Going on Faith - Chapter 2
"Thanks to all who reviewed chapter one. Please continue with positive AND
negative comments so that I may improve. Sorry if I missed responding to
any of you. I do like to e-mail back everyone if possible.
"Please!" Anya interrupted the glare-down. "If you're going to have some kind of Slayer rumble, take it outside. My insurance is going to be cancelled if this place gets destroyed one more time."
Buffy backed off, grabbing Faith by the shoulder and shoving her toward the table, where Xander was still poised - ready to help if needed. 'And, help do what exactly,' the construction worker wondered. What possible use could his puny man-strength be if there was a pitched battle between these two amazons?
The blond Slayer pushed her counterpart down onto the chair she had just vacated.
"Sit! Don't move. I'm calling Giles," she barked. Then, looking up at Xander, "Watch her." Buffy headed for the phone at the counter.
"Right." Again, the man wondered what he could be expected to do if Faith decided to..oh, say, jump up, break the chair over her leg and ram a piece of it through his throat. He dropped back into his seat, watching her warily.
Faith's velvet brown eyes met his own and her full lips curved flirtatiously. "Hey, Andy! Long time, no see, how's it hangin'?"
"That's 'Xander'," he corrected nervously. He had a quick mental flash of Faith's nude body above him, head thrown back in ecstasy, and wondered exactly where it rated on the humiliation scale that she couldn't even recall his name. "Um, I've been, you know.busy fightin' the good fight on the Hellmouth."
"I hear ya. It just never ends in this town does it?"
"And you? How have you.." Xander enquired politely, then remembered exactly where Faith had been for the past several years.
"Oh, enjoying my rest-up in the slammer." Faith appeared to reminisce. "It was.a nice break, you know, from all the fighting." She grinned. "Well, from fighting demons anyway. Some of those babes are pretty tough scrappers."
"I'll bet," Xander couldn't believe the inanities coming out of his mouth. He cast a glance over at Buffy, whose eyes hadn't left Faith even as she pressed the speed dial to Giles. Anya was at the counter too, compulsively polishing the surface with her dust cloth and studying the newcomer.
"So.." Xander tried to fill the uncomfortable silence. "The Watchers' Council really sent you here to relieve Buffy, eh?"
"That about covers it."
"Wow, that's..."
"Pretty freaky, huh?" Faith agreed. "Considering my history in this town...but, a Slayer's duty and all that. 'Ours not to reason why.'."
"And since when have YOU done what the Council orders?" Buffy shot from across the room.
"Since they got me out of prison. Look, B, I know you got no reason to trust me and plenty of reason to hate me. More than plenty..but.."
"Shhh.. Giles?" Buffy shushed Faith with a wave of her hand, turned her back and lowered her voice to consult with her Watcher.
The dark haired girl cast her eyes down, jiggling one leg and drumming her fingers nervously on the table. She seemed to have forgotten Xander entirely and he was able to examine the changes in the young Slayer, unnoticed. Physically she didn't look all that different; same thick, wavy hair, startling dark eyes, soft-lipped mouth, fair skin. But looking deeper he could see fine lines already forming on her twenty-something face, a certain tightness in her features, and, could it be, vulnerability instead of hardness in those eyes? Also, her tightly muscled body had crossed the line from slender to skinny and that porcelain skin could be termed pasty. All in all Faith looked like a shadow of her former self. Just then, the girl looked up and caught his gaze. Xander quickly grabbed the closest volume and began examining pages as if he actually understood Latin.
Anya, bored with listening to Buffy's half of the conversation with Giles, dusted her way over to the table.
"So, this is the infamous 'Faith'?" She folded her arms and gave a piercing stare. "I heard you're hell on wheels."
"Yeah, that'd be me.or was me. Now I'm more the take-it-easy-and-see-what- happens-next girl."
Anya continued to stare, doubtfully.
"Really!" Faith insisted. "I didn't come here to make trouble. Just wanna keep a low profile and do my job."
"Killing demons."
"That's right."
