Wow looks like I did one of the cardinal sins of fanfiction, I didn't include any disclaimers. I have changed the first chapter to include disclaimers so now you can reference the prologue for all the things that I own and those I don't. Also a couple things on the martial arts stances I used in the last chapter. A horse stance is a pretty basic stance common to all martial arts where your feet are a little farther than shoulder length apart with your legs bent at the knees. It looks like the way you sit on top of a horse so hence horse stance. The form I've taken is from Taekwondo. I have assumed Taekwondo to be the main fighting style taught to the slayers because of its longer reach and reliance on the lower body for fighting. The show has both Buffy and Faith performing mostly kicks when fighting so I chose to focus on Taekowndo for Faith. The tiger stance is a form I've taken from kung-fu but is a common form found in the Chinese arts. I figured that due to his size Methos and Cassandra would focus on a style that would take advantage of his longer arms and hand speed. Ok that's enough for now, if you have any more questions drop me an email. Here is the next chapter enjoy!
The Past-the dark unfathom'd retrospect!
The teeming gulf - the sleepers and the shadows!
The past - the infinite greatness of the past!
For what is the present after all but a growth out of the past?
W.W 1871
As both cars pull up to the store Buffy is the first to get out quickly making her way to the other car. She pulls up short as she sees Tara and Willow exit the car slowly. Buffy looks at Tara and then at Willow who shakes her head slowly. Buffy's hand comes up to her mouth her eye wide with recognition. Moving to the back seat door Buffy opens it slowly. What she sees is heartbreaking. Amanda is sitting there with Harry's head in her lap rocking slowly back and forth talking to him. Buffy can see Harry's eyes are wide open. Where there was once life and humor, now there was nothing. Amanda was covered in his blood that showed better on her dress than Harry's burgundy shirt but if one looked carefully they would see that the shirt was drenched.
Riley who had gone into the shop to get Giles was now returning with Giles in tow. Motioning for Buffy to move Giles peers into the car and mutters, "Dear God." He had seen pictures of men wounded during war time, he had seen pictures of Watchers injured by demons and vampires but he had never seen so much blood in real life. The sight of Harry's body drenched in what was undoubtedly his own blood shook him to his core.
Giles glances at Buffy and asks the question that he know the answer to already, "Is he?"
Buffy only nods. Looking back into the car he calls to her softly, "Amanda?" She doesn't hear him as she continues to rock back and forth. He tries again, "Amanda?" This time she looks up and sees Giles looking into the car.
"Hello Giles." She says and then turns back to her husband's form. "Could you please help me get him inside?"
Nodding Giles motions to Riley to help him with the body. Riley taking the legs and Giles taking the upper body carry the body into the shop. Amanda follows them closely and stays with the body as they set it down on a table Willow cleared away in the back.
"Amanda?" Giles says softly again trying to make sure not to startle the young woman. "Is there anyone you want us to call?"
Nodding mutely she reaches into her husband's jacket and pulls out a wallet. After fingering through the wallet she pulls out a piece of paper. Handing it to Giles she says, "That's the number for his parents." Accepting the paper he walks to the front of the store and motions for the others to follow him.
"What happened tonight?" Giles asks without preamble.
"I'm not sure but me and Riley came in at the tail end of it." Buffy says. "Willow and Tara were there for the whole thing."
"Willow? Tara? What happened tonight?"
Willow speaks up first. "Tara and me decided to go to this club downtown, Club Transit."
"Why?"
"Because Tara had found out that Harry and Amanda were going to be there. She thought that is we were there we might see them slip up and we could find out more about them."
"Is this correct Tara?" Giles asks her.
"Yes, I know that there was more to them so I went to see what I could find out."
"Well that is all well and good but how did this lead to that young man being shot? Who killed him."
"One of the vampires." Riley says answering his question.
"Vampires?"
"Yeah," Willow says, "The club was pretty much into the swing of things, bumping and grinding and more bumping and Harry and Amanda were both in the middle of it dancing the night away you know?"
"But I take it something happened, some thing vampire-like?" Giles assumes.
"Actually a lot of vampire-like things." Tara says. "Amanda and Harry were in the middle of the room dancing away you know? When Amanda stops suddenly, making Harry stop as well. They look over to the doors and when I turn to look the bouncer is on the floor dead and twenty people walk in eyeing the crowd."
Willow picks up the story next, "That was when we saw Harry and Amanda come up the stairs. Harry told us to leave. He put on his coat and then both he and Amanda went back down the stairs."
"Willow that's when the screams came right?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, we rushed to the balcony and there were vampires everywhere killing and feeding. Harry and Amanda rushed in, he took out two vampires quickly and Amanda took three. But the other vampires started concentrating on them and they were having trouble fighting them off." Willow said.
"We even tried to cast protection spells, rejuvenation spells anything we could do to help them, but the vampires eventually got the upper hand and had tackled Amanda to the ground. Harry tried to save her but he was too far away."
"That's probably when Riley and me came into the picture." Buffy says.
"Yeah, I screamed at you to help Amanda." Willow says.
"When I saw what was happening I ran to her but I had to throw my stake at the vamp so it wouldn't feed off of her. After that I tackled one of the other vampires and helped her out. After she staked hers she threw the stake at me and I staked mine."
"What happened next?"
"Harry went to her to see if she was ok and then he went to help Riley." Willow says.
"Riley? What happened next?"
"He saved my ass. Then I saved his. The guy was really good Giles. He took two vampires with one swing. I think he saw the flash of the vampire's gun and guessed that it was aiming at Amanda and took off running. He was able to get her out of the line of fire but he was hit."
"How many shots?" Giles asked
"Three at mid range. All three hit him too." Riley responds.
Taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes Giles sighs. Returning the glasses to his face he walks behind the counter and picks up the phone.
"Giles what are you going to do?" Buffy questions him.
"I'm going to call the young man's parents. They deserve to see him and know that he died a hero. Then we find out what it was that he was working against and finish what he started." Giles says and dials the number on the paper.
"Hello? Yes my name is Rupert Giles I'm afraid I have some horrible news. You're son has been killed. What? No, no he's here at my shop. No I haven't called the police. If that is your wish. No, no from what I understand by gunshot. We'll be expecting you." At that Giles rattles off the address and directions before he hangs up the phone.
"What did he say?" Tara asks
"He's on his way here with Harry's mother. They both want to see him."
"What can we do?" Buffy asks.
"We wait. We wait and let Amanda and Harry's parents have time to deal with this tragedy. Amanda is already in shock and I don't want to aggravate her even more."
Seeing that all of them are in agreement they find seats in the shop and wait for the arrival of the elder Pierces. They quietly begin talking amongst themselves trying to workout all of the details of what really happened. Giles smiles grimly as he hears the young group discuss what they could have done or should have done to stop all of this from happening. In retrospect one could have done a multitude of things to prevent tragedy but at the time those options are never there. One day they would understand that but today he sees them lament the loss of yet another friend.
…
Adam hangs up the phone and calls Cassandra from the living room. Entering the room Cassandra asks, "What's wrong?"
"Xander just died." He says simply.
"Publicly?"
"Very. It seems that his body is being cared for by Faith and his old friends."
Cassandra sighs, "So much for our plans to do this quietly and unnoticed. Do you know how to get there?"
Adam holds up a piece of paper. "Yes, lets get going. I don't want him to wake up before we get there."
Nodding Cassandra grabs her coat and sword and meets Adam in the garage. As the car pulls away from the house they wonder how they were going to explain this to those who witnessed Xander's death. Maybe it was time to reveal who they really were.
…
There is a quiet murmur in the Magic Shop as the group inside awaits the arrival of Benjamin and Elizabeth Pierce. Giles decided to make himself busy by cleaning the shop up a little bit. If he was going to have guests he would at least make the shop presentable.
