Title of Series: Soul Searching

Name: Dreams

Author: FaItHzAnGeL a.k.a. Fernando Rangel

Email: fivexangel@aol.com

Pairings: None as of yet….

Disclaimer: I own nothing.  All belongs to either Joss Whedon, UPN, all the crew who makes Buffy possible, and Peter David, and DC Comics for Supergirl.

Author's Notes: AU.  That's about it.  Oh!  Spoilers for Season five Finale.  Buffy's dead, no one's bringing her back—a s far as I can tell right now at least…  I borrowed some of the comments made in the thoughts, and the situations will probably be somewhat (if not verily) similar to the first few issues of Supergirl.  This contains lyrics from Linkin Park.

Summary: When heroes collide, the unlikeliest things happen.  For Faith and Supergirl, they'll learn that lesson the hard way…

Category: Action/Adventure, Angst, Romance, Horror, Drama

Spoilers: Season One through Five of Buffy the Vampire up to and including "The Gift".  Barring Five by Five and Sanctuary of Angel, that's where it goes AU.  This also contains spoilers from Supergirl of DC Comics.  Pretty much issues one through fifty right now.

Rating: PG, for violence

Dedication: To anyone who reads this, thank you.

Feedback: I'd love to get feedback.  So, if you read this, and would like to give a guy a pat on the back, then go on ahead and give me feedback!

     ==========

     I know just what it feels like

     To have a voice in the back of my head

It's like a face that I hold inside

A face that awakes when I close my eyes

A face that watches every time I lie

A face that laughs every time I fall

[And watches everything]

So, I know that when it's time to sink or swim

That the face inside is hearing me/right underneath my skin

==========

"Get some sleep Faith."  The voice echoed through her mind as she lay in Buffy's room.  She stared at the cheerleading trophies, the skating ribbons, the gymnastic medals—so different from who she was…even now.

She stared at the picture of Buffy with Willow and Xander; her eyes—those green eyes.  Just looking at the picture made her chill, her body writhed with fear, and disappointment, part of her wished Buffy were still alive, to see…to see how different Faith had become. 

She closed her eyes; now she wouldn't.

In many ways, Buffy was the big sister; Buffy did everything before Faith had, had everything she never did and wanted.  To her Buffy was everything and, in a way (despite the evil infraction), Faith had looked up to her.

Her eyes were heavy, her body threatened to keep them closed, but she shot up when she heard the door ram open.  She jumped into her fighting position—surprised she still remembered it—and stared at the offending assailant. 

"Buffy?" 

The blond girl giggled, "That bed's not yours!"  She grinned, twitching in a manner that only a child on a sugar high would do, her blonde hair was in pigtails, and her dress was that of a doll's, and she continued to grin like a fool, "Faith's not coming back is she?"

"I am Faith." 

The girl shook her head, as she giggled, "No.  Faith dead."  Her face furrowed, as she bent her head, "Or is she…"  She shrugged as she turned around bouncing away down the hall of the Summers' home. 

Faith blinked, "Buffy?"

She raised an eyebrow, as she took a deep breath before she heard a creeping shuffle behind her in the room, she swung around—the room changing into a deep abyss of nothingness, black devoid of everything; despair and pain, heartache and all the other aphorisms for the like streamed and vibrated from that fissure.  She shook her head in fear as she stared at the dark figure that stood in front of it, "No."

She stumbled out of the room, her heart racing as she tripped falling on her face, she looked up—sky.  What was sky—bright sunny day—sky doing in the Summers' hallway?

"Well duh, this is a dream," came a voice that echoed in the air.  She stood up, wiping the sand from her pants, as she felt a presence next to her, "Tara."

The blond witch smiled lightly, "You might need this."  She handed Faith the card of Manos. 

Faith's brow furrowed, "I'll never have to use that.  Thanks anyway."

She took one last look behind her, at the bed she had laid in, and frowned, "Me and Buffy just made that bed." 

Tara nodded, "Yeah you did.  You woke up late though.  Dawn came and went." 

Faith nodded, "Figured as much, the light always has a funny affect on the dark." 

Tara shook her head, "You don't get it yet.  Why you're here.  What's to come?  You don't have a clue, do you?"