"Hmm." Anya seemed to finish her weighing and measuring of the new Slayer. She shrugged and moved over to a shelf of candles and began rearranging the display. "Just be sure to keep your battles out of my shop and give my building protection from destructive minions and I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
Xander smiled and shook his head at Anya's wonderful directness. Faith turned back toward the young man with a puzzled look on her face. She lowered her voice, "Andy, who IS that?"
"Well, that's just fine!" Buffy hung the phone up with a bang and marched back over to the table. "Giles just got back from a trip and he doesn't know a thing about any of this. The Council didn't leave him any phone messages, e-mails or faxes, so.." She glared at Faith.
"Look, I can't prove it to you. All I know is what I was told. But, B, I swear I'm not lyin' to you."
"Giles is contacting the Council and will call back as soon as he finds out anything. Until then you're staying right where I can see you."
"Whatever." Faith put her hands up. "Maybe they'll have some information on what happened to my new Watcher."
An agonizing fifteen minutes crept by as Xander, Buffy and Faith waited for the phone to ring and Anya, blissfully ignorant of the tension, restocked shelves. Xander opened his mouth to make some kind of small talk to fill the silence, but for once, found absolutely nothing to say. Then the shop bell rang for the fourth time in the last hour, as the other Scoobies swept in on a cold breeze.
"Hey, everybody, the lunch ladies have arrived," Will sang out.
"Buffy, Willow let me drive her new car and I even parallel-parked!" Dawn chimed in. She loved to remind her older sister of her newly anointed state of 'licensed driver', since Buffy still hadn't taken the test despite Spike's (im)patient tutoring.
"Faith!" Willow squeaked, catching sight of their unwelcome visitor.
"Holy shit!" Dawn agreed, fumbling the bag of sandwiches and catching it just before it hit the floor.
"Oh good! Lunch!" Anya went to retrieve the precious parcel and pass out the goodies.
"How did? What? And When?" babbled the witch.
"Council of Watchers. Released. Don't know when," answered Buffy. "Giles is checking on it."
"How about Why?" Dawn inserted. "Why's she here?" "My 'replacement' or so she says," Buffy's mouth tightened into a grim line.
"Woah." Willow tried valiantly to recover, holding out a hand toward Faith. "Well, well..welcome. Long time."
"No see. Yeah, that seems to be the general mood." Faith answered. She stared at the proferred hand and reached for it hesitantly.
Willow, seeing the disturbed aura surrounding the girl, immediately understood. Shame? Guilt? Self loathing? Yep, she'd been there herself not so long ago. She bestowed one of her patented Sunny Willow smiles on the woman and was happy to see her face relax just a little. Then she grasped Faith's hand firmly and said, "It's good to see you again."
Faith frowned in confusion and pulled away, her eyes sparkling with what looked suspiciously like unshed tears.
Dawn, who remembered Faith only from the time she'd come to dinner at their house over four years ago, and had only heard second-hand accounts of her outrageous deeds, was fascinated by this larger-than-life character. She took the seat between Faith and Xander and began unwrapping her sandwich, sneaking little glances at the 'rogue' Slayer. There were tons of things she wanted to ask, but Buffy's evil-eye kept her mouth shut - for now.
Buffy was in full pacing and muttering mode now. She strode the room like a caged tiger, making everyone nervous.
"Hey..sandwich." Willow held up Buffy's turkey on white, trying to tempt her to sit down.
"I'm not hungry anymore. Give it to her," the blond Slayer dismissed the offering.
"Buffy, you've got to eat something. Look. I'll split it. You two can share," Willow continued to sooth.
The blond stopped in her tracks and stared at her friend. "Obvious with the symbolism much?"
Willow shrugged and smiled.
"One Slayer on the hellmouth is enough. It's a big world, they can station her somewhere else!"
"Buffy," Xander ventured to stick his neck on the chopping block. "This is your chance to get out. Isn't that kinda what you've been praying for since the beginning of this gig? How many times since we've known you have you said, 'If only I could live a normal life.be a normal gir...Um. Never mind." He cut himself off as the thunderclouds rolled across the Slayer's face.
Dawn, being a sister and oblivious to storm warnings, carried on. "Yeah! Ever since mom and I found out about your 'secret life' all you've done is complain, complain, complain. This is great, Buffy! You can finally go back to college. Get a decent job. Hey, we could even move away from this town! Go to New York or something!"
