A/N: To the guest that commented on this story, thank you so much for your kind review!

May 2004

Cleveland, Ohio

Faith rolled her eyes in annoyance as the Slayers she found herself leading bickered amongst themselves, comparing slay stories and trying to one up each other. She and Buffy hadn't been this annoying when they were seventeen, had they? Faith snorted at herself, honestly she should just be happy none of her girls had decided to wander down her path after being called.

She was about to call them to attention or yell at them to shut up or something when she suddenly lurched forward, barely managing to stay on her feet as she settled into a low crouch. The earth rumbled and shook around them and she could hear the creaking and squealing metal. She risked a look up and watched as distant skyscrapers swayed, she could almost see the glass rippling as they shifted.

Distant screams mingled with blaring car alarms and intertwined with the yelps of her Slayers. Some, like Faith, had managed to find a center of balance and were still on their feet while the others had gone sprawling and were laid out on the trembling ground.

The brunette lost track of how long the earthquake lasted but when she was able to straighten back up she glanced at her groupies. "Everybody good?"

Several affirmatives and more than one "What the fuck was that?" rang out in answer.

"You good Faith?" Lonnie called out, looking a bit green.

Faith favored her with a smirk. "Five by five," she answered. "Let's head into town and help whoever we can," she ordered as she broke out into jog, sprinting towards where she could hear the screams and cries of the city's inhabitants.

January 2005

Cleveland, Ohio

"Hold still."

"Just throw a stitch in and wrap it up," she grit out in frustration.

"Let me help you," Robin snapped back as he shot her a glare that inspired absolutely zero fear in the fiery Slayer.

"It doesn't need to be pretty, Wood. I need to get back out there," she insisted as he cut the thread. She didn't give him time to set the sutures down before she was grabbing a bandage and slapping it over the angry, jagged cut.

"You're gonna kill yourself, Faith. Just take the rest of the night off and come to bed," he practically begged.

"I take the night off and we all end up dead," she reminded him as she carefully shrugged on her coat and headed for the door.

Robin sighed heavily. "The fate of the world doesn't rest on your shoulders, Faith."

Faith paused, her back to him, and copied his sigh. "We've lost fourteen Slayers in the last eight months."

"I know," he said. "But you running yourself into the ground isn't going to help anyone."

Faith felt the burn of tears against the back of her eyelids as they fluttered closed. He couldn't understand what it was like, how she felt. She understood Buffy on a level she never had before, not even during her brief stint as the General of Sunnydale. She'd always scoffed at her blonde counterpart for carrying the world on her shoulders, for never loosening up and having fun.

She got it now. Eight months ago Faith had twenty seven Slayers under her care. Slayers that had wanted to live stateside, that B had entrusted her to train and guide. It had been a huge showing of trust and Faith had been determined to prove that she could rise to the challenge. Then the earthquake from Hell had hit followed closely by many powerful aftershocks.

The Cleveland Hellmouth had kept them fairly busy, it hadn't been quite as action packed as Faith would have liked. It wasn't as active as Sunnydale's had been and instead of a maximum of two Slayers prowling the cemeteries, Cleveland had twenty eight. Faith had never been very good at sharing.

There's that old phrase "be careful what you wish for" and Faith never paid it much mind. She got that now too. In the wake of the earthquake not only had her Hellmouth become way more active but demon's she had never seen before had started migrating into town. Suddenly they couldn't keep up and Slayers were dropping like flies.

She was thankful that she had Robin at her side, she was thankful for the Slayers she still had at her back. Still, she wanted nothing more than to get in contact with B and call in the reinforcements. Communication had been cut off by the time they had realized that the earthquake hadn't been a natural event. Faith didn't even know if Buffy and the gang were safe over in Europe, she could only hope that whatever happened had been contained to America.

"I'll see you later," she finally said, not looking back to catch his disappointment as she opened the door and walked back out into the night.

February 2005

Cleveland, Ohio

They were going to have to abandon Cleveland. They had spent months helping evacuate just about every human, and even harmless demons, that they came across and now they had to admit defeat. Cleveland was lost to the Hellmouth. The question was where would they go?

