Part 1 - Arrival
The first part of their journey back to Sunnydale was in silence. The bus rocked steadily through the night, the other passengers also quiet, though a baby grizzled now and then, hushed gently by its mother. Neither felt like talking much, after leaving Angel. They'd settled down for the journey, separated by the aisle, comfortably silent with each other, exchanging glances now and again, blue eyes meeting dark.
Angel had given them money, more than enough for the ride back, and Cordelia had been pressed into loaning more of her wardrobe. She clearly hadn't been happy but had been slightly mollified by the promise of a pay rise, returning with poor grace and a leather bag, bulging with items. They'd all withdrawn then, tactfully leaving Buffy and Angel together, though Cordelia had been reluctant to go, especially not with Faith. She'd been convinced that they might find Angelus when they returned, instead of Angel. But she'd been persuaded to leave, Faith almost dragging her from the building. She'd returned to her apartment in the end, and then Faith had gone back, hours later as promised, alone, ready to leave the city.
They didn't speak much after they'd left Angel, walking through the dark, though Buffy had been glad of Faith's company, of the tight grip on her hand, that let her know Faith was thinking of her. Who knows, she thought sadly, without it she might have gone running back to him. And that would - just lead to death and pain, if they were ever together the way she wanted them to be. And she knew he would never allow it. He had so much already to atone for, and finally she could see that he felt he was doing good, redeeming his past as a demon.
So they rode the bus in silence, each busy with her own thoughts. Buffy was full of thoughts of Angel, picturing his face, the sound of his voice. But creeping in, the sound of her mother's voice, her smile, the way her perfume smelled. The mischievous smile that Willow wore, eyes sparkling as she unearthed some new bit of arcane law. And Xander and Giles, always so willing to help. She was glad to be going home to her mother, and her friends. She sighed and folded her coat into a more comfortable pillow, curling up on the bus seat, her feet beneath her. She glanced briefly across at Faith before closing her eyes. Sleep, at least, would be welcome.
Faith lay across two seats, facing Buffy, lying on her back, head similarly pillowed on one of Cordelia's jumpers. Her mind was filled with the Council and what they might do to her. Or make her do. Her thoughts wandered, wondering what the Scooby Gang might say or do. They were bound to be there when they arrived - Buffy'd called Giles to let him know when they would reach Sunnydale. She couldn't imagine they would welcome her with open arms, and surely Giles would have told them - about the switch. What she'd done. But then, surely they would also know she'd changed. Was - normal now. Like them. Or as normal as a Slayer could be. Her eyes drifted closed, her breathing evened and slowed. Sleep......
* * * * *
She gasped and jerked awake, bathed in sweat, to see Buffy looking down at her, swaying gently as the bus sped along. It was light now, though, a misty dawn coming. "Hush, now. You're dreaming again." Faith struggled into a sitting position, pushing damp hair away from her face, feeling the cold sweat on her forehead. She made a slight face at the wetness. Some of the other passengers were looking over, curiosity in their faces, woken by Faith's voice. Buffy smiled at them and waved a hand to indicate things were under control and turned back to Faith.
"Here," she said, holding out a wadded, damp tissue. Faith took it gratefully and wiped her hot face, pressing it onto her forehead. "Same one again?"
Faith shook her head, frowned. "No. Not this time." She looked up at Buffy fearfully, eyes wide and dark. "This one - was different. Something's coming, B. I don't know when, but - it's bad. Really, really bad. And it's coming -" she exhaled suddenly, "coming for me. For all of us......"
The first part of their journey back to Sunnydale was in silence. The bus rocked steadily through the night, the other passengers also quiet, though a baby grizzled now and then, hushed gently by its mother. Neither felt like talking much, after leaving Angel. They'd settled down for the journey, separated by the aisle, comfortably silent with each other, exchanging glances now and again, blue eyes meeting dark.
Angel had given them money, more than enough for the ride back, and Cordelia had been pressed into loaning more of her wardrobe. She clearly hadn't been happy but had been slightly mollified by the promise of a pay rise, returning with poor grace and a leather bag, bulging with items. They'd all withdrawn then, tactfully leaving Buffy and Angel together, though Cordelia had been reluctant to go, especially not with Faith. She'd been convinced that they might find Angelus when they returned, instead of Angel. But she'd been persuaded to leave, Faith almost dragging her from the building. She'd returned to her apartment in the end, and then Faith had gone back, hours later as promised, alone, ready to leave the city.
They didn't speak much after they'd left Angel, walking through the dark, though Buffy had been glad of Faith's company, of the tight grip on her hand, that let her know Faith was thinking of her. Who knows, she thought sadly, without it she might have gone running back to him. And that would - just lead to death and pain, if they were ever together the way she wanted them to be. And she knew he would never allow it. He had so much already to atone for, and finally she could see that he felt he was doing good, redeeming his past as a demon.
So they rode the bus in silence, each busy with her own thoughts. Buffy was full of thoughts of Angel, picturing his face, the sound of his voice. But creeping in, the sound of her mother's voice, her smile, the way her perfume smelled. The mischievous smile that Willow wore, eyes sparkling as she unearthed some new bit of arcane law. And Xander and Giles, always so willing to help. She was glad to be going home to her mother, and her friends. She sighed and folded her coat into a more comfortable pillow, curling up on the bus seat, her feet beneath her. She glanced briefly across at Faith before closing her eyes. Sleep, at least, would be welcome.
Faith lay across two seats, facing Buffy, lying on her back, head similarly pillowed on one of Cordelia's jumpers. Her mind was filled with the Council and what they might do to her. Or make her do. Her thoughts wandered, wondering what the Scooby Gang might say or do. They were bound to be there when they arrived - Buffy'd called Giles to let him know when they would reach Sunnydale. She couldn't imagine they would welcome her with open arms, and surely Giles would have told them - about the switch. What she'd done. But then, surely they would also know she'd changed. Was - normal now. Like them. Or as normal as a Slayer could be. Her eyes drifted closed, her breathing evened and slowed. Sleep......
* * * * *
She gasped and jerked awake, bathed in sweat, to see Buffy looking down at her, swaying gently as the bus sped along. It was light now, though, a misty dawn coming. "Hush, now. You're dreaming again." Faith struggled into a sitting position, pushing damp hair away from her face, feeling the cold sweat on her forehead. She made a slight face at the wetness. Some of the other passengers were looking over, curiosity in their faces, woken by Faith's voice. Buffy smiled at them and waved a hand to indicate things were under control and turned back to Faith.
"Here," she said, holding out a wadded, damp tissue. Faith took it gratefully and wiped her hot face, pressing it onto her forehead. "Same one again?"
Faith shook her head, frowned. "No. Not this time." She looked up at Buffy fearfully, eyes wide and dark. "This one - was different. Something's coming, B. I don't know when, but - it's bad. Really, really bad. And it's coming -" she exhaled suddenly, "coming for me. For all of us......"