Buffy actually growled as she stalked toward the training room. (Too much time around Spike, Dawn thought.)
"Xander, keep an eye on her," she called back over her shoulder. "I'm gonna work out for awhile."
"Uh, yes ma'am." Xander gave Faith an apologetic grimace. "Um, just sit there and eat your lunch, okay? I don't want to have to hurt you."
"Ri-ight." Faith picked up her sandwich and wolfed down a few bites, before pausing to pull apart the bread and critically study it. "There's no mustard or mayo on this," she muttered to herself.
"That's our Buffy," Xander answered and shoved a juice box toward her. "This'll help wash it down."
The shop was again filled with awkward silence and the smackety sounds of chewing.
"So, Faith...." Dawn looked at her with bright-eyed interest. "How'd you get here? And where are you staying?"
"Took a bus. They gave me a little money to travel on. Guess I'll get a motel after we figure this Watcher business out."
"Wow, you really ARE the chosen one. Buffy never got squat from the Council. And Kendra had to travel in the cargo hold of an airplane. They must have big plans for you," Dawn teased.
"Um, anything unusual going down in Sunnydale lately?" Faith asked.
"Nope, silent as the proverbial tomb," Willow answered.
"Shoulda been here last year, though," Xander added. "First Evil, ancient beyond all ancient-ness. That was a Big Bad you could sink your teeth into. It ended with a big battle, lots of special effects - swirling vortexes and the like, and the two teams - Good and Evil - fighting to the death."
"I was on 'Good'," Anya hastened to explain, "even though it forced me to fight against my own people. Just wanted you to know....as a Slayer....that there's no trace of demon left in me. All my powers rescinded. All human girl here."
"Anyway," Xander continued. "It was a quiet summer after that. A lot of rebuilding going on around town. I guess most vamps moved away to bloodier pastures."
"But you know the hellmouth," said Willow, thoughtfully. "Never a dull moment for long. I've tried to reach out and feel for anything bubbling under the surface, but I'm not catching any vibes - yet."
"Wow, sounds like good times! Wish I coulda been here to help."
"Well, you're here now. Maybe you could form your own Scooby gang and the rest of us can get some peace," Anya replied. "I, for one, don't care if I never swing another battle axe in my life. Do you know how heavy those things are?"
"I'm pretty used to working solo, so, if they really have brought me here to take on Slayer duty, I won't be needing any help," the Slayer shrugged.
"Everyone needs help, Faith," Willow quietly said. "Maybe, physically, you can handle it without friends, but...they're sure nice to have around...." She looked up at Xander and smiled, remembering just how valuable simple friendship had been in saving her at a critical time.
Xander caught the look and smiled back.
Faith gulped down the rest of her juice box and tossed it toward the deli bag, making a clean shot. "Whatever. Can I stand now, Harris, cause I need to use the john."
"Well, uh, maybe Willow should go with...."Xander tried to think what kind of trouble Faith could possibly get into in the windowless cubicle at the back of the shop. It's not like she was going to give them the slip, since she'd walked in here of her own accord.
"What? You think I need some help with my zipper?" Faith teased, then gave the young man a sultry look. "Maybe YOU'd like to come help me with that?"
"No - I -It's just that Buffy said...."
"Still B's lap dog, eh?" The woman shook her head and moved toward the restroom, hips swaying provacatively.
"That's the old Faith we all know and hate," Xander muttered, wondering when he was going to grow a pair of balls and stand up to the women in his life.
Minutes later, Buffy burst through the training room door, sweaty and pink from her exertions at the punching bag. Here eyes widened as she looked frantically around the small room for signs of her one-time nemesis.
"Where's Faith? Xander! You let her go? Why didn't you call...."
"Buffy! Get a grip!" Dawn commanded. "Geez, over-react much? She's using the bathroom."
Buffy looked at the closed door, then back at the group. "Sorry." She said sheepishly to Xander. "But you'll understand if I'm a little wigged out by this whole thing. I - I just can't begin to know what to think. If she's telling the truth.... If I could just walk away from it all..... I don't know how I feel about that."