Faith was torn between remaining in America and continuing the fight or heading towards Canada in the hopes that the other countries were still intact and that they could get word to Buffy and Giles that they needed to bring the troops in, obviously the American armed forces were useless in their fight. The government had fallen as best as they could tell or- as Faith suspected- they had gone to ground.

There were murmurs of conversation throughout the room as they discussed a game plan, Faith had been keeping quiet as she worked through her thoughts. A pained moan tore it's way from her lips and she crashed heavily to her knees. White hot pain raced through every nerve in her body and she felt her body spasm as she desperately brought her hands up to clutch at her head. Distantly, she could hear Robin and the girls shouting out her name but she was too caught up in her roller coaster of pain to pay them any mind.

"Faith?" a very loud, achingly familiar voice rumbled through her head.

"Angel?" She gasped out loud.

"Oh good...worked," he said in relief, some of his words cutting out as they were replaced with static.

"What the hell is this? And where is the volume control?" she asked, able to focus a little more now that she had an idea of what was going on.

"I...much...time," his voice was pounding in and out of her mind.

"What? Angel, what the hell is going on?"

When his voice rang through her head again it was a little clearer. "Faith. We're gonna lose our connection any moment. We need you in LA."

"Is that ground zero?" she questioned.

"Yes," he confirmed. "We've been trying to fix it but...we're overrun. We need help," he sounded exhausted. She knew how that felt.

"Your team is still standing?" she wondered, a little surprised.

His reply didn't come quite as quick and when he did speak again his tone held hints of sorrow. "Gunn, Wes, Fred and Lorne are dead. It's just Me, Spike and Illyria left with some humans and the odd demon helping out," he informed her.

Surprise flooded through her. "Spike?" she breathed out.

"It's a long story. Listen, I'll try to contact you again soon, if I can," his voice started to sound further away which was great for the pounding in her head, not so great for her hopes of continued conversation.

"Wait! Angel…" but the connection was lost. She could feel it break off, the throbbing in her temples continued but the feeling she'd identified as his presence was gone.

She became aware of the strong arms holding her and she brought her head up to look into Robin's concerned eyes. "We're going to LA," she told them firmly.

May 2005

Somewhere Outside the Texas Border

"Faith?" a timid voice called out. The brunette looked up tiredly from where she and Robin were poring over a map. There was a giant fucking crack in the earth that was blocking off access from Texas so they were going to have to find another way in which would likely add weeks to their already slow going journey.

"Yeah?" she bit out, sighing when the dark skinned witch flinched. Nikita was a sweet girl, shy but quietly powerful, she reminded Faith a lot of the Willow she'd met when she'd first come to Sunnydale.

"I heard some of the others talking about wanting to reach the Slayers in London?" Nikita hedged.

Faith's interest was peaked. "Yeah?" she said again, softer this time.

"Well, I think I might be able to help with that. There's this spell...I've never tried it long distance before but, well, I heard there's a powerful witch there and I might be able to connect your mind with hers."

Faith felt her facial muscles move in an almost forgotten way as a smile stretched across her lips. "Well shit, Kita. Sign me up."

An hour later the shy witch had everything set up and she had Faith sit down next to her before placing her hands on either side of the Slayer's head. "Focus on Willow," she told her softly.

So that was what Faith did. She pictured the powerful redhead as she had last seen her and then she felt it as her consciousness took leave of her body, she felt feather light as she floated away from herself, just a wisp on the breeze. She allowed Nikita to guide her and when she felt herself come up against a roadblock she instinctively reached out and knocked.

"Willow?" she asked.

"Oh my goddess! Faith?" the witch replied in awe.

"I can't believe this worked. We've been trying to find a way to reach you guys for months," she said quickly. Nikita said she wasn't sure how long she could hold the connection so Faith knew she had to speak quickly.

"What's going on there? We haven't been able to reach anyone and they've closed all the borders. We've been trying to find a way into America."

"So it's contained to just us?" she asked.

"Yes. How are you? What happened?"