Faith slowly stared at Tara before overwhelming fear filled her, choking her to near fatigue; the figure was back—her back ached by the cold pain it emanated and she ran.

Tara stood behind, hugging the card and shaking her head, "She'll never get out that way."

Faith turned back.  The shadow was gone; she was alone…for now.  She took a deep breath after running so fast, Jeez; I've never run away from anything in my life, why now?

"The spoons!" 

Faith jumped up, spinning around toward the voice, "What?"

The bald man grinned as he whispered quietly, bringing his pointing finger to his lips, "The spoons can't protect you."  His eyebrow furrowed, "You have my spoon."

Faith glanced down, "No…no this is my spoon.  I just bought it, the man over there gave it to me."  She waved lightly to the man in the chair, who waved back with a bloody axe.  Was that Mayor Wilkins?  Her wave died down to a stop.

Spoon Man shook his head, "Mine."  He moved to reach over for it but she evaded him, "No.  Mine."

"Darling, you can't have it forever."

"But…but its mine."  She looked around as she uncomfortably said, "I need it."

He shook his head, "No.  You really don't."  He grabbed another spoon; "They can't protect you forever.  He can't protect you now."  The Spoon Man smiled lightly, "You're not in need of that Spoon.  You're different.  You're not Faith."

"Yes, I am!  It's my spoon."  He frowned, grabbing it away from her placing it with its "brethren".  He smiled proud, "There, complete."  He looked up as he grinned, she moved near reaching out for them but she couldn't touch them—couldn't reach them.  He chuckled, "Don't disturb the spoons!  They're precious, one touch and their life crumbles before them.  Isn't life funny like that?"

Faith heard a scream, and she bumped into the table, knocking the spoons with loud clanging as they dropped one by one to the ground, the disgruntled Spoon Man sighed, "Look at what you did.  They'll never be the same."  He shook his head, "This does not bode well."

Faith slowly walked away as he collected them placing them back on his table. 

She looked away, catching a glimpse of Buffy and she followed in that direction whispering, "I wish I had my spoon…."

*        *        *        *        *

     Faith slowly entered the chamber, the place was dark, desolate; she was afraid. 

The corridor within the chamber seemed to stretch for eons, and at the end was a chair, a throne riddled with the bones of Slayers past—very much dead.  She wasn't sure how she knew the fact they were the bones of Slayers, but something inside her told her as much.

She held herself tight as she passed through the freezing corridor, the light off the flame flickered lightly as she continued through, "Buffy?  Where are you?  Everyone's been looking for you!"

She heard a low rumbling chuckle, one that sounded like the quaking of the earth.  She swallowed hard, "Where am I?"

"My kingdom, darling," the man grinned as he popped into existence, smoke dissipating from the throne.  He sat on his throne; one leg slumped on one armrest, his left arm on the other, holding his head up.  He watched her, sizing her up…and he looked bored.

"You're not what I expected.  I thought you'd be bigger.  The way they talk about you luv, its like you're this…super…girl, of evil."  He grinned, "I like that in a Slayer."  He stood up, flicking his black leather duster behind him and he grinned, licking his fangs lightly, running his hand through his platinum hair, "Spike here's been a bit…hungry…for a good fight."

"Where's Buffy?"

"Slayer she's dead; finite, finished, done, over.  So ten minutes ago."  He shook his head, "I'll never get you Slayers…you want to save the world and you want to destroy it at the same time.  Simply daft you lot are."

"We're not daft, and we don't want the world to end…"

"Don't you?"  He grinned seductively as he rushed toward her from behind, grabbing her torso with one arm, her throat in his other hand.  His brow furrowed farther, and she could feel the glowing yellow eyes on her neck. 

"No."

He whispered in her ear seductively, "You don't remember the rush of the kill?  The feeling of power course through your veins feeding the lust, only the lust begs for more; you watched their life drain before your eyes, you looked death in his eyes and you reveled in it.  You're evil to the bone, tell me once again, and deny that which you are, evil."

She growled, glaring at him, grabbing his hands and tossing him away, "I am not!"  She was trembling, not of fear, not of hate, not of loathing, but of want—she could feel the truth, and she wanted it; that terrified her.

