Title: Standing On Your Own

Author: Hope

Rating: PG-13

Summary: When a demon kills everyone the slayer loves, she falls deep into depression: No will to live, no will to fight. Because her heart is no longer in slaying, the PTB send back a certain blonde vampire to help get her back on track.....

A/N Please review!!!

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"Buffy, luv," Spike ducked a punch from one of the vamps and twisted it's arm behind it's back.  "Why don't you go sit down and let us take care of this?" He watched as Faith dusted another of their foes.

"Nope. I'm the slayer, gotta slay." Buffy replied, grinning. She threw a punch at a female vamp, missing by a mile. The vamp raised an eyebrow in confusion before shrugging it off and throwing the girl into a wall.

"Buffy." Spike dusted his vamp and looked to the girl, who was now sitting against the wall. "Stay there." He demanded, returning his attention to the vampires at hand. Buffy pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. Alas, a drunk slayer is no good to the world, seeing as she can't even walk straight, let alone aim her stake.

"So, you're B's new sex toy?" Faith asked casually, flipping a vamp onto it's back.

"Somethin' like that."

Wait a minute, wasn't he supposed to protest about how him and Buffy were madly in love? So he was just her sex toy? Faith never thought Buffy would have it in her to use a guy, she was always so damn innocent and perfect.

Made her sick.

"So you're not dating?" She dusted another and flipped her stake between her fingers, grinning. She had forgotten what a rush slaying was. Then again, anything seems like a rush as opposed to sitting in an empty jail cell all day.

"M'not too sure on that. I'll have to get back with you."  He kicked a vampire away and grabbed a nearby chair, smashing it over the bar counter. He then proceeded to use a broken shard of wood to dust the vamp.

Faith looked at the fighting blonde vampire quizzically. Was he serious? Wholesome little Buffy was actually milking a guy for all he was worth. This was priceless. "Do you love her?"

"Course, wouldn't be hangin' round here if I didn't." He dusted the last vamp, smirking.

"So do you like have a whole 'no sex' motif like Angel?" The dark haired slayer asked, pocketing her stake.

"Nope, I'm just your run off the mill soulless bloodsucker." Spike offered his hand to Buffy, who scowled before letting him pull her up. She was the slayer and he told her not to slay. Stupid….British guy!! Oh yes, way too much alcohol when one's brain begins to rely on kindergarten insults. He steadied the wobbly girl and grinned, noting her rather peeved expression. "What's your problem?"

"You." She spat. "Don't worry, Buffy, you're the best slayer ever. Then all of a sudden, it's 'Sit down and let us do your job!'" She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the floor.

"Buffy, you can even stand with out goin' all tipsy, how do you 'spect to slay?"

"Easy, I poke 'em with Mr. Pointy and then….then…." Her enthusiastic rambling halted. "Spike?"

"Yeah pet?" He asked, rather amused.

"I don't feel good….." She pouted, letting her head fall on his chest. He chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"And this is the perky ass slayer I was intimidated by a few years ago?" Faith commented, placing a hand on her hip.

"Faith?"

Faith turned, coming face to face with Lily. "Oh, you. What's up?"

"I do believe that's a vampire you're fraternizing with." She nodded her head towards Spike, who was holding up a rather sick looking Buffy.

"Yeah, so?"

"So, I will not have you forming unhealthy habits like Ms. Summers. Any vampire is bad news and I will not have you putting yourself in jeopardy."

"Does it really look like he plans on hurting me?" Faith asked, he evil snotty side beginning to emerge more fiercely. Lily looked up at Spike, who just raised his eyebrows.

"No. But being in their company could be hazardous. We should be on our way. Come along." Lily signaled for Faith to follow as she walked towards the exit.

Oh she did not just tell Faith what to do. Faith could care less that Lily and her council friends had pulled a few strings and gotten her out of prison, she was not taking orders like someone's lapdog. Not happening.

"No." Faith shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly.

"I do believe we have an arrangement, Faith. Either you do as I say and fulfill your duties as slayer or the Council will take you into custody. And believe me, prison will look like a joke compared to what they will do to you." Faith's aggressive exterior faded. Prison sucked, how could the Council be worse? She looked nervously over at Spike, who didn't really seem to care much in the matter. Buffy was too busy trying not to vomit all over the vampire to care.

"Fine." Faith finally gave up, following after the woman. They were almost to the door when she heard Buffy call after her.

"Did she tell you?" The blonde slayer had her arms wrapped around her stomach as she stood a few feet in front of Spike.

"Tell me what?" Faith asked, looking between Lily and Buffy.

"Why I stopped."

"Well, no. I just thought…"

"That I thought I was too good to be a slayer? That my life was to perfect to have any vampires inconvenience it, right?" Buffy finished for her. Faith looked to the ground, not replying. Buffy snorted, shaking her head. "They're dead, Faith. Dead."

For some reason, the tone of Buffy's voice sent chills down her spine. "Who, B?" Was that a hint of compassion in her voice?

"Everyone. You name 'em, they're dead. Hell, Spike was dead up until last week." Buffy's voice remained flat, the only hint of her pain showing in her watery eyes.

"You mean Xander? Willow?"

"…Dawn, Tara, Anya, Giles, my mom…. The list goes on and on." A tear fell from the girl's eyes as she scowled at the other slayer, unmoving. Faith shifted her weight, unsure what to say.

"I'm sorry, B." She muttered quietly, suddenly feeling guilty. She had always savored inflicting emotional pain on the rival slayer, but this? Something about this made her stomach lurch.

"Fuck." She spat. "You, sorry? That's real funny, Faith, fucking hilarious. You have no idea what it's like to lose someone you love. You don't know how to love…" She felt Spike's hand grasp her shoulder, pulling her back towards him. She pulled away, marching up to Faith. "That's why I stopped, Faith! That's why, you happy? I'm not the fucking perfect person you think I am!" Faith's eyes grew wide as Buffy got in her face, shouting. For some reason she couldn't find it in her to oppose the girl.

She pitied her.

Now that was a feeling she had never had towards Buffy. She had always thought any pain the blonde felt was freaking hilarious, but not this. She wanted to cry for the girl, pull her into her arms and hug her. For once she was the strong one, not Buffy. She was the one with her feet on the ground. Buffy was an emotional wreck, her only stability a bleach blonde vampire back from the dead.

"Buffy…."

"Fuck you, Faith. Fuck. You." Buffy didn't let her finish. She wanted to rip her throat out and dance around the room. And she would have, had her head not felt like it was about to explode. Spike came up behind her, giving Faith one last glance before gently ushering Buffy past Lily and out the door. Faith didn't say a word as she stood there.

"Let's go." Lily commanded after a few moments silence.

"No." Faith turned to face her, glaring. "No…" She shook her head in disbelief at the woman before storming out the door. Lilly clucked her tongue, pulling her cell phone from her pocket.

"It's me. Yes. We have a problem…." She stared coldly in the direction Faith had taken off in, her eyes icy.

Well, mzgora, I believe the answer is yes. She is eeeevil, lol. Please review!!