her best friend, who watched them with interest, and it all hit her at once. She felt a intense pang of nausea and horror, and she was unable to stop from gasping out loud.
The action on the mat stopped, and everyone looked at the curtain. Buffy prepared to take off, but Xander's dark eyes glittered as he called out, "Buffy. . .come in here."
Buffy felt a chill, then a spurt of anger as she tore the curtain aside and stormed up to Xander, snarling, "Oz my ass. . .you lied to me, Xander." She turned on Oz and Willow, and continued, "You did too." She then turned on Faith, who was watching her with an unreadable expression. Faith waited for another outburst, but saw only tears before Buffy turned away and bolted from the room.
Xander called out, "Buffy!", then moved to go, only to be restrained by Faith. He gave her an angry look and snapped, "Damn it, Faith. . .I have to go after her."
Faith had removed the amulet that suppressed her powers and shook her head firmly as she replied, "No, Xander. . .this is between her and me. . .and I guess it's my fault we haven't had it out over this before now. It's my problem to deal with. . .and I know where she's going, anyway."
Xander frowned, then nodded, and Faith left the mansion with a grim expression on her face.
* * * * *
"Really, Danielle. . .I've tried to sit through a baseball game. . .it's so tedious. . .I can't imagine how you Americans stand it." Giles sipped his tea and gave his fellow Watcher an amused glance as she gave a mock bristle at the studied insult.
"Oh, and like soccer. . .oh, I'm sorry. . .'football'. . .is so exciting with all of those scoreless games going into overtime." Danielle smiled ferally as she counterattacked: fencing with Rupert over the merits of their respective homelands was one of the more entertaining pastimes she had. "No wonder so many of your young people start riots during those damned games. . .it's the only thing that can keep their blood from spontaneously freezing in their veins from the tedium!"
Giles raised an eyebrow to acknowledge the point and was about to deliver a choice retort when Buffy burst into the apartment and ran up to where the Watchers were sitting, glaring at them both with an intensity that made both of them inwardly cringe. Giles flinched: he had a sinking feeling as to what had her so worked up, though he managed a calm expression as he asked, "Buffy, what's wrong?"
Buffy locked eyes with him and grated out, "Faith. . .you knew that she was going to go through with the Cruciamentum. . .and that the others were helping to train her, didn't you?"
Giles paled, remembering that Faith hadn't wanted Danielle to know about the involvement of the Scooby Gang in Faith's training, and remonstrated "Buffy!"
Giles felt Danielle squeeze his arm, and turned as she commented, "It's all right, Giles. . .I knew about the others helping her. . .Faith was trying to spare my feelings, but Buffy's friends are rather talented vampire hunters in their own right without any powers. . .going to them showed very good judgment on her part. . .I just wish she had trusted me enough to tell me what her whole plan was."
"I'm sorry, Danielle." Faith's voice came from the open door, and all eyes turned to her as she walked into the apartment. The younger Slayer walked over to where the others were standing: Buffy pointedly turned away, while the Watchers watched Faith with undisguised concern. Faith frowned, then continued, "Danielle. . .we'll talk about this later. . .but could the two of you give me some time alone with B?"
After hesitating for a moment, Giles and Danielle both nodded and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind them. Faith sighed, then called out, "All right, Buffy. . .say what you need to say to me."
Buffy turned around slowly, and Faith could see the anger, the frustration, and most of all the fear radiating from behind her tear-filled eyes as she whispered, "Faith. . .how can you do this? The Council doesn't have the right to do this to you. . .and you have to know that I'd fight them with every last breath in my body to stop them from forcing you to."
Faith's stern expression softened, and she reached out gently and led Buffy to the couch, then sat next to her and waited. After a few seconds, Buffy turned back to Faith in anger and snapped, "I can't believe that they all kept that secret from me! What kind of friends--?"
"The same kind that you were when you kept your own secrets Buffy. . .or mine, just recently." Faith's voice was calm but very firm as she reminded Buffy that she had just kept Faith's dinner with Giles a secret. Buffy looked rather chagrined, and was silent as Faith continued, "Besides, Giles didn't know until Mr. Morris from the Council called, and he was just as unhappy about it as you are. . .but it was my choice, B. . .and they're doing it under rules I came up with. . .it's a lot better deal than you got, and it's something I have to do."