He chuckled, his insane laughter growing larger and he stopped abruptly, "You best keep that in mind."  He was suddenly up, the cold walls melted away, as did the throne of dead Slayers, and she watched him eerily float off the ground, "I trust you have things to do now.  There's a soul you need to find, and no its not Buffy's.  Your purpose lies elsewhere, don't get lost…the abyss is coming…"

He was gone in another cloud of dark purple smoke as his voice lingered in the air, "The Abyss is coming…"

She looked around, and she could feel the emptiness chasing her, the depth of hate, the depth of lust, death itself followed her and she froze, she couldn't do this.  She couldn't face it…

Faith closed her eyes and did the only thing she could do…

     She ran. 

Past the houses, past the trees, through the forest, she had to get away. 

She looked back, but he could see nothing. 

She had to keep running, there was no other way.  She had to run; she couldn't fight.  It was going to take her over. 

She looked back, nothing. 

No matter how hard she ran, the faster she got she could still hear the pattering and pounding of the steps from the running beast behind her.  It was gaining on her, faster and faster—it was so strong, it was so fast, it was tougher than anything she'd ever faced before.

I have to get out of here; that thing is coming and I can't fight it.

Faith was the Slayer, death, absolute and she feared the darkness that followed her; she was Supergirl, one of the strongest heroes in the world, and whatever Darkness followed her now, terrified her more than any foe she'd faced. 

This foe felt darker, colder…

part of her…

She tripped, rolling into a tree and she growled, "Damn it no," and stood up. 

She could feel it near her, and she stood up taking her fighter's stance, "You cannot have me!  I am not yours to take, I am the Slayer, I will slay you.  I am Supergirl, I can stop you…"

The being cackled before her, she watched it approach, darkened by everything, and she backed away, "No you won't…" 

Faith, Supergirl, whoever she was, couldn't speak, couldn't move, she stood still trapped like an animal in a cage.  The figure wore a dark cloak concealing her identity, Faith tried as hard as she could, but couldn't make out the face.  A part of her felt a tinge of recognition, the other part of her shook it away. 

"You cannot deny who you are…"  The figure announced her voice familiar.

     Faith trembled, she hit the tree behind her, and she gripped it for dear life.

     "I am everything you are—I am what you come from…"

The moon was full and it's dark light shone on the figure now, "We are absolute—we are one…" 

Faith shook her head, as she watched it move closer, as it started to unhitch the cloak, "There's no way to fight me, I am within you always, it's who you are—nothing else matters for you are always alone.  This is who you are, forever—it's no use fighting, you must accept it all—the dark part of you; the part you are afraid of, the part you keep running from.  There's no running from this—it's your destiny—the dark, the light, it's all in you…"

Faith couldn't face it, "You're wrong, I don't need this, I'm better than this.  I…I can save myself, there's no dark…"

She watched the cloak flutter to the ground, and the pale moon's light touch the face of her stalker, her dark hair, her thin frame, her mischievous smile, and her pale skin; her cold stare, her cold brown eyes; Faith.

"You're me…"

"I'm you.  You're I.  We're two who are one."

She felt herself involuntarily change, she was Supergirl, her blond hair fell over her shoulders, her clothes were different, back to her blue outfit with the symbol of hope on her chest.  Supergirl stood there confused, but Faith just laughed, "You haven't figured it out yet have you?"

She shook her head.

"I brought you here."

"But why?"

Faith stared at her, "To know who you are.  We can't be me, we can't be you, we must be us."
     Supergirl sighed, as she gave Faith a look of distress.  Faith moved closer, but Supergirl managed to inch away.  "You're that afraid."

She nodded.

Faith put her hands behind her back, "You saved me."

Supergirl looked into her dark eyes and quietly said, "You saved me."

Faith nodded, "We saved each other, and now we have to be each other.  But the only way you can be Faith, the only way I can be you, the only way for us to truly be merged…is to accept the parts of me you fear, because I am you, babe."  She winked lightly. 

Her face fell, "Maybe I'm not really the real Faith, but perhaps…fears symbolically formed into being, but I'm Faith's dark side, your dark side and you have to take my hand, or you'll be lost again.

