Title of Series: Soul Searching

Name: School Days

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.  This contains spoilers for the Season 5 Finale Episode "The Gift".  In this fic Dawn is a year older than she is on the show, so she's sixteen in this fiction - ala AU-factor (woo hoo!).  And finally (but certainly not least), a big thanks to my beta-wonder Sadie, without her none of this would be possible - thank you so much NDP, :)

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: That'd be great!  Thanks.

     "Are you ready?"

     "No."

     Giles sighed, "Faith, this is deeply serious."

     Faith nodded, "I know, but I just...what if the entire thing blows up while I'm there!  Or, innocents are lost because the Slayer was in the midst; you just know that fate's a bitch and is just waiting for me to make any move to fuck it over.  I mean, look at me, I am so not ready for this..."

     "Faith.  Chill.  You're babbling, and I thought I was bad," Dawn shook her head in disappointment, "It's not the end of the world!  It's school..."

     "High school to be exact, and you should know this better than anyone; school is evil."

     The three stood at the steps of the newest high school in Sunnydale, and Faith gave Giles a worry filled glance, "Don't make me do this..."

     Dawn grabbed Faith by the arm and dragged her up the steps, "Don't worry Giles, Faith'll be fine."

     Giles stood there watching the two girls go up the steps, and sighed with relief as Faith finally, however reluctant, slid through the doors, "I just hope we can keep this one in one piece..." he said quietly to himself and went back into his car.

*          *          *          *          *

     Faith took a deep breath, "I can do this; this is easy, I am so ready for this."  A locker slammed shut and she jumped, "Oh God," she growled angrily to herself, "this is so ridiculous.  Here I am, nearly died three times, fought so many demons, faced my own, and I'm scared to death of this place!"

     Dawn gave her an amused smirk, "The Counselor has your schedule I'm sure.  Just, y'know, go get it.  I'm sure it's not bad."

     Faith shrugged, "Dawn, the last subject I took was Algebra, and I really wasn't very good at it."  ...and my knowledge was vast as Supergirl, but it seems to have tapered off.  Faith cleared her throat, "Freshman right?"

     Dawn shrugged, "Sophomore.  I'm sixteen remember."

     Faith nodded, "Right."  She took a deep breath and shook her head, "God, I'm such a dork."  Dawn chuckled, "Yes, but that's not the point, is it?"

     Faith nodded, and suddenly the bell rang.  Dawn's eyes widened, "Oh God, I'm late!  I'm so dead, and on the first day!"

     Faith gave her a light shove, "Go, I'll be fine, really."

     Dawn gave her a once over and nodded, "Ok, I'll meet you for lunch later," and hopped into a run toward her first period class.

     Faith managed to wave goodbye lightly, and looked around – the halls were deserted, empty.  She walked down the middle of the main hall, and stopped in mid-step, "Where is the counselor's office," she said woefully.

     She'd never make it out of here alive.

*          *          *          *          *

     Charles Donavon sat in his leather chair and stared at the papers before him, scribbling away comments with his black pen.  He shook his head, "When will this kid learn."  He stopped writing and stared outside his window smiling lightly at the warm day, Nothing like old sunny California to make you feel better.

     There was a rap on the door, "Come in," he exclaimed as he continued to concentrate on his work.  When the door clicked and opened slowly, he looked up and watched as a raven-haired girl slide through the doorway raising her hand lightly in greeting, "Hi, I'm new.  I was told to come see you."

     Donavon stood up and smiled broadly, "Well hello, you must be Faith.  It is my pleasure to finally meet you."  He shook her hand, and signaled her to take seat.  He cleared his throat as he moved the papers aside, and pulled out Faith's file, "Well, the results of your placement tests came out, and you seem to be good enough to take Senior Courses." 

     She blinked. 