Willow was explaining to Buffy one of the moves that she saw Amanda perform to stake a vampire, "The vampire was swinging the club like a baseball bat you know? Amanda grabbed the bat and twisted with the swing pulling the club away. Then she grabbed her stake and staked the vamp from behind. It was so cool!"
"I wish I could have seen that, maybe if she feels up to it she can train with me." Buffy says looking remorsefully towards the back of the shop. "Anything else happen?"
Before Willow could answer the door to the shop opens. Giles not seeing who came in says, "I'm sorry we're closed."
"Where is he?" An accented voice asks.
"He is the back with Amanda. Mr. Pierce?" The man nods as a woman walks into to the room behind him. "He is back there but it isn't pretty. He was hit pretty hard and there was a lot of blood spilled."
The woman replies, "That is the least of my worries sir, I want to see my son."
Giles gestures for the pair to follow him reaching their destination he tells them, "He in there. I think Amanda is in shock, she was talking to the body while we brought him back here. I've tried to get her out but she has barricaded herself inside."
"Thank you. We'll handle it from here." The man says.
The woman walks up to the door and knocks and calls out softly, "Amanda?"
Giles hears Amanda's reply from behind the door. "Elizabeth? Is Ben with you too?"
"Yes child, let us in."
The door opens and Amanda lets the two in. Giles can hear her say "He's been hurt really bad but he'll be ok won't he?"
The rest of the conversation is muffled as the door closes behind them his heart aches when he hears the words that the young woman says. Giles lingers a while longer at the door straining to hear the conversation but to no avail all he can hear are muffles and even the louder sounds form behind the door reaches him muffled. Gile stays there for another ten minutes before leaving the family to grieve walks back to the front of the store only to be met by questioning looks. Giles looks at them and says, "Well out with it."
"Well what happened?" Buffy asks
Riley adds, "We didn't hear any kind of reaction from back there. I mean it is not everyday that your only son dies you know?"
"Well, yes. But I had told them of Amanda's condition, I think that perhaps that they are putting up a strong front for Amanda."
"Seeing her in action I'm not sure if anyone really needs to put up a strong front for her." Tara says.
Willow, Buffy, Tara and Riley nod remembering the fight at the club.
"She was awesome wasn't she?" Buffy says. Giles is surprised of the high level of praise that Buffy gives Amanda. Being awesome in the eyes of a slayer is no small accomplishment.
"She was doing pretty well with against the ten to one odds." Riley said.
"Yeah," Willow says, "Seeing her handle a stake you'd swear she is a slayer."
…
Faith is sitting in the room by herself. Looking at the door seeing that a few boxes and a chair were holding the door closed. Giles had come in to try to talk to her but she made him leave. After that she barricaded herself in the room. It would look good if Xander just woke up after being shot to death in front of all of them. Moments later she heard knocking at the door and it was Giles again telling her that he had called Adam and Cassandra. Faith smiles at that one. Giles actually said Harry's parents, and that they would be at the shop shortly.
She hoped that they would get here soon. Looking at Xander's wounds it looks as if they were beginning to close up. It was taking a lot longer for him to heal compared to when he stabbed himself with the knife. But then again that was one clean stab wound. These were three very bad gunshot wounds. Looking down at his prone body she begins to wonder if the internal injuries would heal first or did all the damage heal at once?
Shaking herself out of that macabre thought she looked around to find something to busy herself while waiting for Adam and Cassandra. In the corner there is a water cooler and in a nearby box there were some rags so she decides to clean up Xander and herself as much as possible. She has finished cleaning Xander's face when she hears a soft tapping at the door. She hoped that it wasn't Giles again. The voice that calls through is Cassandra's.
"Amanda?" She hears Cassandra's voice through the door.
"Elizabeth?" She calls out. She pauses a second as she tries to remember Adam's alias. "Is Ben with you too?"
"Yes child, let us in." She hears the response.
Faith goes over to the door and removes the boxes and the chair holding the door shut and opens the door just a fraction. She sees the two immortals and lets them in. While she is closing the door she says to them, "He's been hurt really bad but he'll be ok won't he?"
After the door closes Adam says, "Yes he'll be alright. Let me take a look at the wounds." He says to Faith. Removing Xander's shirt carefully Adam looks over the entry wounds. Turning Xander's body he able to locate all three exit wounds.
"These are pretty bad." Adam says to no one in particular. "But he seems to be healing normally. From the rates that the wounds are closing I'd say he'll wake up in about five minutes."
"What do we do then?" Faith asks. "As you can see here we are in a closed room with one exit out. If we leave and they see Xander alive what then?"
Adam looks at Cassandra who just shrugs and says, "It's your idea you tell her."
"Well what is your idea?" Faith says beginning to loose patience.
"I thought that it would be in our best interests to tell them who we really are."
Faith looks at Adam dumbfounded. She turns to Cassandra to see what she thinks of the idea. "Tell me he is joking."
Cassandra nods no and Faith turns back to Adam and says quietly, "I can believe that is your plan! You've lived for how long? And the best you can come up with is 'lets tell them who we are!"
"Faith I think you are overreacting here just a bit."
"Overreacting!" She exclaims while trying to keep her voice down. "Overreacting! Don't you remember what I told you about these people? They hate me! If they knew that I was in town they would have organized a search party to hunt me down!"
"You've met with them before though, albeit by accident, but they've shown that they trust you." Cassandra adds in.
"But you don't know what I've done to their lives! What I did to them no one can forgive."
At this Adam walks next to her and places a reassuring arm around her. To his surprise Faith just leans into the arm. The words he forms in his head are the words he would say to his daughter if he had one. Methos quickly amends that thought, the words he forms in his head are what he is going to tell his daughter Faith.
"Faith, forgiveness is a funny thing. It can come from the most hated of enemies and be denied by the closest of friends. Time has a lot to do with forgiveness. It takes time for wounds to heal."
"Nice thing to hear from someone who is five thousand years old." She says sullenly.
"That's my point. As mortals your time here is infinitely shorter than ours. It is that very fact that your friends out there have already forgiven you, when your time is short grudges become less and less important."
"But they were never my friends." She says quietly.
"Let's ask Xander about that." Faith looks up at Adam, "He's about to wake up."
If on cue Xander's body convulses and sits up taking in a deep breath. After filling his lungs for the first time after his death he falls back onto the table. Xander weakly calls out, "Faith."
Faith hurries to his side and takes his hand into hers. "I'm here Xander, I'm here."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"And the others?"
"All of them are okay."
Looking around the room and seeing that Adam and Cassandra are present as well he states what has become obvious to him. "I died didn't I?"
"I'm afraid so." Adam says. "And in front of your friends no less."
Xander rests his head back on the table. "That was definitely not part of the plan." He says with his eyes closed. Cassandra and Adam both note that he is still holding Faith's hand.
"At least not the plan I cam up with." Adam chides. "Well the question now is what do we do next?"
Xander sits up and looks down at his torn and bloodied clothes. "I suppose you have a plan already worked out for this situation? Do you have any clothes I can change into?"
"As a matter of fact I do." Adam and Cassandra both find the clothes they had brought for the couple and hand the clothes to them. Changing into the clothes Faith notices something.
"Adam?" Faith asks.
"Yes?"
"These clothes don't exactly match up with the identities you setup for us." She say gesturing at Xander and herself. Xander was wearing dark blue jeans and a long sleeve shirt tight enough to hint at his musculature. She was wearing a pair of tight pants and a form fitting tank top and a cardigan sweater the Cassandra brought for her. Though not as revealing as clothes she wore in the past they did hint to her true identity. "These clothes are things that Faith and Xander would wear. Not Harry and Amanda Pierce."
"Very astute of you Faith. You already know my intentions but for the sake of Xander here I'll repeat myself. Xander I think it is time to tell your friends who you are."