"But why, Faith?" The anger was gone from Buffy's voice, and most of the fear: the dominant emotion Buffy was feeling was simple curiosity. "Why do you have to do this at all? You're every bit the Slayer that I am. . .why should you have to prove anything to them?"
Faith reached out and clasped hands with Buffy, then told her how things had gone when Morris and Travers had shown up at Danielle's apartment in August, and the older Slayer smiled when Faith vividly described how Travers had been humiliated by Faith and Morris. Faith then explained how she had gone to Xander and the others and asked for their help, and how that had gone. Finally, she recounted her talk with Giles, and how he had reluctantly agreed to keep silent. When she finished, Buffy nodded reluctantly and commented, "All right, Faith. . .Giles is right: you did come up with a good plan, and you're right too: it is a better deal than I got." Faith smiled as Buffy continued, "But the question still remains: why do it at all?"
Faith looked at Buffy for a moment while she thought of how to answer the question. She had already explained herself three times over this same question, and each time the answer had been a little different. Faith blinked, then replied, "Buffy. . .we've got a pretty good thing going here right now, but I don't kid myself. . .Slayers don't generally live long enough to collect many gray hairs. You helped keep me from making a real mess out of my life. . .but now I've been thinking about what I leave behind me when I go. . .you know what I'm saying?" Buffy nodded softly, and Faith continued, "B. . .you've already left your legacy: you've saved the world a whole heap of times, plus you got the Council to back down on the whole firing Giles thing. . .from what Mr. Morris said, it really had an impact over there. Anything you do from here on in just adds to that. But me. . .I haven't really made my own special contribution yet."
Faith saw Buffy was about to interrupt with a protest and held her hand up to stop her. Buffy subsided, and Faith continued, "I know what you were going to say, B. . .I helped with a lot of that stuff in the last year, and I know you appreciate it. . .I know everyone does." She smiled softly, then continued, "But I think if I pull this off, they might finally realize that their old way of doing things just doesn't work any more. . .they might treat the next Slayer as something more than cannon fodder, even if she doesn't luck out and get a Watcher as good as the ones we got. . .and if that happens, maybe one of those tweed types will write, 'And the tradition of a dozen centuries was ended that night, because of what Faith did, with the help of her friends.'" She met Buffy's eyes and smiled sadly, "I guess what I'm trying to say, B, is that while kicking ass with you is great. . .I need to have my own identity. . .and this is how I'm going to try to get it. Does that make any sense at all?"
Buffy blinked, and tears came as she leaned forward and captured Faith in a ferocious hug. After a moment, she pulled back and met Faith's eyes again as she asked, "Faith, do you remember what I told you while Kakistos was chasing us?"
Faith nodded slowly and replied, "Don't die."
Buffy nodded in reply and elaborated, "You better follow that advice. . .because if you get yourself killed, I'm going to be very pissed off. . .and don't assume I won't be able to get back at you just because of a little obstacle like death. . .I've beaten it before."
Faith smiled wistfully and responded, "Yeah. . .I see your point. Don't worry. . .I already promised Giles I would be coming back. . .no more excuses for him then."
Buffy smiled back, and the two Slayers left the apartment, heading back to the mansion to finish the interrupted workout. Giles and Danielle saw them go, and sighed in relief, though their expressions still showed concern as they contemplated what Faith would soon be facing.
* * * * *
Buffy and Willow sat on Willow's bed in silence, with Buffy desperately wanting to find something to say, but finding nothing. Oz had left only a half-hour before, and Buffy could see that the reality of it was only really sinking in now for Willow. She grasped Willow's hand and squeezed, and was mildly relieved to feel the pressure in return. There was a knock at the door, and Buffy's first impulse was to ignore it, but the knock repeated, more insistently, and Buffy squeezed Willow's hand again before getting up with the intention of chasing off whoever was at the door.