     "Don't misunderstand, you'll have to take the End of Course exams for some of the classes, and there are some basic requirements you need to fulfill, but otherwise you're perfectly average."  He smiled lightly, "Here is your schedule, and your first class is down the hall.  If you need anything, go ahead and stop by.  Since this is your first day, and you're still new, your absences will be waived."  He looked back down and continued to work on his previous task.

     Faith sat there stunned, and he looked up at her once again and said, "Is…there something wrong?"

     "A senior?"

     He nodded, "You seem surprised."

     She shook her head, "No, no I'm fine.  Really."  She stood up, grabbing her bag, and started out.  "Oh, and Ms. Danvers."  She looked back as he cleared his throat, "You might want to tone down the leather; it tends to get distracting."

     Faith looked down slowly and nodded her head, "Yeah, whatever."  Soon she was gone, still in a daze.

*          *          *          *          *

     She had gone through the whole day in the same daze, shocked, disturbed, horrified...and offended (mostly from the counselor).  She pushed through the doors of the Magic Box, sulking into a chair.

     Giles straightened up, while Willow worked on the computer with Anya hovering over her, "Is everything all right?" he asked.  She looked up, "Hmm?"

     "How was school?"

     "It was...great," she said hesitantly.

     "You got your scores, didn't you?" he inquired.

     She nodded, "Oh yeah."

     "Well, Faith, you did drop out, I'm sure that being a Freshman won't be that..."

     "Senior," Faith interjected as she stared up at him.  His brow furrowed, "Really?" a proud tone still emanated through his voice despite his furrowed brow, I knew she could do it.

     She nodded, "Senior."

     "Wouldn't that be a good thing?"  Anya quipped as she arranged the cash in the register, not at all looking up at Faith to meet her eyes.

     "Usually, but now I'm stuck.  I haven't a clue what I'm doing throughout the day; I am full of nerves in the classroom, and homework?  I can't even remember the last time I had to study, I don't even think I still can!"  She took a deep breath, "And damn it, that counselor made fun of my leather pants."  She glared at a random object that got in the way of her line of site, "Bastard," she muttered.

     Giles' eyes brightened lightly, and gently smiled, "Faith, everything will be fine.  Where's Dawn?"

     Faith blinked, "Oh no," she groaned, "I left her at school.  I didn't even see her at lunch, she must be a basket case!"

     Dawn angrily stormed through the doors of the Magic Box at that same moment huffing, "You know, when I said, 'Wait for me after school,' that didn't mean, 'Leave me alone and come to Hogwarts without me, leaving me with a group of geeks staring at me like I'm a loser.'"

     Faith shrugged lightly, "Sorry, I've just...had a lot on my mind.  I totally forgot."

     Dawn frowned, "Whatever, it's totally cool.  Just don't make it a habit," she warned.  Dawn flopped in the chair next to Faith as she quietly said, "So, what's the verdict?"

     Faith shook her head, not having heard Dawn's query, "How can I be a senior?"

     "Whoa, cool.  Faith the wonder brain," Dawn smiled.

     Giles cleared his throat, "Well, now that you've leapt the hurtle of the first day of classes, perhaps you're ready to take on another set of hurtles."

     Faith eyed him lightly, "What do I have to do?"

     "Patrol.  Clean sweep, cemeteries at first.  Keeping it simple."

     Faith blinked, "You really think I'm ready?"

     He nodded, "Yes, you've done well.  You've trained hard.  I know it's only been a month, but your reflexes seem well enough to be able to do this; I know you can do this."

     Faith nodded, "Ok."  She smiled, "I can do this."  She grabbed her bag, and signaled Dawn to follow her, "I'm just going to head to Bu…Dawn's, and grab some weapons."

     "Can I come?"  Dawn asked quietly before Giles and Willow both shook their heads and shouted, "No," in unison.  Faith turned back to look at them, "Why can't she?  I mean she's sixteen."  She gave Willow and Giles a careful once-over, "I mean, didn't you and Xander start patrolling with Buffy around her age?"

