Disclaimers - you know the drill I don't own 'em etc.
Authors note -so I was gonna try really hard not to write this as slash, but I've decided, hey I'm a slash writer it's what I do best.


Chapter 4 - Self Inflicted Pain

Faith lay in her bed string at the ceiling, something was wrong, she could feel it, Buffy was in trouble somewhere, somehow. Faith sighed and climbed out of bed she threw on some clothes and grabbed the stake sitting on the dresser. She quietly climbed out the window and expertly scaled the drainpipe and headed into town to find Buffy.

"B?" A soft voice filled Buffys head as she slowly started to come to, when she opened her eyes she was greeted a dark brown eyes filled with a deep concern.
"Faith?" Buffy asked not to sure if it was the dark slayer in front of her.
"You took a mighty wicked blow B, looks like it anyways, we should get you checked out"
"Not the hospital"
"Nah B, I don't trust 'em either, come on" Faith helped Buffy to her feet and supported her "We'll take you back to Josh, he'll fix you up good"

"I told you not to leave"
"I knew she was in trouble Josh, I could just stay in the house and let something happen to her"
"You disobeyed me"
"For fucks sake she'd be dead if it wasn't for me, you're just like the other watchers Josh, all about rules and not giving a damn about people" Faith said as she stormed off.

"How ya feeling B?"
"Shitty"
Faith laughed softly and looked down at Buffy, she gently reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Buffy looked up into to Faiths eyes and for once saw no anger, no resentment, just pain, concern and love. It hit Buffy then, love that's what it all came down to in the end, once you stripped away everything else in their complicated lives. Buffy sat up slowly keeping eye contact with faith then slowly leaned forward and kissed her.