Buffy opened the door to find Faith there with a concerned expression on her face. She walked into the room without a word, then saw the state that Willow was in. She glanced back and forth between Buffy and Willow, then mumbled, "I'm sorry, Willow. . .I didn't mean to intrude. . .just wanted to say. . .never mind." She turned on her heel and was about to leave when Willow looked up with red eyes and called out, "No, Faith. . .please stay." She gestured for both Slayers to sit beside her on the bed, and all three women were silent for a moment before Faith chuckled and commented, "Where's Xander when we need him?"
The other two women chuckled, remembering moments when Xander had been "comfort guy" for them, and Willow looked up and replied, "Too many of us here at once. . .Comfort Guy would be taking a back seat to Hormone Guy."
Faith and Willow began giggling at that, and Buffy managed a baleful glare at the affront to her boyfriend, but began giggling herself after a few moments. They calmed down after a couple of minutes, and Buffy reached out to grasp one of Willow's hands, and Faith followed suit by taking the young witch's other hand and whispering, "Anything you need, Red. . .you know we'll come through for you."
Willow blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek as she replied, "I know. . .I never doubted it for a moment." She blinked again, then exclaimed, "Faith! Your training. . .with Oz gone-"
"Not a problem," Faith replied, squeezing Willow's hand reassuringly as she continued, "It's only going to be a couple of more weeks now. . .and I had a new plan in mind anyway." She frowned, and concluded, "But we don't have to talk about it now, Willow. . .I know you've got other things on your mind."
Willow blinked, and her eyes were ablaze with naked curiosity as she responded, "A new topic would be really good right now. . .and you have me wondering: what's your new plan?"
Faith looked at Willow carefully for a moment before concluding that she was being sincere rather than a good soldier, then replied, "I was going to ask B to help me with the next step. . .since she decided to crash our little party."
Buffy paled for a moment, then replied, "No problem, Faith. . .I guess Willow can whip up another one of those amulets for me."
Faith shook her head and elaborated, "No amulet for you, B. . .just you. . . and me with a bit of a handicap."
Buffy gasped and exclaimed, "Faith! That sounds dangerous. . .suppose I screw up and really hurt you? That's a pretty big chance to take with it coming so soon. . ."
"I know." Faith's expression made it clear to Buffy and Willow that she was not taking it lightly, but they could see the determination there as she continued, "The guys did a good job with the workouts, but I need the acid test: I need to know if these tricks will be any good against a really tough opponent. . .and I'm not going to give the Council any freebies by going out on patrol with the amulet on. At least I know you don't want me dead. . .I think I can count on your reflexes for the rest."
Buffy leaned over and hugged Faith, and Willow quickly followed suit. After a moment, Faith pulled away and started giggling again. The others looked at her, and she explained, "I was thinking that we should have someone come in and take a picture of the group hug. . .Xander's been a big help. . .he should get some kind of reward for it, don't you think?"
Willow began laughing, tears rolling down her cheeks, while Buffy gave Faith a dirty look and replied, "I'll handle the rewards for Xander, thank you very much. . .all right, Faith. . .day after tomorrow we'll start our workouts together. . .I just hope we aren't making a mistake here."
Faith nodded, then responded, "Me too, B. . .me too." With that, the Slayers turned back to their visibly more cheerful friend, and settled in for a long night.
* * * * *
Faith blinked, and found herself back in the bar that she had dreamed of twice before, sitting at a table with a Screwdriver in front of her. She smiled, took a sip from the drink, and turned to her right. Buffy was sitting there, smiling at her and reaching for a glass of beer on the table. She raised an eyebrow and commented, "Hmmm. . .night before the Council's big party for me and we end up back here, B. . .think someone's trying to tell us something?"
Buffy shrugged and replied, "Beats me. . .it's not as if we haven't been working our butts off the last two weeks." Buffy had been spending more time out on patrol to allow Faith rest time between their training sessions, and she was starting to feel the strain. She sipped at her beer, then looked over to the entrance of the bar, which was covered by an odd mist. A familiar silhouette stood there, and Buffy sighed, "Looks like your bad boy in leather is back."
Faith frowned, and watched as the figure walked closer. He cleared the mist, and Faith's and Buffy's jaws dropped at the same time: it was Giles, dressed up as Ripper. He quickly walked to the table and sat down before nodding at the Slayers and mumbling, "Ah, hello. . .Buffy. . .Faith."