     Willow sighed, "That's not the point, it's dangerous for her to be out slaying with..." her voice died down as the three looked at her and she quickly added, "demons...about and all."

     Faith rolled her eyes, "Whatever, look I'm not going to hurt her.  I promise.  What do I have to do to make you realize I'm not going to kill, hurt, maim, any of the above!"

     Willow opened her mouth to speak and was at a loss of words.  What did she have to do?  Faith was evil.  At least, that's how it always had been.  Word association, word: Faith.  Association: Evil.  The fact that Faith stood there before her, trying to redeem herself sent millions of shocks through her brain, her body; her everything had started becoming muddled.  It didn't help that everything was just spinning out of control; this just added to her uneasiness.  You just do not make sense anymore Rosenberg, she thought.  Willow cleared her throat, "I don't know," she said lightly, "but I just...I don't trust you yet.  And I just want Dawn safe, I know Buffy..."

     "...is dead!"  Dawn shouted huffing, pain evident on her facial expression as she started glaring at Willow.  "Look, I'm not a little kid, I'm not going to break!  I'm tired of being treated as if I'm some little idiot who doesn't know the stakes, I know!  I lived with Buffy for 16 years!"  She took a deep breath, At least in theory.  "I've seen what happens, I know what to do.  I've staked a couple of vampires by myself too, so why don't you trust me?!"

     Willow and Giles stood back as they stared at her, and Faith raised an eyebrow, "Well, I say let her come.  It'll be a test for both of us.  I'll have someone with me to patrol with, keep me in check, I'll have a reason to be extra careful, and it'll have you see if you can trust me, Willow, when she comes back alive.  Then all of you will have peace of mind that Dawn will know how to handle herself without you."

     Faith raised an eyebrow as Giles glanced at Willow, who sighed defeated.  Dawn smiled, "So, is that a yes?"  Giles nodded his head, "But please, do be careful."

     "Always," Faith replied quickly grabbing Dawn by the forearm and running out the door before the two could change their minds.

*          *          *          *          *

     The music blared out into the city of Sunnydale and Faith grinned, but started toward the left where the cemeteries lived, "Faith what are you doing?"

     Faith's eyebrows furrowed, "Um, patrolling?  Where do you think we're going Dawn?"

     Dawn shook her head, "Why don't we go to the Bronze."

     "Dawn, I love your enthusiasm for fun, but come on..."

     Dawn rolled her eyes, "Oh please, come on.  They want you to patrol, and they want me safe.  The Bronze is pretty safe, and plus it's like a vampire nest egg; I've lived around here long enough to know that.  Technically you'll be saving the world, and getting your groove on."  Dawn smiled mischievously.

     "Dawn, wicked methodical, I like it girlfriend."  Faith looked around and nodded, "All right, we'll go to the Bronze, have the fun, but we won't stay too long, we'll still have to do the cemetery clean sweep."

     Dawn nodded, "Of course."

     The two girls smirked at each other heading toward the club feeling the rush of excitement as the music filled the air, and the beat pounded in their heads against the beating of their hearts.  Faith's body started heating up with an itch to get on the floor and just tear the place apart – along with the guys willing to stare, gawk, and dance with.

     Whoa now, calm it just a tad, she said to herself.

     The Bronze was just as she remembered it – of what memories she did have.  She smiled; the red couch was still there, the same red couch in which she, Buffy and company got to know each other a little better.  "So, Willow's not driving stick anymore..." a voice echoed through her mind, not of her own, but she knew very well it was her.  For a moment, she was trapped in the memory, the feel of jealousy, the feel of longing, and the feeling of being cast out.  When Dawn grabbed her heading toward the dance floor she came back to her senses and smiled a bit.  What's past is past...

     She could feel the beat pulsate through her being, through her veins, and her hips started to sway slowly at first, next her hands rubbed against her body as the speed of the music started to heighten.  Next her entire body shifted left, right, down, up, in all directions, and finally her hands moved up along her body, to mess with her hair and her eyes still were closed.  She flipped her hair back as her hands left creeping back down her thighs, and she was all grins.