"Tired and I don't know. We've lost all but six of the mini Slayers over the last year and two of them were hurt pretty bad recently. We could really use more reinforcements Will."

"We're working on it," she promised. "Buffy will be relieved to hear you are still alive, she's been itching to get back into America. Are you still in Cleveland?"

"No, we had to abandon it months ago. We're a ways outside of Texas on our way to LA. It's slow going, our ranks have been decimated and we're picking up stragglers as we go," she told her.

"Los Angeles?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, Angel's made contact with me a couple times, didn't even know if he was alive until a few months ago. He told me to get to LA, sounds like that where the big fight is," she relayed. "I haven't heard from him in a couple weeks, I'm not sure if he's still okay. It sounded like he and Spike had their work cut out from them, just a small team against the hordes of hell."

There was a long pause and Faith belatedly realized that Willow probably didn't know that Spike was alive. She proved as much with her next question. "Spike?"

"That's what I said," she said lightly. "Don't know the details but our favorite punk vamp was alive and as well as any of us could be in this hell last I knew."

Faith felt a waver in their connection and she felt panic, not wanting to lose their connection yet. "How long until you get to LA?" Willow asked, her voice not as solid as it had been moments ago.

"Too long. It's taken us nearly four months just to get to to where we are. Hoping to get there by the new year," she told her. "I don't have much longer."

"How did you make this connection?" the witches words echoed over her.

"One of our latest rescues is a witch. New but powerful."

"Listen Faith, we-" and that was the last she heard as she felt her consciousness zinging back to her own body. She crashed back into herself with the finesse of a derailing train.

She slowly opened her eyes and knew she likely looked as pale and tired as the witch sitting across from her. Another smile made it's way onto her face as she looked up at Robin. "It worked."

December 2005

Buffy's chest heaved as she fell back against a brick wall, blood streamed down a cut on her head and obscured the vision in her right eye. She had a fleeting thought that she was glad Xander was safe in the boarded up home they'd secured earlier that day. Arizona was completely overrun.

She let the scythe she held slip down a bit in her grip before she she shoved herself away from the wall and swung it up in a wide arc, beheading her immediate opponent before swiftly turning towards the next in line. She'd managed to lead them down an alley that served as a bottleneck and boosted her chances of getting out of this alive.

She fought tirelessly, wincing but otherwise ignoring the injuries that they managed to inflict. She moved like a woman possessed, fully embracing the Slayer as she danced with death. Spike would have been entranced, she thought distantly. At the end of the day, though, the Slayer was still a woman and she could, and did, fatigue. There were worse ways to go out, she thought. At least this was a legitimate fight, unlike her first death. A down in the dirt, fist to fist, blood brawl where the winner was just the one that hung in the longest, unlike her second death.

She crashed to her knees, barely bringing her scythe up in time to block what would have been a death blow. She used the little strength she had left in her weakened arms to shove the demon away, twisting the scythe in the same motion and stabbing him through with the pointy wooden end. She looked up in time to see a large taloned hand swipe towards her neck and had seconds to make her peace before her third and, hopefully, final death.

The blow never came. A sword came out of nowhere and severed the arm. "Up and at 'em B!" a very welcome voice called out. Buffy's mind was still reeling when a dark skinned hand came into her field of vision and she looked up into the warm eyes of Robin Wood. She reached up and grasped his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. She watched as Faith and three other girls finished off the rest of the demon gang. Looking back down the alley Buffy saw that she'd killed way more than she'd realized.

Robin kept a hold of her, steadying her as she swayed, and let the girls finish the clean up. When the night was quiet again Faith spun on her heel and approached Buffy with a wide grin. "Damn B, you're a sight for sore eyes," the dark haired Slayer said as she pulled her fellow warrior into a bear hug. Buffy ignored the pain as she hugged her sister Slayer back, once again marveling at how far the two of them had come.

"So are you," the blonde replied with a wan smile.

"Come on, we're holed up just a little ways from here. Lucky for you we noticed that the hordes had something in their sights tonight," Faith told her, coming up to her other side and between her and Robin Buffy was able to limp her way out of the alley.