Buffy and Faith turned to each other, then turned back to the visibly uncomfortable Giles. Faith broke the silence first by asking, "Giles, why are you here? More importantly, why haven't I seen you in this outfit before?"
Buffy and Giles blushed simultaneously, and Giles was silent for a long moment before replying, "I don't own clothing of this sort. . .this wardrobe is courtesy of the rather twisted sense of humor of whoever sends you these dreams. . .as for why I am here; apparently, something is going to go wrong during your Cruciamentum. . .something from outside the planned parameters of the test. . .both of you will be in great danger."
Faith snorted bitterly and replied, "Wish that came as a great shock. . .but it doesn't. Any details?"
Giles shook his head, frustration visible on his face as he responded, "Against the rules, apparently. . .you'll just need to be on your guard. . .or perhaps the test should be postponed-"
Faith shook her head emphatically and replied, "Ain't gonna happen, Giles. . .we'll just have to stay on our toes and take down anyone who messes with us. . .this is too important to stop now on a vague warning."
Giles blinked, then turned to Buffy and requested, "Could I speak to Faith alone for a few moments, Buffy?"
Buffy looked at her Watcher, and nodded, getting up and walking away with a thoughtful look on her face. When she was gone, Giles turned to Faith and commented, "Faith, perhaps now is not the time to be stubborn."
Faith's eyes flared, and she snapped, "Now is exactly the time to be stubborn, Giles. . .I don't believe in coincidences. If something big is happening the very night I'm supposed to be doing the Cruciamentum, it's because someone knows we'll be one Slayer down that night. . .we've been pretty tight lipped about this. . .if word has gotten out to the baddies, someone spilled the beans. . .and I bet it was on purpose."
Giles' eyes widened, and he responded, "I follow your reasoning, Faith. . .but if you're right, and a source in the Council has leaked this information, then you are in even greater danger. . .which argues for postponement."
"Except that we have no solid proof, and don't know who the traitor is," Faith shot back. "This could be the only chance to draw him or her out. . .if we don't, who knows how we'll get screwed over in the next few years. . .? If I can pull this off, and expose the traitor. . .the old fogeys on the Council will be finished. . .the good guys will have won. That's worth a little extra danger, wouldn't you say?"
Giles reached out and grasped her hand before replying, "Speaking in purely rational terms, I have to agree. . .but for some reason, I don't really feel like being rational right now." He leaned over and kissed her, causing her to tingle from head to toe.
After a moment, Giles withdrew, and Faith looked at him for several seconds before replying, "Giles. . .I learned a lot from you and B. . .and from Amanda before she died. . .the bottom line is: trying to have a decent life is important. . .but the job comes first. Going through with this is the only way I know how to follow that rule, and if it means that I buy it tomorrow, then at least I know it happened when I was doing the best I could. . .and with people I love at my side."
Giles stared at her for a moment, blinked, then stood. He leaned down, brushed her hair back and kissed her tenderly on the forehead before walking back into the mist in front of the exit. Faith blinked-
---and found herself staring at the ceiling of her bedroom. She sat up, and felt the wave of dizziness that had resulted from the first two injections, which she had administered herself after seeing the pale faces of Giles and Danielle as they looked at the offending needle. She sighed, then got up, and one thought was foremost as she got up to shower:
* Here we go. . . *
. . .to be continued
As always, comments are welcomed and desired
The cool late October air nipped at Buffy as she quietly followed Xander at a distance. She had a healthy respect for his ability to spot being followed, and she had carefully chosen her wardrobe to blend in with the shadows. He showed no sign of spotting her, and she relaxed enough to take a moment to mull over what had driven her to do this.
The bruises she had spotted on him before had only gotten worse as the days went on, to the point where she had confronted Oz about it. He had been apologetic, but confirmed Xander's story, and went so far to show that he too had picked up some bruises recently. Willow had backed Oz when Buffy questioned her about it, but the bruises continued to get worse, and Buffy wasn't buying it any more. . .sparring had never beaten Xander up this much. She was going to find out what he (and, apparently, the others) were keeping from her.