Leaning back on the table Xander looks back at Faith and sees fear in her eyes. "Are you okay with this?" He asks Faith.
"They were your friends Xander, never mine. They all hate me and I know once they find out who I really am they are going to want to kill me."
"First off I won't let that happen, secondly I don't think Adam or Cassandra will let that happen either." Faith looks to the two older immortals and sees their reassuring looks. "I'm going to be there for you through the whole thing okay?"
Faith nods quietly. Cassandra cuts explains why they need to reveal themselves now. "Adam told me that your friends came just in time to help you guys out correct?"
Faith and Xander nod. "Well we figured that they were able to find out some things that we obviously missed. Had we been working with them we could have prevented this from happening in the first place."
"I think you're right Cassandra." He looks at Faith and asks her. "You ready to do this?"
Taking a deep breath Faith nods. "Yes, but I think I should be the one they see first. You did just die in front of them you know." She says trying to make light of the situation. Xander squeezes her hand gently. She is surprised that she didn't even notice that they were holding hands.
Taking a deep breath she says, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Faith reluctantly releases Xander's hand and walks to the door and opens it. Adam, Cassandra and then Xander quietly follow her.
She can hear the group's conversation.
"She was awesome wasn't she?" Buffy says.
Buffy thought she was awesome? Faith thinks to herself.
"She was doing pretty well with against the ten to one odds." Riley said.
Ten to one wasn't all that bad, I had Xander with me Faith silently adds.
"Yeah," Willow says, "Seeing her handle a stake you'd swear she is a slayer."
At this point Faith decides cut into the conversation. "You're not that far off Red." She says stepping out from behind one of the shelves.
Her voice draws the attention of everybody in the room. Giles, Buffy and Tara look at her intently. She can see the all the elements are there but the reaction hasn't happened yet.
Riley asks, "Are you ok Amanda?" Faith doesn't answer as she continues to look at the three members of the group that could recognize her.
Buffy is the first to break away from her reverie. "W-What did you call her?" Buffy says not trusting her voice.
Faith decides to push the envelope even more trying to make them remember, "Come on B. You're usually quicker than this."
She sees that they have finally seen through her disguise. Calling her by the nickname she had given her the catalyst for an explosion of understanding. Giles takes off his glasses and looks at her intently and then replaces them on his face.
Giles mutters, "My word."
Willow sits back holding Tara's hand speechless.
Buffy untangles herself from Riley and slowly walks over to Faith. Buffy is nose to nose with her and is looking at her closely. She stops and stares at her eyes although a different color she can see something else, something familiar. Buffy pulls back and looks at Amanda face to face. She smiles at her with a lopsided grin and Buffy steps back.
Faith readies herself for the punch she expects Buffy to launch at her. She had caused them all so much pain and suffering while she was here. She deserves whatever retribution they have for her. She closes her eyes thinking that if she doesn't see the punch coming she won't be tempted to block the punch. What happens next is not what she expects. The punch never comes and she can feel Buffy's arms around her pulling her into a hug.
"Faith is it really you?" Buffy says to her.
Unsure of herself Faith replies, "Yeah B, it's me."
"When you disappeared from the hospital that day we thought you were kidnapped for some kind of ritual or something. When a new slayer wasn't called I knew that you weren't in danger, you just left."
"I couldn't stay B. No one would have given me a chance. You all hated me!"
"That's not true Faith." Willow tries to interject.
"Not true? Are you listening to yourself? Can you honestly say that you would have welcomed me with open arms back then?"
"But it seems that you have made a conscious effort to change Faith." Giles says.
Faith answers, "Yes I have Giles." She glances at Adam and Cassandra. Adam throws her a questioning look but Faith shakes her head no. If she was going to do this she was going to do it her way. "Once I left town I was trying to make things right. I would help with what I could. I stopped muggings, kept going on patrol and stopped what I could. But I never really belonged until I met a man who helped me get through the rough times."
"Harry?" Buffy asks. Faith nods. "I'm so sorry Faith." She says to her.
"For what B? Not being able to save him in time? For not being able to stop the vampire that shot him? You couldn't have done anything."
"But he's dead!" Willow says.
"That's why I'm out here right now." Faith pauses and gestures to her companions, "These people," She gestures at the older couple, "are Adam and Cassandra. "
"So you are not really Benjamin Pierce? But the resemblance between you and him is remarkable." Giles says.
"Well it should be. We're the same person." Adam replies casually.
"I don't think I'm following you." Giles says.
Faith cuts in, "Giles I'm going to show you something that will clear up some of your questions but it's going to open a whole new can of worms. I know I'm ready for this now but I'm not sure about the rest of you."
Buffy speaks up acting as the spokes person for the group, "Faith the people in this room have been through a lot. You should know you were here for some of it, if there's something you need to show us we can handle it. We've seen some pretty surprising things."
Faith looks around the room and sees that all are in agreement. "I'm not so sure you can handle this." Faith mutters under her breath.
"What was that?" Buffy asks becoming impatient.
"Oh nothing." Faith covers. Looking at Cassandra and Adam who both nod Faith calls out. "It's okay, you can come out now."
The look of astonishment that falls on all the faces of those present is almost amusing. Xander walks out from behind the shelves in a clean set of clothes. He is standing tall and without any hint of pain or discomfort. Most surprising to the group is that he is up and walking around at all.
"But-but you were dead!" Tara exclaims.
"You had no pulse when we brought you in." Giles says.
"I saw the bullet wounds at the club, there is no way you could have survived that, you were coughing up blood!" Riley adds.
"What are you?" Buffy says warily unconsciously moving in between him and the rest of the group. Willow just sits and stares at him.
He looks over to Faith and says, "You're right they really aren't as fast as they were then."
Looking at the group he says, "Come on guys, Buffster and G-Man I can understand, but you too Wills?"
Willow stands up slowly and walks past Buffy and right up to him. Her eyes go wide with excitement and screams out loud and throws her arms around him and hugs him tightly. The action nearly causes them to fall to the ground. The strength of the embrace is enough to squeeze the air out of his lungs.
Well at least that is what Willow planned to do just before she faints.
The room erupts into pandemonium as Tara rushes to Willow's side and Giles and Buffy approach Xander with questions coming at him at such a furious pace that he can barely keep up with them. Riley moves to Buffy's side. Xander reaches out and finds Faith's hand.
Adam and Cassandra stay back allowing the scene before them unfold naturally. Cassandra looks at the group and the looks on Xander and Faith's faces and says to Adam, "Well that wasn't so bad now was it?"
"No, not at all. They're both conscious and standing upright still." Adam replies looking at Faith and Xander but quickly adds, "For now." Chuckling as he sees them try to wake Willow up and question Xander at the same time. "Just like chewing gum and walking isn't it?" He says to Cassandra.
"A lot more difficult than it seems?" Adam nods. She continues, "Yes, I would say so. Let's go help our young ones, it looks like we have a long night ahead of us."
…
Jonathan is fuming as he enters the makeshift lair of the Master. Bursting into the room he finds him and walks right up the Master and yells at him, "I lost eleven of my most capable fighters tonight! You didn't tell me that I was up against such resistance!"
Seemingly unfazed by the proximity and loudness of the vampire the Master waves off Aaron and Keith who have moved to pull the vampire away. "Jonathan, I did mention that you were going to distract the protectors of this city did I not?"
"Yes, but you said nothing…"
"And you told me that as long as I paid you well that you would get the job done, correct?"
"Yes but eleven! Eleven vampires!"
"I care not of your logistics vampire." The Master tosses him a small case. "That should be enough to console you for the loss of your brethren."
Opening the case Jonathan sees that it is full of money. Stacks of hundred dollar bills to be exact. The rage that had filled him only moments ago is now replaced by the cool feeling of greed.
"I'm taking your sudden change of demeanor means that you find your loss acceptable?"