"You'll learn soon to pay attention to your dreams; they'll come in handy.  There's a plan for everyone, especially the Slayer, and you too, Supergirl.  The two of you were meant for this, but you need to work together.  Take my hand, be all that you are, because without the dark part, you're nothing. 

"I am in your heart, your mind…your soul.  You can't run from me.  Accept me now, and move on…or…"

Supergirl hadn't even noticed how close they were now, she stared at Faith or at least the dark side of herself and she nodded, this was the deciding moment.  She was Faith, she was the Slayer, and she was Supergirl.  They were two who are one, denying Faith, her past, would be damnable, and so she did what she had to; she clasped onto the being's hands before her, and she watched Faith smile, "Its nice to finally meet you." 

Supergirl's eyes watered as the past flooded through her, perhaps not the entire images, but the feeling, the pain, the emptiness…and she collapsed on her knees, the world swirling beneath her. 

She looked up, and she was back at the start, the sandy desert.

"Did you have fun?"

Supergirl…Faith. 

Faith.

Faith blinked, and she smiled lightly as she stood up, wiping the sand off her looking up, smiling lightly, "No, but finding yourself isn't supposed to be."

Buffy smiled lightly, grinning, "Good."  The two stood together in an endless desert, the world spread out for an eternity, they were alone, the chosen two.

Faith stared at her, "For a dead chick, you're looking good."

Buffy chuckled, staring down, "At least I'm not in the doll dress."  She wore the tan outfit of her death, though Faith wouldn't have known that.

Faith placed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear as she gave Buffy a nod, "So, why are you here?"

"I don't know, I just happen to be an image of mind.  You brought me here.  I should be chilling in heaven."

Faith shook her head, and stared at Buffy for a long time before quietly saying, "I'm sorry…"

Buffy fanned it off, "It's of the past.  You're not the Faith you use to be."  Her green eyes twinkled with hope and she gave Faith a sincere look, "Things change, people die, heroes fall, villains rise, its part of the grand scheme of things."

Faith nodded, "So I'm learning."

Buffy chuckled, "You're going to fail Faith, you'll fall…"

Faith's brow furrowed as she stared at Buffy.

"But don't beat yourself up about it, it happens.  You're not perfect; you know that.  People will like you, some won't.  I know who you are, who you were, and who you will be…"  She smiled lightly, "And I'm proud of you."

Faith's heart lurched, and she choked up, "Proud?"

"Little sis, you came a long way, and it was about time you were complete, not so lost."

Buffy stared at her, coming near her, "Remember, we walk, we talk, we have friends.  We're not alone, we walk with the people, we are the people.  We're the firemen when the flood rolls.  We're the Slayer….

"You're the Slayer; the guardian angel." 

Faith nodded lightly.

Buffy took a deep breath, and spread out her arms and jokingly replied, "Being dead has its perks, you get to help people, be in their funky dreams…." 

She watched as the sun started to go down, "Its about that time.  Take care Faith."  She winked at her, "You ready?" slowly cupping Faith's cheek gently in her palm. 

White light and red-yellow flames surrounded her, fading into blackness. 

Her eyes fluttered open, and she slowly sat up, "Wow."  Faith rubbed her eyes lightly, "Some dream."  She held her knees tight, and laid her head on them, watching the sunrise, clearing the way for dawn and she smiled, "It's a new day."

She wasn't calm, she was still nervous, and she was still worried about everything—but she wasn't empty. 

She cared. 

She hurt friends, she killed, and she cared. 

She wanted to make amends, she wanted to be the hero—the villain thing was just so passé; she cared.

She smiled; I care.

She moved off the bed, heading for the door, but before going to the kitchen, she turned back, staring at the bed.  Dreams were strange, they never made sense, and in truth, she hadn't a clue what the hell was going on in her head, she probably never would.  However, as she turned to leave, the image of Buffy's bed in her mind, Tara's voice overflowing her mind, "You don't get it yet.  Why you're here.  What's to come?  You don't have a clue, do you?"  It wouldn't have bothered her so much, if Spike's voice hadn't cruelly whispered, "The Abyss is coming…"

She hadn't a clue what to expect.