Xander headed through a cemetery, and Buffy realized with a chill that Xander was heading for the old mansion that Angel had vacated a few months before when he headed to L.A. She continued to follow him, and sure enough, he darted through the front door of the mansion. She crept up to the ajar door and listened. She heard Willow and Oz, then the throaty chuckle that she had come to know well in the last year. . .Faith.
She slipped in, then crept up to the curtain that blocked the main room from sunlight and peeked through the crack. She saw Xander and Oz in workout clothes, then spotted Faith as she stepped onto a training mat and gestured to the two young men. Xander and Oz glanced at each other, then Xander shrugged and moved up to Faith. They began sparring, and Buffy immediately saw that something was amiss. Faith wasn't moving right. . .her moves looked sluggish compared to her normal fluidity, though she was keeping up with Xander quite well, and he wasn't a slouch in hand to hand for someone who wasn't the Chosen One. Buffy looked at the two combatants on the mat, glanced at her best friend, who watched them with interest, and it all hit her at once. She felt a intense pang of nausea and horror, and she was unable to stop from gasping out loud.
The action on the mat stopped, and everyone looked at the curtain. Buffy prepared to take off, but Xander's dark eyes glittered as he called out, "Buffy. . .come in here."
Buffy felt a chill, then a spurt of anger as she tore the curtain aside and stormed up to Xander, snarling, "Oz my ass. . .you lied to me, Xander." She turned on Oz and Willow, and continued, "You did too." She then turned on Faith, who was watching her with an unreadable expression. Faith waited for another outburst, but saw only tears before Buffy turned away and bolted from the room.
Xander called out, "Buffy!", then moved to go, only to be restrained by Faith. He gave her an angry look and snapped, "Damn it, Faith. . .I have to go after her."
Faith had removed the amulet that suppressed her powers and shook her head firmly as she replied, "No, Xander. . .this is between her and me. . .and I guess it's my fault we haven't had it out over this before now. It's my problem to deal with. . .and I know where she's going, anyway."
Xander frowned, then nodded, and Faith left the mansion with a grim expression on her face.
* * * * *
"Really, Danielle. . .I've tried to sit through a baseball game. . .it's so tedious. . .I can't imagine how you Americans stand it." Giles sipped his tea and gave his fellow Watcher an amused glance as she gave a mock bristle at the studied insult.
"Oh, and like soccer. . .oh, I'm sorry. . .'football'. . .is so exciting with all of those scoreless games going into overtime." Danielle smiled ferally as she counterattacked: fencing with Rupert over the merits of their respective homelands was one of the more entertaining pastimes she had. "No wonder so many of your young people start riots during those damned games. . .it's the only thing that can keep their blood from spontaneously freezing in their veins from the tedium!"
Giles raised an eyebrow to acknowledge the point and was about to deliver a choice retort when Buffy burst into the apartment and ran up to where the Watchers were sitting, glaring at them both with an intensity that made both of them inwardly cringe. Giles flinched: he had a sinking feeling as to what had her so worked up, though he managed a calm expression as he asked, "Buffy, what's wrong?"
Buffy locked eyes with him and grated out, "Faith. . .you knew that she was going to go through with the Cruciamentum. . .and that the others were helping to train her, didn't you?"
Giles paled, remembering that Faith hadn't wanted Danielle to know about the involvement of the Scooby Gang in Faith's training, and remonstrated "Buffy!"
Giles felt Danielle squeeze his arm, and turned as she commented, "It's all right, Giles. . .I knew about the others helping her. . .Faith was trying to spare my feelings, but Buffy's friends are rather talented vampire hunters in their own right without any powers. . .going to them showed very good judgment on her part. . .I just wish she had trusted me enough to tell me what her whole plan was."
"I'm sorry, Danielle." Faith's voice came from the open door, and all eyes turned to her as she walked into the apartment. The younger Slayer walked over to where the others were standing: Buffy pointedly turned away, while the Watchers watched Faith with undisguised concern. Faith frowned, then continued, "Danielle. . .we'll talk about this later. . .but could the two of you give me some time alone with B?"
After hesitating for a moment, Giles and Danielle both nodded and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind them. Faith sighed, then called out, "All right, Buffy. . .say what you need to say to me."