"Like, if you're not the Slayer, what ARE you?" Willow nodded. She knew what loss of incredible power felt like, and although it had been over a year since her taste of dark majik, she would never lose the memory of it coursing through her. It would be all too easy to lose herself to that craving again, if she allowed it.
"Exactly." Buffy nodded. "All the possibilites that opens up...." She trailed off, thinking of a life without killing, maybe a really important job and a family....children. 'And what about Spike?' a chill voice deep inside her whispered. Okay. Time to shut down the old emotional roller- coaster until she knew if there was any reason to worry. Do things first - think later!
Faith re-entered the room, finger-combing her hair back with one hand, and managing to look cool and nervous at the same time.
"So what's the scoop, Summers? You got a plan yet?"
Buffy gave her counterpart an appraising look. "I have to be at work in an hour, and I obviously can't take you with me. I want you to come to my house and wait there with Spike. He'll bring you on patrol later." She continued, addressing the rest of the gang. "Anya, I gave Giles my cell number - again - but if he loses it and calls here, please give me a call right away. Willow and Xander, thanks for coming today. If you can think of any researchy things to do then go for it, otherwise...."
"We're dismissed. Gotcha herr general." Xander nodded, wondering what else he could do to fill this long Saturday afternoon. Visions of the piles of laundry in his apartment filled his head. Joy!
"If you want to meet for patrol later, come by my house about 9. As for you Dawn, remember you had to clean the bathrooms and your bedroom before you went out tonight?"
"Um...."
"We discussed this," Buffy sighed. "Please let's not start battling about the housework again."
Dawn scowled but nodded her agreement, figuring the less fuss she made about the little things, the more likely she could get away with staying out past curfew on her date. A happy Buffy was an oblivious Buffy; an already pissed Buffy was just....trouble.
"Uh, Buffy? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Willow beckoned her aside.
"What's up?" the Slayer whispered, noting the witch's 'concern' face.
"Maybe I should go over to your house, too. I mean, Faith doesn't even know Spike. It could be really awkward for her. I realize he's supposed to be a guard, but wouldn't it be more comfortable for both of them with a third party who they both know?"
"You're right! Of course, you're right. I didn't even think....See, Will, that's me all over, really bad with the social skills. Wouldn't want to make our 'guest' uncomfortable."
"Was that sarcasm? Cause honestly, Buffy, sometimes I can't even tell anymore. Faith is not exactly our prisoner, you know. And besides you catch more flies with honey....though why anyone would want to catch flies is beyond me. Anyway, I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to be nice and to keep things, well, civilized."
"All right. Point taken." her friend admitted. She checked her watch. "So let's roll before I'm late for my first class. Those little boys'll be breaking up the furniture if I'm not there to set them pummeling on each other."
Willow and Buffy broke their huddle. "Okay, Faith, let's go." Buffy called. "See you later, Anya. Don't keep Dawn here too late. There's stuff she needs to do at home."
The shopkeeper and her assistant barely nodded, their heads bent together over a bin of discounted charms they were inventorying.
Xander walked the two Slayers and the witch outside. Following behind the three his gaze inevitably dropped down to their butts; nice, nice, and verrry nice. Faith in leather, you just couldn't top that. He shook his head to clear it. 'Harris you gotta get out more,' he admonished himself. 'You've been way too long without a girl.' He bid the ladies goodbye and set off for a long and fulfilling afternoon of laundering.
Faith slipped into the passenger seat next to Willow, Buffy leaning over the back seat as if ready to put a chokehold on the other Slayer if she stepped out of line. The dark haired woman shook her head slightly and sighed. It was exactly what she had expected wasn't it? The suspicion wasn't anything she hadn't earned. She had known coming to Sunnydale again would be no picnic.
What she hadn't counted on was the small acts of kindness that turned in her gut like a knife. Willow's open smile, Xander's casual offering of a juice box of all things, Dawn's light teasing, even that weird Anya chick's calm acceptance were more painful than any angry glare that Buffy could punish her with. She had raised her guard against blows but she hadn't expected this....these little common kindnesses that pierced right through her armor and cut her to the quick.