     Dawn smirked as she gyrated her body near the strong girl near her, and held her hands up as she too swayed to the music, staring up at the band playing tonight.  Dawn looked around to see a paled figure walk toward the exits with a girl in his arms, talking as he did quick checks around the room and she couldn't help but frown.

     Dawn had come to a complete stop in the already sweaty crowd when Faith came up behind her, "Vampire."

     Dawn nodded, "Always can count on them to be wicked conspicuous."  Faith shrugged, "It happens."  Faith gave her a glance as she and Dawn headed out the door, "Let's party."

     Suddenly the song switched, as if on cue for the Slayer's grand entrance, and the techno beat hit the airwaves coursing through the bodies' veins on the dance floor once more, and Faith grinned, "My kind of song."  Dawn handed her a stake as Faith added, "Just stay round back, clear from him, don't want you in the line of fire."  Dawn nodded grinning to herself, finally, for once she'd be in the middle of the action, and not be on the receiving end of the recount of it all.

     Faith pushed through the door as she heard the girl giggle lightly, and the "man" announce, "I want to eat you up, you look so good."  Faith rolled her eyes as she cleared her throat, "Oh come on; you couldn't come up with a better line then that?"  She stood there with a bored expression on her face, gripping the stake to her waist.  Dawn held her own just in case, and waited for the vampire to say something.  "Slayer..." it hissed.  Faith grinned, "Yay, we can skip with the formalities."

     "Sorry, hungry now."  He growled tightening his hold on his hostage's neck as she suddenly squirmed in fear of the man she was about leave with.  Faith shrugged, "Ok man, if you're sure, I mean obviously you've never tasted Slayer blood.  I hear once you go Slayer," she grinned seductively, "you never go back."

     The vampire sneered, throwing the girl to the side.  Faith turned to Dawn, signaling her to check on the fallen hostage, and the vampire rammed Faith into the wall; she'd timed it right, this guy hadn't fed in a while, an offer like that and of course he'd forget all about Ms. Nummy Mortal.

     The Slayer grunted as the vampire tried to over power her, and she slammed her knee into his crotch: an oldie, but obviously, a trusty maneuver.

     The vampire doubled back groaning in pain as Faith slammed her foot into his face, and backhanded him into the fence, grabbing him by the collar, "You know, this reminds me of the first vamp I slayed in Sunnydale," she said to Dawn.

     The girl who'd fallen had gotten up, and ran for her life as Dawn went to check on her, so Dawn stood there watching Faith with nothing else to do, "Oh really?" she asked.  Faith nodded, slamming her first into the vampire's abdomen, "Yeah, it's when I first met your sis, and the Scoobies."  The vampire landed a powerful backhand along Faith's cheek, causing her to stagger.  "This'll be easier if you didn't put up a fight," he huffed growling, his yellow glowing eyes glaring at her.

     Faith rolled her eyes, "Oh please, and where would the fun be in that?"  A tinge of excitement, and eagerness laced her voice as the vampire went for her face once more, but Faith dodged it, slamming her foot square into the demon's stomach, and knocked him off his feet by sweeping under him.  Her stake, gripped firmly in her hand, slammed into his chest at full velocity breaking the ribcage, and piercing his heart causing him to crumble into dust.  She dusted herself off as she stood up looking up at Dawn who gave her a once over, "I give that a seven."

     Faith's face filled with a shocked expression as she lightly glared at the younger girl, "A seven?  Come on, that was an eight easy."

     Dawn shook her head, "Willow's taken vamps out with cooler banter."

     Faith rolled her eyes as Dawn laughed.  Faith ruffled Dawn's hair, "Come on squirt, let's head to the cemeteries.  If there's time, we'll come back and have a little more fun."

     Dawn shrugged, "Fine.  The Bronze was getting old anyhow."