Buffy turned around slowly, and Faith could see the anger, the frustration, and most of all the fear radiating from behind her tear-filled eyes as she whispered, "Faith. . .how can you do this? The Council doesn't have the right to do this to you. . .and you have to know that I'd fight them with every last breath in my body to stop them from forcing you to."
Faith's stern expression softened, and she reached out gently and led Buffy to the couch, then sat next to her and waited. After a few seconds, Buffy turned back to Faith in anger and snapped, "I can't believe that they all kept that secret from me! What kind of friends--?"
"The same kind that you were when you kept your own secrets Buffy. . .or mine, just recently." Faith's voice was calm but very firm as she reminded Buffy that she had just kept Faith's dinner with Giles a secret. Buffy looked rather chagrined, and was silent as Faith continued, "Besides, Giles didn't know until Mr. Morris from the Council called, and he was just as unhappy about it as you are. . .but it was my choice, B. . .and they're doing it under rules I came up with. . .it's a lot better deal than you got, and it's something I have to do."
"But why, Faith?" The anger was gone from Buffy's voice, and most of the fear: the dominant emotion Buffy was feeling was simple curiosity. "Why do you have to do this at all? You're every bit the Slayer that I am. . .why should you have to prove anything to them?"
Faith reached out and clasped hands with Buffy, then told her how things had gone when Morris and Travers had shown up at Danielle's apartment in August, and the older Slayer smiled when Faith vividly described how Travers had been humiliated by Faith and Morris. Faith then explained how she had gone to Xander and the others and asked for their help, and how that had gone. Finally, she recounted her talk with Giles, and how he had reluctantly agreed to keep silent. When she finished, Buffy nodded reluctantly and commented, "All right, Faith. . .Giles is right: you did come up with a good plan, and you're right too: it is a better deal than I got." Faith smiled as Buffy continued, "But the question still remains: why do it at all?"
Faith looked at Buffy for a moment while she thought of how to answer the question. She had already explained herself three times over this same question, and each time the answer had been a little different. Faith blinked, then replied, "Buffy. . .we've got a pretty good thing going here right now, but I don't kid myself. . .Slayers don't generally live long enough to collect many gray hairs. You helped keep me from making a real mess out of my life. . .but now I've been thinking about what I leave behind me when I go. . .you know what I'm saying?" Buffy nodded softly, and Faith continued, "B. . .you've already left your legacy: you've saved the world a whole heap of times, plus you got the Council to back down on the whole firing Giles thing. . .from what Mr. Morris said, it really had an impact over there. Anything you do from here on in just adds to that. But me. . .I haven't really made my own special contribution yet."
Faith saw Buffy was about to interrupt with a protest and held her hand up to stop her. Buffy subsided, and Faith continued, "I know what you were going to say, B. . .I helped with a lot of that stuff in the last year, and I know you appreciate it. . .I know everyone does." She smiled softly, then continued, "But I think if I pull this off, they might finally realize that their old way of doing things just doesn't work any more. . .they might treat the next Slayer as something more than cannon fodder, even if she doesn't luck out and get a Watcher as good as the ones we got. . .and if that happens, maybe one of those tweed types will write, 'And the tradition of a dozen centuries was ended that night, because of what Faith did, with the help of her friends.'" She met Buffy's eyes and smiled sadly, "I guess what I'm trying to say, B, is that while kicking ass with you is great. . .I need to have my own identity. . .and this is how I'm going to try to get it. Does that make any sense at all?"
Buffy blinked, and tears came as she leaned forward and captured Faith in a ferocious hug. After a moment, she pulled back and met Faith's eyes again as she asked, "Faith, do you remember what I told you while Kakistos was chasing us?"
Faith nodded slowly and replied, "Don't die."
Buffy nodded in reply and elaborated, "You better follow that advice. . .because if you get yourself killed, I'm going to be very pissed off. . .and don't assume I won't be able to get back at you just because of a little obstacle like death. . .I've beaten it before."
Faith smiled wistfully and responded, "Yeah. . .I see your point. Don't worry. . .I already promised Giles I would be coming back. . .no more excuses for him then."
Buffy smiled back, and the two Slayers left the apartment, heading back to the mansion to finish the interrupted workout. Giles and Danielle saw them go, and sighed in relief, though their expressions still showed concern as they contemplated what Faith would soon be facing.