Faith turned her head to the window and pressed her forehead against it. She watched the familiar yet changed streets of Sunnydale pass by and wondered what would happen next.
to be continued...
"Please!" Anya interrupted the glare-down. "If you're going to have some kind of Slayer rumble, take it outside. My insurance is going to be cancelled if this place gets destroyed one more time."
Buffy backed off, grabbing Faith by the shoulder and shoving her toward the table, where Xander was still poised - ready to help if needed. 'And, help do what exactly,' the construction worker wondered. What possible use could his puny man-strength be if there was a pitched battle between these two amazons?
The blond Slayer pushed her counterpart down onto the chair she had just vacated.
"Sit! Don't move. I'm calling Giles," she barked. Then, looking up at Xander, "Watch her." Buffy headed for the phone at the counter.
"Right." Again, the man wondered what he could be expected to do if Faith decided to..oh, say, jump up, break the chair over her leg and ram a piece of it through his throat. He dropped back into his seat, watching her warily.
Faith's velvet brown eyes met his own and her full lips curved flirtatiously. "Hey, Andy! Long time, no see, how's it hangin'?"
"That's 'Xander'," he corrected nervously. He had a quick mental flash of Faith's nude body above him, head thrown back in ecstasy, and wondered exactly where it rated on the humiliation scale that she couldn't even recall his name. "Um, I've been, you know.busy fightin' the good fight on the Hellmouth."
"I hear ya. It just never ends in this town does it?"
"And you? How have you.." Xander enquired politely, then remembered exactly where Faith had been for the past several years.
"Oh, enjoying my rest-up in the slammer." Faith appeared to reminisce. "It was.a nice break, you know, from all the fighting." She grinned. "Well, from fighting demons anyway. Some of those babes are pretty tough scrappers."
"I'll bet," Xander couldn't believe the inanities coming out of his mouth. He cast a glance over at Buffy, whose eyes hadn't left Faith even as she pressed the speed dial to Giles. Anya was at the counter too, compulsively polishing the surface with her dust cloth and studying the newcomer.
"So.." Xander tried to fill the uncomfortable silence. "The Watchers' Council really sent you here to relieve Buffy, eh?"
"That about covers it."
"Wow, that's..."
"Pretty freaky, huh?" Faith agreed. "Considering my history in this town...but, a Slayer's duty and all that. 'Ours not to reason why.'."
"And since when have YOU done what the Council orders?" Buffy shot from across the room.
"Since they got me out of prison. Look, B, I know you got no reason to trust me and plenty of reason to hate me. More than plenty..but.."
"Shhh.. Giles?" Buffy shushed Faith with a wave of her hand, turned her back and lowered her voice to consult with her Watcher.
The dark haired girl cast her eyes down, jiggling one leg and drumming her fingers nervously on the table. She seemed to have forgotten Xander entirely and he was able to examine the changes in the young Slayer, unnoticed. Physically she didn't look all that different; same thick, wavy hair, startling dark eyes, soft-lipped mouth, fair skin. But looking deeper he could see fine lines already forming on her twenty-something face, a certain tightness in her features, and, could it be, vulnerability instead of hardness in those eyes? Also, her tightly muscled body had crossed the line from slender to skinny and that porcelain skin could be termed pasty. All in all Faith looked like a shadow of her former self. Just then, the girl looked up and caught his gaze. Xander quickly grabbed the closest volume and began examining pages as if he actually understood Latin.
Anya, bored with listening to Buffy's half of the conversation with Giles, dusted her way over to the table.
"So, this is the infamous 'Faith'?" She folded her arms and gave a piercing stare. "I heard you're hell on wheels."
"Yeah, that'd be me.or was me. Now I'm more the take-it-easy-and-see-what- happens-next girl."
Anya continued to stare, doubtfully.
"Really!" Faith insisted. "I didn't come here to make trouble. Just wanna keep a low profile and do my job."
"Killing demons."
"That's right."
"Hmm." Anya seemed to finish her weighing and measuring of the new Slayer. She shrugged and moved over to a shelf of candles and began rearranging the display. "Just be sure to keep your battles out of my shop and give my building protection from destructive minions and I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
Xander smiled and shook his head at Anya's wonderful directness. Faith turned back toward the young man with a puzzled look on her face. She lowered her voice, "Andy, who IS that?"