"You generosity is duly noted Master." He says his eyes never leaving the case. "This will go far in alleviating the stress that has incurred due to the loss of my brood."
"I thought as much. You may leave now vampire." Nodding Jonathan backs away clutching the case closely to him. "And Jonathan?"
"Yes Master?"
"I expect you to do a good job tomorrow night as well."
"Yes Master." The vampire says and walks away into the shadows.
"Keith, Aaron." The Master calls to his two minions. They approach him. "Do not worry you both will also be rewarded when the time comes. What I have given the vampire is nothing compared to what awaits you once my plan finally bears fruit."
"Thank you Master." They both say bowing out of reverence.
"Have you procured the site for the ritual Keith?"
"Yes Master. It is an old abandoned church. Most of it had burned down a while ago so no one will suspect anything."
"We are so close my friends, so very close." He says as he caresses the jars holding the eyes and tongues of the two murdered girls. "So close."
…
Willow can hear their voices as she wakes up from her nap. As her mind swims up from the darkness and is able to see that Buffy is sitting next to her as well as Tara.
"She coming out of it." She hears Tara say.
"Will? Are you okay?" Buffy says to her.
"Yeah Buff, I'm fine. I had the strangest dream though."
Buffy smiles and says, "Was Xander in it?"
"Yeah he was, but he looked different. Cooler I think."
"Are you saying that I wasn't cool back then Wills?" Xander's voice calls to her.
Thinking that she imagined it she says, "I'm hearing things now."
"You're not hearing things Willow." Giles says from behind her. Willow turns around and sees Giles standing there next to Harry. Looking at him closely she realizes that he looks like Xander from her dream.
Then Willow suddenly remembers what happened. Getting up quickly she runs to Xander and hugs him as tightly as she can. Pulling away her knees buckle slightly as her head spins.
"Whoa! Settle down there Wills. You've been out of it for about ten minutes. You should be running around like that."
"But how? Where have you? What is going?" Willow babbles. Her mind is having trouble comprehending what she sees and would have continued on babbling if Xander didn't place his hand over her mouth to quiet her down.
"She still does the babbling thing huh?" He asks Buffy.
"Only when she is under stress." Buffy replies.
Looking at Willow he says, "Now Wills, I'm going to take my hand away. I want you to take a deep breath before you say anything and remember that you have to think before you speak."
He does so and Willow takes a deep breath and releases it. "Xander is that really you?" she asks quietly.
"The one and only." He says with a grin.
Willow can't hold back her tears any longer and holds Xander tightly crying into his shoulder. She feels his hand reach up and stroke her hair comforting her. Xander just holds her as she cries. Buffy makes her way to the pair and places a hand on Willow's shoulder. Willow looking up sees Buffy and quickly brings her into the embrace. The two girls were now crying together happy now that their friend has returned to them.
Looking up and smiling he pulls the two girls away from him. "You two better stop that or else I'll have to change my shirt again!" He looks at Faith and says, "Do I have that kind of effect on women? Do I just make women want to break into tears and cry all over me?"
"Well it happened to me so I don't think that I would be impartial in the matter." Faith says with a smile.
"How did you survive the shooting? I mean you were dead before but I mean you should really be dead now, right?" Willow says.
"Well that's a long and complicated story." Xander says as he stands up. He walks over to Faith and leans against the counter with her. Adam and Cassandra are both standing nearby. "A story that I wanted to tell after you came around, that way I wouldn't have to do it twice."
"Well I'm awake now Xander. Tell us your story." Willow says.
"Would you like to explain to them what going on or should I?" Xander asks Adam.
"By all means you go ahead a tell them. It is your life story after all." Adam replies.
Sighing Xander lets his hands fall to his sides. His right hand brushes against Faith's and they automatically intertwine their fingers. The movement does not escape Buffy or Willow.
"Where do I start?" Xander says to himself.
"How about the part where we thought you died in a car accident." Buffy says.
"Well I guess that's as good as a place as any. You got it wrong though Buffy."
"What?"
"I didn't fake my death that night, I died that night." Xander suppresses the shiver that comes every time he remembers his first death. "My car went over the cliff and into the river I was driving beside. When my car hit the water my head hit the steering wheel and I was knocked out. When I came to the car was filling up with water and I couldn't get out until it was full. At that time the car was falling fast. I tried to make to the surface but I couldn't. I drowned. The next thing I know is I'm sitting in Adam and Cassandra's cabin."
"So they saved you died but they revived you right? Like you did for me the night I fought the master, right?" Buffy asks.
"Not quite Buffy." He says to her, his voice serious. "When they had found me I had been floating around in the lake for two days. Two days. There was no way that I could have been revived from that. I was definitely dead." Xander tells them.
"Well obviously were revived otherwise you wouldn't be here telling us this story." Giles adds.
"Yes I was revived but not by Cassandra or Adam." Xander says while holding a hand out to Adam who reaches into his coat and pulls out an ivory handled dagger. Xander takes the knife handle first and tosses it to Buffy who adroitly catches the knife. "Is that a real knife Buffy?"
"Real enough." She says and tosses the blade back to him.
Catching the blade Xander holds up his palm. "I'm going to show you something that will seem incredible."
"More incredible than you returning from the dead?" Giles asks.
"Almost. Just look." Xander takes the dagger and rakes his palm with it, opening the flesh all the way to bone. His blood dripping on the floor. Xander's jaw clenches suppressing a yell of pain. The response he gets is the one he expects. Willow and Buffy are upon him immediately. Buffy quickly grabs the knife away from him while Willow is holding his other wrist trying to stop the bleeding. Giles follows quickly behind them towel in hand intent on wrapping the hand before he looses too much blood.
He is about to tell them to stop and watch but Faith beats him to it. "No, you have to watch the wound." She says to the trio trying to help him. "Watch and then you will understand."
"Are you crazy we can't just let him bleed…" Willow's response is cut off by Giles who is motioning for her to look at Xander's hand. She looks as little bolts of electricity begin to play around and inside the wound. Tendons, muscle and sinew begin to realign themselves and heal. Dumbfounded they look on as Xander's skin begins to cover the wound once again. As the little discharges of electricity begin to fade so does the light scar that remains until it is only a red mark on his skin that is also beginning to fade.
Riley who was now looking over their shoulder is able to sum it up best when he says, "Whoa."
"What the hell was that Xander!" Buffy exclaims looking up at him.
At least their not afraid of me Xander thinks looking at the group standing their ground in front of him looking at him for an explanation. "That is the reason I revived that day. That is the reason why I am standing in front of you right now."
"What exactly is that?" Giles asks looking at Xander's hand closely. "The rate of which the damage was repaired is remarkable. Faster than even a Slayer's healing powers. Fascinating."
"Fascinating for you Giles," Buffy says, "but it still doesn't explain anything. What did we just see here Xander."
"You just witnessed the power of the quickening."
Willow interjects, "If that made sense to any one please raise your hand." Faith, Adam and Cassandra all raise their hands. "Okay since it made sense to you people would one of you care to elaborate exactly what it was we just saw."
Cassandra steps forward. "The quickening is what allows us to heal. It is the physical manifestation of our life force, our soul."
"Us?" Buffy asks. "As in you, Adam, Xander and Faith?"
"I'm not part of the club B." Faith says. "Just an honorary member."
Cassandra continues saying, "Yes Adam, Xander and myself are all Immortals. The quickening that you saw is very powerful. It is so powerful that it is able to stop the effects of time on the body."
Giles ever the researcher asks, "Stops the effects? Or just slows them down?"
"I'm not sure. If it slows it down it is slowed to a level that is imperceptible over the passage of time."
"Amazing, simply amazing." Buffy and Willow look at Giles curiously Giles found very little amazing, remarkable? Yes. Curious? Yes. Amazing? No.
"You are all Immortal then?" Riley asks, seeing them nod he continues his train of thought. "Are you demons? Gods? How old are you?"