* * * * *
Buffy and Willow sat on Willow's bed in silence, with Buffy desperately wanting to find something to say, but finding nothing. Oz had left only a half-hour before, and Buffy could see that the reality of it was only really sinking in now for Willow. She grasped Willow's hand and squeezed, and was mildly relieved to feel the pressure in return. There was a knock at the door, and Buffy's first impulse was to ignore it, but the knock repeated, more insistently, and Buffy squeezed Willow's hand again before getting up with the intention of chasing off whoever was at the door.
Buffy opened the door to find Faith there with a concerned expression on her face. She walked into the room without a word, then saw the state that Willow was in. She glanced back and forth between Buffy and Willow, then mumbled, "I'm sorry, Willow. . .I didn't mean to intrude. . .just wanted to say. . .never mind." She turned on her heel and was about to leave when Willow looked up with red eyes and called out, "No, Faith. . .please stay." She gestured for both Slayers to sit beside her on the bed, and all three women were silent for a moment before Faith chuckled and commented, "Where's Xander when we need him?"
The other two women chuckled, remembering moments when Xander had been "comfort guy" for them, and Willow looked up and replied, "Too many of us here at once. . .Comfort Guy would be taking a back seat to Hormone Guy."
Faith and Willow began giggling at that, and Buffy managed a baleful glare at the affront to her boyfriend, but began giggling herself after a few moments. They calmed down after a couple of minutes, and Buffy reached out to grasp one of Willow's hands, and Faith followed suit by taking the young witch's other hand and whispering, "Anything you need, Red. . .you know we'll come through for you."
Willow blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek as she replied, "I know. . .I never doubted it for a moment." She blinked again, then exclaimed, "Faith! Your training. . .with Oz gone-"
"Not a problem," Faith replied, squeezing Willow's hand reassuringly as she continued, "It's only going to be a couple of more weeks now. . .and I had a new plan in mind anyway." She frowned, and concluded, "But we don't have to talk about it now, Willow. . .I know you've got other things on your mind."
Willow blinked, and her eyes were ablaze with naked curiosity as she responded, "A new topic would be really good right now. . .and you have me wondering: what's your new plan?"
Faith looked at Willow carefully for a moment before concluding that she was being sincere rather than a good soldier, then replied, "I was going to ask B to help me with the next step. . .since she decided to crash our little party."
Buffy paled for a moment, then replied, "No problem, Faith. . .I guess Willow can whip up another one of those amulets for me."
Faith shook her head and elaborated, "No amulet for you, B. . .just you. . . and me with a bit of a handicap."
Buffy gasped and exclaimed, "Faith! That sounds dangerous. . .suppose I screw up and really hurt you? That's a pretty big chance to take with it coming so soon. . ."
"I know." Faith's expression made it clear to Buffy and Willow that she was not taking it lightly, but they could see the determination there as she continued, "The guys did a good job with the workouts, but I need the acid test: I need to know if these tricks will be any good against a really tough opponent. . .and I'm not going to give the Council any freebies by going out on patrol with the amulet on. At least I know you don't want me dead. . .I think I can count on your reflexes for the rest."
Buffy leaned over and hugged Faith, and Willow quickly followed suit. After a moment, Faith pulled away and started giggling again. The others looked at her, and she explained, "I was thinking that we should have someone come in and take a picture of the group hug. . .Xander's been a big help. . .he should get some kind of reward for it, don't you think?"
Willow began laughing, tears rolling down her cheeks, while Buffy gave Faith a dirty look and replied, "I'll handle the rewards for Xander, thank you very much. . .all right, Faith. . .day after tomorrow we'll start our workouts together. . .I just hope we aren't making a mistake here."
Faith nodded, then responded, "Me too, B. . .me too." With that, the Slayers turned back to their visibly more cheerful friend, and settled in for a long night.
* * * * *
Faith blinked, and found herself back in the bar that she had dreamed of twice before, sitting at a table with a Screwdriver in front of her. She smiled, took a sip from the drink, and turned to her right. Buffy was sitting there, smiling at her and reaching for a glass of beer on the table. She raised an eyebrow and commented, "Hmmm. . .night before the Council's big party for me and we end up back here, B. . .think someone's trying to tell us something?"