"Gotta get Xander," Buffy replied with a shake of her head.

Faith's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Xander's here?"

Buffy nodded. "We found a boarded up house a couple miles away. He stayed there while I scouted the area."

Faith nodded. "Trin, get the girls back to our place. The principal and I will go with B to go get Xander," she ordered before turning and helping Buffy into a nearby car.

A few minutes later they were pulling up in front of the abandoned house she and Xander had picked out. Buffy wasn't surprised to see Xander come out with a crossbow a few seconds later. "Woah there, Captain, we come in peace," Faith called out as she climbed out of the drivers seat.

Xander's jaw dropped in surprise as he lowered his weapon. "Faith?" he called out in disbelief. "This isn't just my one good eye playing tricks on me, is it?"

"Nope, I'm the one and only me," she replied as she jogged over to him. Buffy watched in amusement as Xander pulled the Slayer who had used and abused him into a hug, much to the shock of the brunette. "Good to see you too," she said, throwing on a grin to hide her unease.

"Buffy?" Xander asked as he peered down at the car.

"Here!" the blonde called out, waving an arm out the back window in exhaustion.

"She's a bit worse for wear. We're just here to get you," Robin said as he slowly made his way up to the porch, keeping a weather eye out for any demon activity.

Xander immediately grew serious as he grabbed the bags they always kept packed and within easy reach and followed the couple out to the car. He climbed in beside Buffy and let out a low whistle. Buffy smiled tiredly. "That bad, huh?"

Xander shrugged it off. "You've looked worse," he assured her.

"Gee, thanks," she replied with a glare as Faith chortled from the driver's seat.

"I'm surprised you guys are still in Arizona," Xander changed the subject, shooting Buffy and apologetic smile. "Last we heard you had just made it in from New Mexico and that was months ago," he continued.

Faith smiled grimly and gave a quick nod. "It's been slow going and we had several huge setbacks," she murmured.

Robin elaborated. "We ran into a group of the demons that you just fought Buffy, only there were more and we were still hurting from a bad run in in Texas. We lost ten people there. Twenty more from that group of demons I just mentioned. We were stuck in place for a month while we recovered and since then we've only been able to travel a few miles a day if we're lucky."

Faith nodded as she pulled to a stop in front of their digs for the night. "You guys probably noticed that the demon activity picked up in Texas."

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, we had a couple close calls."

"It's only gotten worse the further west."

"And you're a bigger group," Xander muttered.

"Yeah, harder to blend," Faith agreed. "C'mon, let's get inside."

The front doors swung open and the three Slayers that were left held weapons and guarded the entrance as the elder Slayers and two demon hunters entered the building. "How long have you been stateside?" Faith asked as she led them into a living area.

"Since late August," Buffy replied tiredly, shooting a small smile at her sister Slayer as she pulled out a first aide kit and began expertly bandaging up the various wounds Buffy sported. "Giles managed to gain us passage on a supply ship that was air dropping cargo in New York. They agreed to fly low enough for us to parachute out."

"Damn," Faith muttered with a shake of her head.

"Took months to set it all up," Xander added. "Been driving since then."

"And there's only the two of you?" Robin asked and Buffy picked up on the disappointment in his tone.

Buffy nodded. "Giles could only get them to agree to two people. Willow, Giles and the rest of the girls and watchers are working on getting a second offensive together. Willow is working closely with the Devon coven to do some sort of teleportation spell but they can't put it into effect until they have exact coordinates and a plan of attack."

"Good to know we're not alone," Robin replied in relief.

"So long as we can get to LA and assess the damage, yes," Buffy said.

"And if we can't?" Faith asked grimly.

Buffy looked her in the eye. "Then America is an acceptable loss."

The room was silent as they all allowed themselves to feel exactly what those words entailed. "Guess we better get to LA then," Faith finally said resolutely.

"Have you heard from Angel?" she asked.

Faith nodded. "Briefly, about a month ago. Didn't get any details, just that he was alive and in need of back up."

"What about you guys? Willow said that she hasn't heard from you in months," Xander asked.