"Demons or Gods? No we are neither. Though through the ages some of our kind have been worshiped as gods and feared as demons. Other times we are thanked as healers, generals, and politicians. We are just like you. We live and breathe just like you. Some of us are good while others are bad and many of us fall in-between." Cassandra explains.
Willow adds, "But you live forever! How can you say that? The sheer amount of time that you must endure is impossible! How can you not go crazy after the first thousand or so years watching those around you dying?"
A haunted look falls over Adam and Cassandra. Willow adds seeing that she has touched a delicate subject quickly apologizes, "I'm sorry, it's just that, I mean after seeing what…"
"It's okay Willow." Adam says. "First of all very few of us make it past a thousand years. Those that do are more than likely to survive another thousand. For those who do survive many do succumb to the madness of time. It is in that descent into madness that we loose many of our greatest individuals. If given enough time we are able to pull ourselves out of that pit of darkness, but not without the help of our friends."
The group sits there contemplating the words that Adam just said. Giles asks, "Cassandra? Are you the same Cassandra of Troy?"
Smiling she answers. "No. I was a dear friend of her Grandmother. She was named for me."
"That would make you nearly three thousand years old." Giles says in awe.
"Three thousand?" Buffy says not believing the number given to them by her watcher.
"I'm a little older than that I'm sure of it, but at the time of my first death calendars weren't really used by my people."
"First death?" Tara asks.
"Yes before we become immortal we age and live just like you do. We get sick, we can be injured just like you and the time it takes to heal is the same as any normal person. Much like the way Faith and Buffy were before they became Slayers." Cassandra says.
Glancing at Xander and Faith before returning her focus to Cassandra Buffy says, "You know about Slayers?"
"Yes, we've met a few through the years." She says motioning to Adam as she says the last statement. "Adam was able to sense that Faith was a Slayer when he first met her."
"You can sense Slayers?" She asks Adam.
"Yes actually. You and Faith give off the most peculiar signature for mortals." Adam answers easily. "It is why most vampires with half a brain will know to run in the other direction when they feel you come near."
"You mean that Vampires can sense me too?" Buffy asks. She looks at Giles who is just as dumbfounded as she.
"Oh most definitely. You didn't think it was a one way street did you?" He asks them. "The Watchers must be lacking in the research department or that particular piece of information has been lost to them."
"I'm not sure why I wasn't informed of that but I'll try calling the council to see if they know anything of it." Giles says.
"Well the short explanation is that like any type of energy the metaphysical variation also reacts with each other." Gesturing to Faith and Buffy he continues. "It will sometimes manifest itself as a cramp or a tingle telling you that something is near. After exposure to certain levels of energy you can learn to ignore the physical manifestation of the feeling and you can begin to focus on finding its source. Faith mentioned that you and her have those abilities."
"Yeah, we used to be able to find out where a vampire was within about twenty feet. If we were close enough we could figure out how many there were."
"I assume that by living here you've been exposed to many a vampire correct?"
"Yes."
"Now you find that certain demons and older vampires are able to bring out the physical feeling again?"
"How did you know?"
"Like I said your system has probably been able to adjust to the lower levels of energy given off by the younger vampires. But the stronger the demon or vampire the more you'll feel it. Here brace yourself." Adam says to her.
"What?" Buffy starts to say right before she doubles over. It feels like she was thrown into a frozen river. Her muscles tense unable to move and her head swims and she can barely stand straight. She wills her stomach to obey the laws of physics making sure her dinner stays where it is. As soon as the feeling started it is gone.
Riley is at her side trying to help Buffy sit up. He asks Adam, "What the hell did you do?"
"I let her feel the power of my quickening."
Buffy takes a deep breath. "I have never, ever felt anything like that. Not Lothos, not the Master not even the Mayor had that kind of power." She looks over to Faith who is grinning. "And can you tell me why you aren't feeling like you need to throw up?"
"I've been hanging around them for a long time. I'm sorta immune now." Faith answers.
"That's nice to know."
"If it helps any the first time they did it to me I nearly passed out."
Tara had been to the side when Adam demonstrated the power of his quickening. Willow looks over to her and sees that she had paled and her head was down shaking. "Tara are you okay?"
"I'm fine Willow. I just need to shake some cobwebs loose is all." Tara says. "When Cassandra was talking about the quickening I wanted to see what their auras looked like. I was looking at Adam's right before he did what ever he did. At first it was like he had a blue sheen it was small but you could tell that there was something there. Then he did something and his aura flared. It was so intense I had to pull away or else I would have been blinded."
Cassandra moves quickly to the young woman and looks at her intently. "Look at me child." Cassandra looks into her eyes and sees something. Closing her eyes she reaches out and feels with her quickening. Letting go of Tara and moving over to Willow she does the same. "You are both Wiccan?"
They both nod and Cassandra says, "This is getting more and more interesting. Tomorrow I want you two to come to our house when we train. You both have tremendous potential and I think that I might be able to help you harness much of that.
Willow steps forward and says, "Thank you we would be honored."
Riley steps into the conversation at this point. "Not to break up anything here but I wanted to get back to something you said before."
"Go ahead." Adam says.
"You were talking about your 'first death' or whatever you called it."
"Right. Well before we become immortal we must suffer our first death. Our first deaths are usually violent ones. It is the extensive trauma of the first death that awakens our latent immortality. We are born mortal but our immortality sleeps while we age and live a normal life. By dying the immortality wakes up and we revive for the first time. From that point on we don't age and we can't get sick."
"Right, but you said that very few of your kind survive past one thousand. For me immortal means forever." Riley says.
Xander speaks up. "That's right. Immortal is a misnomer of sorts. We can die. We are able to survive most anything that would kill a normal person. Stab wounds, gun shots car accidents, anything."
"Except?"
"Decapitation."
"Ouch." Willow says.
"Exactly what I said." Faith adds.
"So why would you want to kill each other?" Buffy asks.
"For the same reason that we are able to heal so fast. The quickening. The older or strong you are the stronger your quickening becomes. We are part of something called 'the game.' The rules of the game are simple. Fights are always one on one. No fighting on holy ground, doesn't matter whose you can't fight on it and in the end there can only be one." Adam explains.
"One what?" Tara asks.
"Immortal. The last one standing has the collected knowledge of all those who had come before them. Enough power, or so the stories go, to rule the world." Cassandra says.
"But you three are standing here together." Giles points out.
Adam answers, "When one has the potential to live forever you tend to want to have friends that you can share your vast memories with. Some of our kind live lives as hermits others hide on holy ground their entire existence living as monks or nuns. Others live for the game, those who do usually have short life spans though. Then there are those like us. One who only play the game when forced to, choosing rather to make friends with others of our kind rather than fighting them."
"Amazing." Giles says.
"Now that's out of the way are there anymore questions?" Xander asks.
Willow and Buffy look at each other knowing that the questions they want to ask are ones best asked quietly and privately. Faith catches the look and sees that she will have to answer a lot of questions outside of this conversation.
"I have a question." Tara asks.
"What is it?" Xander says.
"What is the 'awakening?"
"Where did you hear that term from?" Xander asks.
"I was able to get it from one of your legal pads by rubbing the edge of a pencil across it." Tara says handing him the paper.
"Now that is just plain impressive. Did Giles have you apply for a job to get more information on me?" Xander asks.
"Actually no. I saw you two take out some vampires a week ago. When I saw your picture in the paper I knew something was up and I had to get more info on you. The easiest way was to apply for a job at your company. I just got lucky and you hired me on as your assistant."
"So you were the other girl in the alley?" Faith asks
Tara nods. "Yes."
"Well as far as we have been able to tell the awakening is a ritual that is used to siphon power off of an energy source. It has something to do with a prophecy we found that coincides with the murders here."
"The ones that had the blood eagle performed on them?" Giles asks.