     There was a growl and it slammed into Dawn.  She cried out in fear as the demon salivated on her, staring at her eyes breathing hard.  She coughed, "God, breath mint much?"  Faith couldn't help but laugh.  The beat of the music was starting to get to her, so she smiled, as her body started moving to the beat causing the demon's attention to deter from Dawn and toward the dark raven-haired girl a bit away.  It lifted off Dawn, staring at Faith as she thrashed from side to side seductively, and it drew nearer.  Faith smiled as she sang with the song, "Dig through the ditches, burn through the witch, and slam in the back of my Dragula..." the beat blaring through the walls of the Bronze.  While it was distracted enough, she slammed her fist into his face, continued with a twist of the hips and her foot found the demon's midsection in one swift kick.  She did a spin quickly double kicking him and he fell back onto the ground.  She came around, grabbing him by his slimy horns, and twisted the head in one quick motion.

     She stopped turning to Dawn, "You ok?"

     Dawn nodded, "Ok, now that was a ten."

     Faith smirked, "Good.  Now that we're clear that I'm a ten, let's get the fuck out of here and head toward the cemeteries."  Dawn fell instep with the dark Slayer and the two continued on their journey.

     From the shadows a blond figure emerged and smirked, "I dare say she's getting hang of this humanity bit."  Buzz smiled lightly, "Good, we'll need that."  He whistled lightly as he moved through the alley, surveying Faith's handy work.  Not too shabby, he thought as he kicked the demon lightly, "Get up."

     The demon stirred lightly, shriveling up into a form less than it really was and coughed, "She's a lot tougher than she looks."

     "Well, Bilbo darling, she is a Slayer.  They're built that way."  He stared off at Faith's giggling form next to Dawn and smiled, "But this one, my dear Demon, is something quite different."  He turned back to Bilbo, "Go back to the lair, and tell Lojeh that I was right, she is the right girl."  He grinned evilly, "Tell him things are going according to plan.  She'll be dead soon.  He needn't worry."

     "Where are you going Buzz?"  Bilbo asked as he wiped the dust off himself.

     Buzz just smiled, "To go say hello to an old friend."

*          *          *          *          *

     She's a hunter, you see.

     I smile just thinking about what's going through her mind, she could be calculating how much time before she'll have to resort to brute strength, how much her body can take.  Any escape routes on hand; that's my Faith.  She's a survivor you see.  Not like the other sniveling groups of heroes, and humans, and the lot in the world.

     She'll do what she has to do to make sure that she'll come out on top.

     Oh, I've missed Faith.  The fire.  The vigor.  The heat that emanates from her when she fights, when she moves.  It's a damned aphrodisiac, I tell you.  Of course, Faith doesn't need aphrodisiacs to get anyone riled up, if you catch my drift.

     But I digress.

     Yes sir, I am back in this stream of consciousness.  Aren't you all the lucky lot of whatever cosmic audience you are, sitting back in your chairs, with your popcorn and the little kiddies by your side.  It's a Kodak moment, isn't it?  Me and my lustful thoughts that deal with not just sex, but of pure unbridled torture and maiming.

     I follow from a safe distance, Faith knows well enough to watch her back – I'm sure I set off her radar when we're within close proximity of each other.  Better to be safe than sorry, besides studying does seem to be a bit of an advantage right now.  Need to learn as much of this new Faith as I can.  No, not for personal gain...  Well, no that'd be a lie.  I may be a demon, and evil, but I cringe on lying – the truth is always so much worse.

     Look at her; she's death on two feet.  Poor vampires don't stand a...

     Hmm.

     Well…

     Now that's interesting, she's losing.  Oh, look, the little brown-haired girl is screaming on the floor while my lovely huntress is taking quite a wallop.

     Well, maybe I was wrong.

     Maybe Faith isn't the one.

     Hang about!

     What's that stranger doing!  Wait now he's... why is he...

     Is he?  He's, he's bloody saving her!  Fucking prick.  Damn him, if Faith is to die, let her die!

