Chapter 6 - crippling pain

Faith slowly opened her eyes as she woke up. She looked down at the sleeping form
wrapped around her, she'd never in a million years have picked herself as a snuggler
but it felt so *right* having Buffy curled up against her. Faith reached out and brushed
her fingers lightly over Buffys cheek she smiled and closed her eyes again enjoying the
soft weight of Buffys body on hers and the warmth her body gave off. Faith heard a
door open and opened her eye. Standing on the other side of the room were Xander
and Willow. 'Damn shoulda known they'd waste no time' she thought to herself.
"What did you do to her Faith?" Xander asked accusingly
"Nothing" Faith replied
"I swear if you hurt her..."
Faith disentangled herself from Buffy and climbed out of the bed and walked over to
Xander getting right inside his personal space.
"You'll what Xander? Beat me up?" Faith laughed and shook her head.
"I'd try, for Buffys sake" Xander said angrily as he stepped back trying to regain some
distance between himself and Faith. Buffy stirred in her sleep and Faith quickly looked
back on her to see if she was all right, she then turned back to her attackers and spoke
softly "Let's go outside" She then ushered them out of the room.

Faith carefully closed the door to the spare room then turned to face Xander again she
stared at him daring him to say something else, but he didn't he just stormed off. Faith
then turned to Willow "Your turn I guess"
"I'm not going to yell at you or tell you what to do, I can see you've changed"
"Like Auras and crap"
Willow smiled slightly "Yea, I guess, I can also see you love Buffy, and for both your
sake I hope what's happened between you isn't a result of a blow to her head" When
Willow finished talking she started to leave. After a couple of steps she turned around
and said "Oh and Faith, if you hurt her I will get you for it, and from me, that's no
empty threat" Faith nodded as Willow left.

Buffy looked up as Faith entered the room again "What's going on?" Buffy asked
"We had some visitors"
"Who?" Buffy asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes
"Xander and Willow"
"Oh" Buffy said softly
"Xanders pretty pissed, Willow seems mighty cool about it, um just so I'm clear, it is
REALLY Willow, isn't it"
Buffy smiled "As far as I know" she sighed "I should go talk to them"
"Not after you have a patent Faith style breakfast" Buffy smiled and started to get out
of bed "Oh I forgot to mention it's breakfast in bed"
Buffy laughed "Only if you join me"
Faith gave Buffy a wicked grin "Oh I will" She said as she left to make breakfast.

Buffy lay on her back staring at the ceiling. Slowly she sat up and looked around the
room she was in, it was huge 'and this is only a guest room' Buffy thought. Her eyes
landed on an open door to the en suite and she suddenly realised she REALLY needed
to go in there. She started to get up but was greeted with a sharp pain to her side she
looked down but saw no wound. After much struggle Buffy finally made it to the
bathroom.

Faith walked into the spare room carrying a tray full of pancakes covered in syrup.
"Buffy?" She called out as she looked around the room.
"In here" Buffys voice called out from the bathroom. Faith put down the tray and
walked into the small bathroom as she entered her brow scrunched up as she looked at
Buffy hunched over the basin. She carefully wrapped her arms around Buffys waist
"You ok B?" She asked with concern. Buffy turned around and looked at Faith pain,
confusion and fear filling her slightly moist eyes. "Buffy? What's wrong?" Faith asked
"It hurts" A tear slid down Buffys face "When I walk, in my side, there's no wound but
it fucking hurts Faith"
Faith tightened her grip on Buffy "It'll be ok B, come on let's get you back to bed, I
brought breakfast" Faith smiled hopefully at Buffy who returned the smile and placed a
quick kiss on Faiths lips "Carry me?" She asked
"Always" Faith replied as she lifted Buffy up and carried her back to bed.