Faith sighed heavily and for the first time Buffy really saw the exhaustion that was exuding from the other Slayer. "We lost Nikita in the Texas attack. She was the witch that allowed us to get word to you guys."

"I'm sorry," Buffy said sincerely. If anyone knew what it was like to lose troops, it was her.

"You're here now," Faith replied with a small smile. "Maybe our luck is changing."

Faith's words kept ringing through her head and Buffy could only hope so as she was shown to a room a few minutes later and fell quickly into a deep sleep.

Four Months Earlier

"I don't want you to go," Dawn said as she leaned against the door frame of Buffy's bedroom.

"I have to Dawnie," Buffy replied, they'd already had this conversation. "Besides wasn't it just a couple weeks ago that you were demanding to come with me?"

"Yeah, and you shot me down so now I don't want you go either," Dawn shot back.

Buffy set down the shirt she was folding and turned to her sister. "I have to, Dawn. You know that."

"Doesn't mean I want you to," she replied petulantly.

Buffy cracked a smile. "I know. If there's any chance that we can save America…" she trailed off with a helpless shrug.

"I know. Plus we need to know if Spike's still alive," Dawn said as she moved out of the doorway and slumped down onto Buffy's bed.

"And Faith and Angel," Buffy added.

"Yeah, them too," the younger girl agreed. She pulled something out of her pocket and fiddled with it. "If Spike is still alive...can you give him something for me?" She asked, her big, blue eyes wide with unshed tears.

"Of course, Dawnie," Buffy replied as she reached out and took the folded up piece of paper from her little sister, tucking it safely inside her go bag.

"I love you Buffy," Dawn said seriously.

Buffy pulled her sister into a tight hug. "Love you too, Dawn."

Now

Buffy woke up sore but alive and slightly giddy at the thought that they'd found Faith. Or, rather, Faith had found them. It made her hopeful that they'd find Angel and Spike too. She bent down and reached into her bag, pulling out the worn folded paper that Dawn had entrusted her with months ago. She'd been given permission to read it and she did so often. "You can read it, if you want. I think you'll understand." Dawn had told just before she'd boarded the plane.

She pulled out the satellite phone too and dialed. "Buffy?" it was Giles that answered.

"Guess what, Giles," she replied cheerfully.

"You made it to Los Angeles?" he asked hopefully.

"No. Still in Arizona. But we found Faith," she told him.

"Dear lord, alive?"

"Yep! Robin's still kickin' too and three of the slayers. There's some other people here too but I haven't had a chance to meet everyone yet. They lost Nikita in Texas, that's why we haven't heard from her in a few months."

"This is splendid news," Giles replied. "Well, mostly," he amended.

Buffy chuckled morbidly, how strange their lives were. "Listen I just wanted to let you know that found them and we're still alive. We'll call you later once everyone is up and we can talk strategy, okay?"

"Yes, I'll keep close to Willow as we await your next call," he assured her.

"Talk to you soon, Giles," she said before hanging up and setting the phone back down beside her. She fiddled with the paper for a few more minutes before unfolding it and absorbing the words written in her sister's hand for the hundredth time.

"I years had been from home,

And now, before the door,

I dared not open, lest a face

I never saw before

Stare vacant into mine

And ask my business there.

My business,-just a life I left,

was such still dwelling there?

I fumbled at my nerve,

I scanned the windows near;

The silence like an ocean rolled,

And broke against my ear.

I laughed a wooden laugh

That I could fear a door,

Who danger and the dead had faced,

But never quaked before.

I fitted to the latch

My hand, with trembling care,

Lest back the awful door should spring,

And leave me standing there.

I moved my fingers off

As cautiously as glass,

And held my ears, and like a thief

Fled gasping from the house.

-Emily Dickinson

I understand. I hope next time you're in town you knock on the door. I miss you, Spike.

Love,

Dawn.

Buffy sighed as she read the words again. She had wondered and speculated for months about why he hadn't come to her or, at the very least, called her. Leave it to Dawn to figure it out and borrow the words that would speak directly to the vampire. She hoped she wasn't too late.