"Well, that's just fine!" Buffy hung the phone up with a bang and marched back over to the table. "Giles just got back from a trip and he doesn't know a thing about any of this. The Council didn't leave him any phone messages, e-mails or faxes, so.." She glared at Faith.
"Look, I can't prove it to you. All I know is what I was told. But, B, I swear I'm not lyin' to you."
"Giles is contacting the Council and will call back as soon as he finds out anything. Until then you're staying right where I can see you."
"Whatever." Faith put her hands up. "Maybe they'll have some information on what happened to my new Watcher."
An agonizing fifteen minutes crept by as Xander, Buffy and Faith waited for the phone to ring and Anya, blissfully ignorant of the tension, restocked shelves. Xander opened his mouth to make some kind of small talk to fill the silence, but for once, found absolutely nothing to say. Then the shop bell rang for the fourth time in the last hour, as the other Scoobies swept in on a cold breeze.
"Hey, everybody, the lunch ladies have arrived," Will sang out.
"Buffy, Willow let me drive her new car and I even parallel-parked!" Dawn chimed in. She loved to remind her older sister of her newly anointed state of 'licensed driver', since Buffy still hadn't taken the test despite Spike's (im)patient tutoring.
"Faith!" Willow squeaked, catching sight of their unwelcome visitor.
"Holy shit!" Dawn agreed, fumbling the bag of sandwiches and catching it just before it hit the floor.
"Oh good! Lunch!" Anya went to retrieve the precious parcel and pass out the goodies.
"How did? What? And When?" babbled the witch.
"Council of Watchers. Released. Don't know when," answered Buffy. "Giles is checking on it."
"How about Why?" Dawn inserted. "Why's she here?" "My 'replacement' or so she says," Buffy's mouth tightened into a grim line.
"Woah." Willow tried valiantly to recover, holding out a hand toward Faith. "Well, well..welcome. Long time."
"No see. Yeah, that seems to be the general mood." Faith answered. She stared at the proferred hand and reached for it hesitantly.
Willow, seeing the disturbed aura surrounding the girl, immediately understood. Shame? Guilt? Self loathing? Yep, she'd been there herself not so long ago. She bestowed one of her patented Sunny Willow smiles on the woman and was happy to see her face relax just a little. Then she grasped Faith's hand firmly and said, "It's good to see you again."
Faith frowned in confusion and pulled away, her eyes sparkling with what looked suspiciously like unshed tears.
Dawn, who remembered Faith only from the time she'd come to dinner at their house over four years ago, and had only heard second-hand accounts of her outrageous deeds, was fascinated by this larger-than-life character. She took the seat between Faith and Xander and began unwrapping her sandwich, sneaking little glances at the 'rogue' Slayer. There were tons of things she wanted to ask, but Buffy's evil-eye kept her mouth shut - for now.
Buffy was in full pacing and muttering mode now. She strode the room like a caged tiger, making everyone nervous.
"Hey..sandwich." Willow held up Buffy's turkey on white, trying to tempt her to sit down.
"I'm not hungry anymore. Give it to her," the blond Slayer dismissed the offering.
"Buffy, you've got to eat something. Look. I'll split it. You two can share," Willow continued to sooth.
The blond stopped in her tracks and stared at her friend. "Obvious with the symbolism much?"
Willow shrugged and smiled.
"One Slayer on the hellmouth is enough. It's a big world, they can station her somewhere else!"
"Buffy," Xander ventured to stick his neck on the chopping block. "This is your chance to get out. Isn't that kinda what you've been praying for since the beginning of this gig? How many times since we've known you have you said, 'If only I could live a normal life.be a normal gir...Um. Never mind." He cut himself off as the thunderclouds rolled across the Slayer's face.
Dawn, being a sister and oblivious to storm warnings, carried on. "Yeah! Ever since mom and I found out about your 'secret life' all you've done is complain, complain, complain. This is great, Buffy! You can finally go back to college. Get a decent job. Hey, we could even move away from this town! Go to New York or something!"