"Yes." Adam says. "We have more information back at our house. There is a reason why we have decided to reveal ourselves to you tonight."
"You mean other than the fact that Xander died in front of us all and came back to life in the storage room of my shop?" Giles says.
"Yes that was unfortunate but we were going to reveal ourselves anyway. We have been researching this prophecy for weeks now with no real headway. We have tried to stop the prophecy by trying to save the next victim but we failed. We need more people to help us stop this and we would like your help." Adam says.
"Fair enough. I see no reason why we can't help each other. Anyone disagree?"
"No." Willow answers.
"I'm with Willow on this one." Tara says.
"I'll throw my hat in with them." Riley says.
Buffy walks up to Faith and Xander and says to them both. "Welcome back."
…
A police car pulls up to the ruins of Sunnydale High School. The officer steps out of his car and closes his door. Pulling out his flashlight he switches it on and begins to walk around the perimeter of the building examining the chain link fence for any openings. Finding one he steps through the fence and onto the campus.
A few people had reported hearing sounds and voices coming from the old school. The officer thought that it was probably some kids using the buildings as a hideout or a clubhouse. Looking around he could see why it would be understandable for kids to think that the place was good for such things it was still dangerous. The city didn't need to have children found dead in an abandoned building there was already enough going on in the city that had the department under pressure. So he was sent to check on the old High School nonetheless.
The hallways were empty and there were some open lockers. A glass case that at one time probably held trophies and banners was now shattered and empty. The walls still had posters advertising the senior activities for graduation. Walking down the hallway he remembers when he graduated from these very halls ten years ago.
The officer's boots clack on the hard floors of the hallways echoing throughout the building. Noticing that the campus hadn't really changed from when he had attended he decided to take a look around and see the class he had once frequented as a youth.
Passing through the music room he remembers where he sat as second trombone for the school's band. Walking out of the room he sees the class where he had trigonometry and the class where he had Spanish. Walking around the corner he sees the main lab. Walking into the room he sees that there still are specimens in jars on the walls. The funny thing was that he didn't remember formaldehyde being a dark red before.
Curious he walks up to one of the jars and shakes it a little while shining his flash light at it trying to make out what was floating the murky substance. What floats to the side of the jar surprises him. A pair of eyes stares at him from behind the glass. Looking at the other jars he sees another pair of eyes as well as two tongues. Looking closer he sees that the liquid in the jars is actually blood. Shining the flashlight around he sees that there is more blood in the room. On one of the tables there are scratch marks and bloodstains. Looking at the marks the officer is able to determine that a knife made the scratches. Looking elsewhere he sees containers for food as well as other signs that people had been living in the classroom recently.
He hears a sound off to his side and quickly shines his flashlight in that direction. He hears the sound again right in front of him. It is so close that it startles him into dropping his flashlight. Suddenly he feels a burning pain and a dull ache from his right hand. He tries to flex his fingers but they seem unresponsive. The officer feels light headed and dizzy as he drops to his knees. His head falls close to where his flashlight fell and he reaches out with his left hand to pick up the fallen light. When his hand reaches the light his mouth lets out a scream of horror. On the flashlight still gripping the cool metal handle is his right hand completely severed from his arm.
The officer tries to scream more but he can feel his energy slowly waning away. A pair of dark shoes comes into his vision. He is vaguely aware of his body turning over and seeing a man standing over him.
"I'm sorry you had to see that officer." The figure says from above. The light from the flashlight glints off of something as it descends towards the officer's head. From behind the counter a hat rolls away and comes to rest a short distance away. As the hat comes to rest the shield prominently displayed on the front is illuminated by what little light is in the room. The light is also able to illuminate the small river of blood flowing from behind the counter.
…
The morning finds Willow, Tara, Buffy, Riley and Giles pulling up to a large house located in one of the richer areas of Sunnydale.
Willow looks at the house the surrounding property in awe. "I guess being the founder and CEO of a multinational company has its perks huh?"
"Yes it would seem so." Giles says.
The group walks down the path leading to the large double doors of the house. While on the path Riley says, "Is just me or are the rest of you nervous too?"
A round of affirmatives is heard as they stop at the door Buffy like Riley are dressed for a workout. Buffy reaches up and pushes the button to ring the doorbell. They wait a few moments until the door opens and Cassandra greets them.
"Good morning!" She says cheerily. "I see you are ready for a work out."
"Yeah. I've been training with Giles and Riley but I think a change up would good for me." Buffy replies.
Cassandra smiles enigmatically. "Well we'll start off slow then. You and Faith will match up first while I help the girls with their powers. The boys will have to figure something to do in the mean time. Please come in and make yourself welcome."
The group walks in and sees that the inside of the home is just as impressive and the outside. The house is fashionably furnished and is the perfect blending of contemporary and classical tastes. Giles is seen looking at one cabinet housing a few trinkets with interest.
"Are these pieces originals?" He ask Cassandra.
"Oh yes. Go ahead and open it up you can see that Faberge signed them as well. But I think you would be most interested in the shelf below that one. Those scrolls are from the great library of Alexandria."
Giles nearly drops the delicate egg he is holding upon hearing Cassandra's last statement. "D-Did you say the library of Alexandria?"
"Oh yes, he has quite a few more if I recall. But those are his favorites. Alexander the Great wrote one of them himself."
"Oh my." Is all the Giles can say.
Willow looks at the way Giles reacts and has to stifle a giggle. For all his grown up stuffiness Giles becomes a kid in a candy shop when antiques, scrolls and books are involved. Turning to Cassandra she asks, "When do we start training?"
"Well I was waiting for Xander and Faith to get here but I suppose I can take you downstairs to the workout area. Follow me." She says as she makes her way to another part of the house.
"Where are they anyway?" Buffy asks.
"They are running a little late. It seems they slept in this morning. They should be on their way soon." Cassandra answers.
"They sleep together?" Willow asks.
"Well their cover was man and wife. But if you want to know anything more than that you'll have to ask them." Cassandra says.
They come up to a door that has a staircase heading down to a lower level of the house. When they reach the bottom of the stairs they see that basement of the house had been converted into a workout area. To the sides there were some weights and benches. Off to one side there is a practice dummy and on the walls are different kinds of weapons. Adam is already in the middle of the floor with arm length sticks in each hand. He is fighting an unknown number of imaginary opponents. His movements are quick and furious as the sticks blur with the motion.
Cassandra says to them, "Make yourself comfortable. Feel free to stretch and warm up when Faith and Xander get here we'll get started." Cassandra walks to the nearest wall and takes down two sticks similar to the ones Adam is using. She hefts them and testing their balance. Nodding with approval she walks to the spot where Adam is practicing. She waits just outside of his range looking for an opening. When she sees it she darts in blocking one of his strikes. Adam's eyes open and he grins and the two begin to spar in earnest.
They all watched in fascination as the two moved across the floor striking at each other. The movements were all so fast that it was hard to keep up were and when the next strike would come. The sounds of the sticks clacking against each other fill the room as well as a few loud thuds as a stick was able to get past someone's defense.
The battle is becoming faster now and only those with training are able to keep up with the fight. Adam reaches out with a quick jab trying to catch his opponent off guard. Cassandra is up to the task as she parries the blow and tries for a quick head strike. Seeing her intention blocks the incoming strike with his other hand but is not able to block the kick that sends him reeling backwards. Pouncing on her prey before he can recover she tries to strike Adam while he is down. Adam barely rolls out of the way as they hear the loud clack of the stick connecting with the floor.
Buffy looks over to Giles who is studying the fight and asks him, "What style is that Giles?"
Giles isn't paying attention and Buffy calls out, "Giles?"
"Hmmm." Giles looks at the blonde slayer and realizes that she was talking to him. "I'm sorry, come again?"
"I asked you what style they are using?" She says.