Buffy shrugged and replied, "Beats me. . .it's not as if we haven't been working our butts off the last two weeks." Buffy had been spending more time out on patrol to allow Faith rest time between their training sessions, and she was starting to feel the strain. She sipped at her beer, then looked over to the entrance of the bar, which was covered by an odd mist. A familiar silhouette stood there, and Buffy sighed, "Looks like your bad boy in leather is back."
Faith frowned, and watched as the figure walked closer. He cleared the mist, and Faith's and Buffy's jaws dropped at the same time: it was Giles, dressed up as Ripper. He quickly walked to the table and sat down before nodding at the Slayers and mumbling, "Ah, hello. . .Buffy. . .Faith."
Buffy and Faith turned to each other, then turned back to the visibly uncomfortable Giles. Faith broke the silence first by asking, "Giles, why are you here? More importantly, why haven't I seen you in this outfit before?"
Buffy and Giles blushed simultaneously, and Giles was silent for a long moment before replying, "I don't own clothing of this sort. . .this wardrobe is courtesy of the rather twisted sense of humor of whoever sends you these dreams. . .as for why I am here; apparently, something is going to go wrong during your Cruciamentum. . .something from outside the planned parameters of the test. . .both of you will be in great danger."
Faith snorted bitterly and replied, "Wish that came as a great shock. . .but it doesn't. Any details?"
Giles shook his head, frustration visible on his face as he responded, "Against the rules, apparently. . .you'll just need to be on your guard. . .or perhaps the test should be postponed-"
Faith shook her head emphatically and replied, "Ain't gonna happen, Giles. . .we'll just have to stay on our toes and take down anyone who messes with us. . .this is too important to stop now on a vague warning."
Giles blinked, then turned to Buffy and requested, "Could I speak to Faith alone for a few moments, Buffy?"
Buffy looked at her Watcher, and nodded, getting up and walking away with a thoughtful look on her face. When she was gone, Giles turned to Faith and commented, "Faith, perhaps now is not the time to be stubborn."
Faith's eyes flared, and she snapped, "Now is exactly the time to be stubborn, Giles. . .I don't believe in coincidences. If something big is happening the very night I'm supposed to be doing the Cruciamentum, it's because someone knows we'll be one Slayer down that night. . .we've been pretty tight lipped about this. . .if word has gotten out to the baddies, someone spilled the beans. . .and I bet it was on purpose."
Giles' eyes widened, and he responded, "I follow your reasoning, Faith. . .but if you're right, and a source in the Council has leaked this information, then you are in even greater danger. . .which argues for postponement."
"Except that we have no solid proof, and don't know who the traitor is," Faith shot back. "This could be the only chance to draw him or her out. . .if we don't, who knows how we'll get screwed over in the next few years. . .? If I can pull this off, and expose the traitor. . .the old fogeys on the Council will be finished. . .the good guys will have won. That's worth a little extra danger, wouldn't you say?"
Giles reached out and grasped her hand before replying, "Speaking in purely rational terms, I have to agree. . .but for some reason, I don't really feel like being rational right now." He leaned over and kissed her, causing her to tingle from head to toe.
After a moment, Giles withdrew, and Faith looked at him for several seconds before replying, "Giles. . .I learned a lot from you and B. . .and from Amanda before she died. . .the bottom line is: trying to have a decent life is important. . .but the job comes first. Going through with this is the only way I know how to follow that rule, and if it means that I buy it tomorrow, then at least I know it happened when I was doing the best I could. . .and with people I love at my side."
Giles stared at her for a moment, blinked, then stood. He leaned down, brushed her hair back and kissed her tenderly on the forehead before walking back into the mist in front of the exit. Faith blinked-
---and found herself staring at the ceiling of her bedroom. She sat up, and felt the wave of dizziness that had resulted from the first two injections, which she had administered herself after seeing the pale faces of Giles and Danielle as they looked at the offending needle. She sighed, then got up, and one thought was foremost as she got up to shower:
* Here we go. . . *
. . .to be continued
As always, comments are welcomed and desired