     Ugh, damn mortals with their need to do good and doofs who are stuck in their sixties version of chivalry.  Damn blond thug walking around in his little combat gear, and his...big gun.

     Oh, damn him.

     …

     …I know that look.

     …that is not a good look.  At least not for our little operation, fucking Soldiers with war on the mind, and the lovely ladies on the ground with their need to make them safe and coddle them.  I loath little soddin' gimps such as him.

     Could this get any worse?

     "Riley..." she says.  Oh, damn it, now that's just gone and made me angry.  She knows the muscle-brained bugger.  And that look they're sharing.  She's not.... and he's not... they aren't...

     Oh, damn it all to hell.  This is actually going to be work.

     Fuck.

     Damn them all.

*          *          *          *          *

     Dawn stood up rushing to Faith's side, but Riley helped her up first.  She watched the two carefully as Faith exclaimed, "Riley," in a questioning tone mixed with relief.

     He smiled, and Dawn, for one, couldn't believe that they'd grown to be friends after all that had happened.  But hey, who was she to judge?  "Hey Riley," she added as she surveyed the area, kicking the pile of dust where the vampire once stood.

     Riley smiled giving Dawn a slight nod, "Hey Dawn."

     Faith gave him a questioning glance, "What are you doing here?  Not that I'm not glad you are."

     Riley shrugged as he placed his stake its place on his suit, "I got bored.  That place was nice, but it wasn't me."  He dug his hands in his pockets, "Besides, I knew once you got here you probably wouldn't be patrolling right away, and somebody needed to come patrolling with the hellmouth minus an active slaying Slayer."

     Faith nodded lightly as she lead them out toward to the entrance of the cemetery, "I see, very instinctive of you," she joked.  Dawn grinned, "You just missed ole Sunnydale, didn't you?"

     Riley chuckled, "Ok, yeah, just a little," and playfully poked Dawn's side.  He cleared his throat, "That, and to come pay my respects."  His face fell lightly and he started speeding up, "How about we get something to eat?"

     Dawn gave him a soft smile, "I'm so there."

     Faith sighed and gave Riley a slight nod, "Food would be good."  Then quietly said, "But I'll have to take a rain check, I have to get to school tomorrow."  She stared at Dawn and Riley's faces and she shifted uncomfortably, "I know, it came to a surprise to me too, but let's face it, I've been out of the loop for a while, and I want to get this right."  She smiled, "But I promise, after the first few weeks I'll be back to my old self again."

     "Just not the psychotic broody self," Dawn added lightly.

     Faith nodded, "Right, not that self."

     Dawn gave Riley a pat on the back and said, "Sorry Ry, but if I don't go back with her, they'll jump all over her, and Willow's already in the shovel-in-the-face kind of mood."

     Riley nodded and mouthed an, "Oh," knowing exactly what that meant – he didn't want near any of that.  "All right, you two have a good night's sleep."

     The two teens nodded and started back home before Riley hesitantly called Faith back.  She turned to him giving him a curious stare, "What's up?"

     Dawn watched from behind as Faith walked back toward him and Riley squirmed uncomfortably, "Don't take this the wrong way, cause I know you can tear me into shreds..."

     "But?"  Faith asked cautiously.

     He cleared his throat and smiled lightly, "You look good."  He slowly backed away, leaving Faith speechless – not to mention her heart skipped a beat – and soon he turned his back to her and headed out.

     Dawn slowly moved toward Faith smirking, "Now usually, this is the part where the girl swoons and squeals for joy as the muscle-clad hottie leaves from having given her a compliment."

     Faith glared at her, "Shut up Dawn.  It's not like that."

     "Sure it isn't Faith," Dawn replied lightly.

     Faith's brow furrowed as the two girls headed back home, absentmindedly glancing back in the direction Riley was headed, and then turned back at the road that lie ahead of her, Oh yes, now this just doesn't complicate things.