"Yes, well it looks to be Eskrima. A martial art originating from the Philippine islands. It relies on speed and practical techniques for using makeshift weapons to overcome the superior strength and weapons of an opponent. That is why perhaps Cassandra is able to fight on par with Adam despite his longer reach."
"And the sticks?"
"They are actually called eskrima olisis or fighting sticks. The wood has been fire-hardened allowing them to be incredibly strong and sturdy. Being hit by one of those is akin to being hit by a lead pipe." Giles answers as another thud is heard along with an accompanying grunt of pain.
Buffy turns back to watch the two continue their fight when she sees them stop and look towards their direction. They suddenly break off their contact and walk over to one of the benches where they see some towels are draped.
"Nice of you to finally join us." Adam says.
A voice from behind them answers, "Sorry Adam but we sorta slept in this morning. Dying takes a lot out of you."
Turning around they see that Xander and Faith had arrived and were both ready for a work out.
Adam looks at Faith and says, "What's your excuse?"
"He's my alarm clock." She says with a grin pointing at Xander.
Adam mumbles something about kids not respecting their elders and Faith says, "Hey you ask a stupid question…" She lets the comment trail off as both her and Xander meet the others at the foot of the stairs.
Xander sees that Adam and Cassandra are breathing hard and have the sheen of sweat on their bodies and says, "You couldn't wait to start could you?"
"Well if you were on time we wouldn't have to have occupied ourselves now would we." Adam shoots back.
"Sorry, so what's the plan Adam?" Xander asks.
"Well I think that the men are going out for a good jog while the women are going to stay here and train." Adam says.
"Yes I'll take Tara and Willow with me upstairs while Buffy and Faith can train here." Cassandra adds.
"Then afterwards we'll sit down and share the information we have. Is everybody ok with that?"
Everybody agrees to the arrangement and the groups prepare to go off and train. Willow who is following Cassandra and Tara up the stairs shoots a look over to Buffy that says 'you better tell me everything you find out or I will do very bad things to you.' Buffy nods that she will as she follows Faith to one side of the gym. The boys had left before Cassandra and the other witches so it was just the two of them downstairs.
They go over their warm up routines in silence each one not wanting to, or not willing to break the ice first. Finished with their warm ups they look at each other expectantly.
"So." Faith says.
"So." Replies Buffy.
"You want to spar?" Faith asks hopefully.
"Sure, I'm up for it." Buffy answers neutrally.
"Armed or hand-to hand?" She asks.
"Considering the way our last dance went I think hand to hand would be best." Buffy says.
Faith pales a little and somberly says, "Yeah, I think so too."
Buffy realizes that her joke was ill timed and apologizes to her. "Faith I'm sorry! I didn't mean it that way! I mean…" Faith cuts her off.
"Don't worry about Buffy, I understand. I deserved that." She pauses. "I'm five by five." She sees the grin on Buffy's face and asks her, "What's so funny?"
"It just that was the first time you said that since I've seen you." Buffy explains.
"Some old habits die hard I guess," She says. "I think that was the first time I said those words since the first time I hooked up with Xander." Faith assumes a ready position and Buffy does the same.
"Ready?" Buffy asks.
"Ready." Faith answers back. The foot that flies to her head is almost too fast for her to avoid. Almost. She leans back and slaps the foot causing Buffy to turn more than she expects. Faith tries to move in for a closer strike but Buffy is able to twist her body with the motion of her missed kick and keeps Faith at bay with a back handed punch.
The punch is blocked the both Faith and Buffy back away from each other quickly.
"You've been practicing." Faith says to Buffy.
"So have you." She answers back.
They smile at each other as they prepare for another round. Faith is the first to strike this time as she performs a front snap kick forcing Buffy to shift her weight in order to block the punch. She quickly follows up with a flurry of punches backing Buffy farther into the workout area. Buffy sees an opening and tries to start an offensive and returns with a punch of her own.
Faith sees the punch coming and envelops the punch and using Buffy's momentum pulls her hand down and around and flips Buffy by releasing her hand. Buffy not to be out done reaches out with her free hand and turns her fall into a forward handspring and immediately drops down to her knees to sweep Faith off of her feet.
Swinging her foot back around trying to catch Faith off guard Buffy is surprised to see Faith roll out of the way and push herself back up to her feet. Charging at her Buffy tries to catch her as she gets up. Her punch is about to connect when Faith does something she would never expect. She ducks and rolls away from the fight giving her enough time to get up and prepare herself for another attack.
Faith was truly enjoying herself fighting against Buffy. It had been awhile since she had fought anyone other than Adam, Cassandra and Xander. She found that she could hold her own against Xander but it wasn't the same as fighting against someone who was about equal in size, stature and reach. Xander outweighed her, had a longer reach and was much taller than her. It made for interesting sparing sessions but she wanted someone that matched her and Buffy was giving her the match she wanted. Faith sees Buffy begin to circle her and she does the same.
They circle each other as if there was a force that kept them away from each other. If one advances the other retreats. They shadow each other long enough for them to test each other's reactions. Faith satisfied with what she sees takes two quick steps towards her opponent and decides to attack using the techniques that Xander had taught her. By closing the distance between her and Buffy, Faith is able to negate the power of Buffy's legs and her kicks. Focusing on all that Xander, Adam and Cassandra had taught her hands begin to take on a life of their own. Block moves into parry, parry moves into strike.
Buffy recognizes that Faith is trying to setup a rhythm and that she needed to break out of it quickly or else one small mistake would give Faith an opening to capitalize on. Buffy furiously looks to find a way to break the rhythm that Faith has setup and can see only one way. She lets one of the body shots get past her defense and lets it connect. Faith smiles thinking that she has beaten Buffy but realizes too late that Buffy was leaning into the punch negating much of the strength behind it. She feels Buffy's hands on her shoulders and can feel the pull of gravity change as Buffy lifts her and tries to throw her to the ground.
Faith opening her fist grabs hold of Buffy's waist and brings her free hand up and around Buffy's forearm. Twisting her body she is able to transfer some of her downward momentum to Buffy's body as well and both of them come crashing to the ground. Changing their techniques to be more suitable for the close combat quarters and grappling they start to roll around on the floor.
Buffy is able to come out on top but Faith brings her knee up between the two of them and is able to launch Buffy up and over her head. Both slayers get up again breathing hard and now tired from their fight eyeing each other warily. They both knew that this would be the last exchange. Buffy is the first to attack and starts out with a series of kicks that forces Faith back dodging and ducking most of them. Seeing that she has only one chance she decides to use a move Xander had used to take her down once. Just as Buffy begins to perform a crossing kick aimed for her head Faith surges forward with her left elbow extended out and her right hand up. With her right hand she catches Buffy's ankle and yanks hard to her right changing the direction of Buffy's momentum. She changes the direction is such a way that her elbow connects with Buffy's stomach. Upon contact she can hear Buffy's lungs expel the air contained in them. With her momentum suddenly gone Buffy falls to the ground gasping for air. Leaving Faith in her striking position, weight forward and her elbow up.
Faith is breathing hard and falls to her knees as the adrenaline in her system begins to fade. The fight had taken a lot out of her. She had never pushed herself so hard when she fought the others but in this fight with Buffy she had to prove something to herself. She needed to know that she really did let Buffy win that night that it wasn't just a fluke and that she really wasn't in control of her actions. She needed to know that forgiveness was an option for her because if she had voluntarily done all those horrible things she wouldn't know how to live with herself.
Groaning Buffy props herself up. "Man!" she says after taking a few deep breaths. "I have never fought so hard in my life." Buffy says to her.
"Yeah I know, me too." She says. "I was lucky that I was able to get that last shot in."
"No you weren't Faith. You were better the better fighter." Buffy says seriously. "I had a lot of time to think about what happened at your place that night Faith. I was able to put a few things together in my head. Looking back you were always the better fighter. Not because you were more skilled but because you had nothing to loose, you would fight with your all, not caring about your well being, just the kill. When I beat you that night I thought you had slipped up but now I know better. I know Faith."