Buffy actually growled as she stalked toward the training room. (Too much time around Spike, Dawn thought.)
"Xander, keep an eye on her," she called back over her shoulder. "I'm gonna work out for awhile."
"Uh, yes ma'am." Xander gave Faith an apologetic grimace. "Um, just sit there and eat your lunch, okay? I don't want to have to hurt you."
"Ri-ight." Faith picked up her sandwich and wolfed down a few bites, before pausing to pull apart the bread and critically study it. "There's no mustard or mayo on this," she muttered to herself.
"That's our Buffy," Xander answered and shoved a juice box toward her. "This'll help wash it down."
The shop was again filled with awkward silence and the smackety sounds of chewing.
"So, Faith...." Dawn looked at her with bright-eyed interest. "How'd you get here? And where are you staying?"
"Took a bus. They gave me a little money to travel on. Guess I'll get a motel after we figure this Watcher business out."
"Wow, you really ARE the chosen one. Buffy never got squat from the Council. And Kendra had to travel in the cargo hold of an airplane. They must have big plans for you," Dawn teased.
"Um, anything unusual going down in Sunnydale lately?" Faith asked.
"Nope, silent as the proverbial tomb," Willow answered.
"Shoulda been here last year, though," Xander added. "First Evil, ancient beyond all ancient-ness. That was a Big Bad you could sink your teeth into. It ended with a big battle, lots of special effects - swirling vortexes and the like, and the two teams - Good and Evil - fighting to the death."
"I was on 'Good'," Anya hastened to explain, "even though it forced me to fight against my own people. Just wanted you to know....as a Slayer....that there's no trace of demon left in me. All my powers rescinded. All human girl here."
"Anyway," Xander continued. "It was a quiet summer after that. A lot of rebuilding going on around town. I guess most vamps moved away to bloodier pastures."
"But you know the hellmouth," said Willow, thoughtfully. "Never a dull moment for long. I've tried to reach out and feel for anything bubbling under the surface, but I'm not catching any vibes - yet."
"Wow, sounds like good times! Wish I coulda been here to help."
"Well, you're here now. Maybe you could form your own Scooby gang and the rest of us can get some peace," Anya replied. "I, for one, don't care if I never swing another battle axe in my life. Do you know how heavy those things are?"
"I'm pretty used to working solo, so, if they really have brought me here to take on Slayer duty, I won't be needing any help," the Slayer shrugged.
"Everyone needs help, Faith," Willow quietly said. "Maybe, physically, you can handle it without friends, but...they're sure nice to have around...." She looked up at Xander and smiled, remembering just how valuable simple friendship had been in saving her at a critical time.
Xander caught the look and smiled back.
Faith gulped down the rest of her juice box and tossed it toward the deli bag, making a clean shot. "Whatever. Can I stand now, Harris, cause I need to use the john."
"Well, uh, maybe Willow should go with...."Xander tried to think what kind of trouble Faith could possibly get into in the windowless cubicle at the back of the shop. It's not like she was going to give them the slip, since she'd walked in here of her own accord.
"What? You think I need some help with my zipper?" Faith teased, then gave the young man a sultry look. "Maybe YOU'd like to come help me with that?"
"No - I -It's just that Buffy said...."
"Still B's lap dog, eh?" The woman shook her head and moved toward the restroom, hips swaying provacatively.
"That's the old Faith we all know and hate," Xander muttered, wondering when he was going to grow a pair of balls and stand up to the women in his life.
Minutes later, Buffy burst through the training room door, sweaty and pink from her exertions at the punching bag. Here eyes widened as she looked frantically around the small room for signs of her one-time nemesis.
"Where's Faith? Xander! You let her go? Why didn't you call...."
"Buffy! Get a grip!" Dawn commanded. "Geez, over-react much? She's using the bathroom."
Buffy looked at the closed door, then back at the group. "Sorry." She said sheepishly to Xander. "But you'll understand if I'm a little wigged out by this whole thing. I - I just can't begin to know what to think. If she's telling the truth.... If I could just walk away from it all..... I don't know how I feel about that."