…
Faith's apartment the night before graduation.
Faith's mind is screaming at her to kill Buffy. Buffy is coming at her with her knife in hand. Faith dodges easily and continues the fight with Buffy. Kill! Kill! KILL!!! KILL!!!!! Her mind pounds over and over again. The Mayor wanted Buffy dead and she would be the instrument to do it. Faith fights with Buffy almost effortlessly. The steady screams in her mind pushing her to frenzy.
Across the town the Mayor eats one of the Gavrok bugs. He can feel the changes made to his body as the ritual begins to take its course. But something unexpected happens to him. The link he had worked so hard to establish with Faith is gone. He can no longer feel her anger in his mind. The weak cries of her conscience are no longer pleading against his will. The ritual had somehow severed her connection.
Back at her apartment Faith feels as if she had been released into daylight after a year being trapped underground. With such a dazzling clarity she can see where she is and what she had done. She is still fighting with Buffy but now her mind is her own and she sees that now is the only time where she can take responsibility for her actions before the Mayor can recover her hold on her.
Pushing Buffy to the edge of the terrace she says, "Man, I'm going to miss this." Seeing the look of confusion on Buffy's face she leaves an opening that she can only hope Buffy can see.
Not disappointing Faith, Buffy is able to break her now loosened grip on her and plunges her knife into her stomach. Faith puts on a face of shock and silently thanks her sister in arms for releasing her finally. She smiles at Buffy and says weakly, "You did it."
Faith shoves Buffy away. She can feel her healing powers already healing the wound. It is not enough to kill her. In the peripheral senses of her mind she can feel the Mayor trying to call to her to control her. His question to her is 'What happened?' to which she says out loud, "You killed me."
Faith moves to the edge of the terrace and looks down. Far enough she thinks the fall will definitely kill her. The Mayor's voice calls to her telling her that she still needs her to help him. He sends her a mental image of his transformed state and the power that it brings. She knows that it is just a distraction as she can feel the anger pounding against her walls rattling her trying to assume control again
She climbs on the lowest portion of the wall and says to the Mayor's voice in her head. "Still won't help your boy though." Looking straight at Buffy she says to her, "Shoulda been there B, quite a ride."
With those last words she falls backward, gravity takes hold of her as she accelerates to the ground. In mid air she can feel the anger finally break through her defenses attempting to take control of her again but she silently tells the Mayor 'too late.' Those are her last thoughts as she hits the back of a passing truck.
…
"I couldn't tell at the time, I was too focused on trying to save Angel, but looking back I was able to see the subtle changes in your actions Faith." Buffy says to her. "You let me stab you that night."
Faith sits there across from the blonde slayer, quiet tears rolling down her face. Nodding Faith says, "I needed you to stop me." Chuckling she tells her, "I had always dreamed about my death you know? Every time I would either see my death come at my own hands or me forcing another to kill me. I never really thought that it would really come to that."
"I know that you let me take you down Faith but the question is why? Why the jump?"
"I'm not completely sure how he did it but Mayor Wilkens was able to take control of me by manipulating my anger and believe me I had a lot of that. The longer I worked for him the easier it was to follow my compulsions. Pretty soon I was trapped in a jar inside my own head you know? I was able to look out but I couldn't do anything to stop it. I saw it all happen B. The poison, the dart shooting angel, everything and I couldn't do anything to stop it." Faith says as she wipes another tear that falls down her cheek.
"But something freed you?"
Faith nods slowly. "I'm not sure what it was but the Mayor's hold on me was gone, I was myself again, but I could feel him pounding and calling trying to coax me back. I had to do something B! I wasn't going to let myself be lost again! I was weak before but I was strong enough to stop myself that time."
"So you left yourself open for me to stab you."
"Yes."
"I can't imagine the courage it took to allow yourself to die. But why the jump?"
"Our damn Slayer healing was already stitching up what you had done. I could feel my mind's defenses weakening the Mayor's assault gaining strength. If I didn't do something fast you would be facing a very pissed off Slayer and I needed you to live B."
"Why?" Buffy asks curiously.
"To make right all I had done wrong." She answers quietly.
"But you could have done that yourself." Buffy says to her.
"Come one B. You know better than that. It would take trust for that to happen, that is something that you wouldn't have offered me freely. Not after what I did to you."
"But you found that with Xander?"
Faith smiles as she says, "Yes, with Xander I feel safe. He trusts me B. He really does, and he loves me for who I am and I love him for that."
"Willow and I were able to see that you two had gotten close." Buffy smiles. "I promised that I would tell Willow everything I found out so spill, what is up with you and Xander?"
"After I woke up from the coma I left Sunnydale because I thought there wasn't anyone here that would forgive me. Well I thought there would be one person but I found out he was dead." Faith explains.
"The Mayor?" Buffy asks.
Sighing Faith answers, "No. Xander." Seeing the questioning look on her face Faith continues. "Do you remember the night we stopped the Hellmouth from opening? The time with all the she-demons running around?"
Buffy shivers thinking about that night. "Yeah well Xander had saved me from a bunch of them that night. He took me to my room at the motel and you know how it is after a fight."
Buffy's eyes go wide with surprise, "Are you trying to say, that you and Xander?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God!"
"That was what I was thinking right after I kicked him out of my room."
"Whoa! Hold on there. You kicked him out? I thought you were…"
"Yeah well while we were doing it something changed. At first it was lust and the feeling of the fight you know. I needed relief."
"But you said something changed?"
"Yes somewhere in the middle of it I wanted him. I wanted to be with him and I wanted him to want me. Not just for sex but a part of his life. He had saved me he stuck up for me he reached out to me when no one else would B. I wanted him to love me."
"That must have been weird." Buffy says.
"Weird isn't the word I would use B. More like scary. At that point of my life I never wanted anything like that before. I had to get him away from me you know? So I kicked him out of my room. After he left I cried B, boy did I cry and I didn't even know why."
"Xander never said anything about it at all." Buffy says.
"And he never pushed the issue with me. I think he respected me too much to try anything else. I think I hurt him when I kicked him out." Faith says. "When I woke up in that hospital bed I knew thing must have changed. I needed to find some one to help me and the only person that I could think of was Xander. I was able to get out of my room at the hospital and I tried to make my way to Xander's. When I saw that his parent's house was empty I panicked and went looking for a phone book to see if Xander was listed. I was cutting through a graveyard when I saw Willow sitting by one grave. After she left I saw that it was Xander's grave and I knew then that I had to leave."
"But you found him again." Buffy says.
"Well he actually found me." She says with a smile. "He came to my rescue when a group of vampires surprised me. He came charging in like my own personal knight. I've been with him ever since."
"How are you guys now? I mean are you guys intimate?"
"We share everything B. Secrets, meals, even the same bed. But we haven't shared our bodies with each other since that first time."
"But you love him?" Buffy asks
"More than anything B."
"Good. He need a good strong woman to support him." Buffy says standing up.
"What are you saying that you approve?" Faith asks her also standing up.
"Well in the absence of a big sister I will have to step in and fulfill those duties for him. You already have Cassandra and Adam's support so I'm throwing in with them. Come on lets go see what the other girls are doing."
Faith follows Buffy up the stairs and smiles. It felt good to have someone to talk to about her love life. She finally had a circle of friends she could turn to.
…
Thanks for reading this chapter I work hard on it and I apologize that it was a little late getting out. I had a small bout with writters block and it took me a good day to get over it. I wanted to get a chapter in that explores Faith a little more because I had done that already with Xander in the earlier chapters. I'm working on the next chapter as you read this so hopefully if all goes well you'll be reading it next week! Thanks your time and as always I look forward to all of your comments.