"Like, if you're not the Slayer, what ARE you?" Willow nodded. She knew what loss of incredible power felt like, and although it had been over a year since her taste of dark majik, she would never lose the memory of it coursing through her. It would be all too easy to lose herself to that craving again, if she allowed it.
"Exactly." Buffy nodded. "All the possibilites that opens up...." She trailed off, thinking of a life without killing, maybe a really important job and a family....children. 'And what about Spike?' a chill voice deep inside her whispered. Okay. Time to shut down the old emotional roller- coaster until she knew if there was any reason to worry. Do things first - think later!
Faith re-entered the room, finger-combing her hair back with one hand, and managing to look cool and nervous at the same time.
"So what's the scoop, Summers? You got a plan yet?"
Buffy gave her counterpart an appraising look. "I have to be at work in an hour, and I obviously can't take you with me. I want you to come to my house and wait there with Spike. He'll bring you on patrol later." She continued, addressing the rest of the gang. "Anya, I gave Giles my cell number - again - but if he loses it and calls here, please give me a call right away. Willow and Xander, thanks for coming today. If you can think of any researchy things to do then go for it, otherwise...."
"We're dismissed. Gotcha herr general." Xander nodded, wondering what else he could do to fill this long Saturday afternoon. Visions of the piles of laundry in his apartment filled his head. Joy!
"If you want to meet for patrol later, come by my house about 9. As for you Dawn, remember you had to clean the bathrooms and your bedroom before you went out tonight?"
"Um...."
"We discussed this," Buffy sighed. "Please let's not start battling about the housework again."
Dawn scowled but nodded her agreement, figuring the less fuss she made about the little things, the more likely she could get away with staying out past curfew on her date. A happy Buffy was an oblivious Buffy; an already pissed Buffy was just....trouble.
"Uh, Buffy? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Willow beckoned her aside.
"What's up?" the Slayer whispered, noting the witch's 'concern' face.
"Maybe I should go over to your house, too. I mean, Faith doesn't even know Spike. It could be really awkward for her. I realize he's supposed to be a guard, but wouldn't it be more comfortable for both of them with a third party who they both know?"
"You're right! Of course, you're right. I didn't even think....See, Will, that's me all over, really bad with the social skills. Wouldn't want to make our 'guest' uncomfortable."
"Was that sarcasm? Cause honestly, Buffy, sometimes I can't even tell anymore. Faith is not exactly our prisoner, you know. And besides you catch more flies with honey....though why anyone would want to catch flies is beyond me. Anyway, I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to be nice and to keep things, well, civilized."
"All right. Point taken." her friend admitted. She checked her watch. "So let's roll before I'm late for my first class. Those little boys'll be breaking up the furniture if I'm not there to set them pummeling on each other."
Willow and Buffy broke their huddle. "Okay, Faith, let's go." Buffy called. "See you later, Anya. Don't keep Dawn here too late. There's stuff she needs to do at home."
The shopkeeper and her assistant barely nodded, their heads bent together over a bin of discounted charms they were inventorying.
Xander walked the two Slayers and the witch outside. Following behind the three his gaze inevitably dropped down to their butts; nice, nice, and verrry nice. Faith in leather, you just couldn't top that. He shook his head to clear it. 'Harris you gotta get out more,' he admonished himself. 'You've been way too long without a girl.' He bid the ladies goodbye and set off for a long and fulfilling afternoon of laundering.
Faith slipped into the passenger seat next to Willow, Buffy leaning over the back seat as if ready to put a chokehold on the other Slayer if she stepped out of line. The dark haired woman shook her head slightly and sighed. It was exactly what she had expected wasn't it? The suspicion wasn't anything she hadn't earned. She had known coming to Sunnydale again would be no picnic.
What she hadn't counted on was the small acts of kindness that turned in her gut like a knife. Willow's open smile, Xander's casual offering of a juice box of all things, Dawn's light teasing, even that weird Anya chick's calm acceptance were more painful than any angry glare that Buffy could punish her with. She had raised her guard against blows but she hadn't expected this....these little common kindnesses that pierced right through her armor and cut her to the quick.
Faith turned her head to the window and pressed her forehead against it. She watched the familiar yet changed streets of Sunnydale pass by and wondered what would happen next.
to be continued...