"Going on Faith" - chapter 3
After swinging by the bus station, where Faith had stored her duffle in a locker, Willow pulled the car up in front of the house on Revello Drive. The three women got out, Faith noticing the odd contrast of this bit of suburbia and the black windowed DeSoto parked in the drive like a malignant tumor. Interesting. From the sounds of it Summers had taken up with another vamp - and Faith though herself the wild one!
Buffy led the way indoors, calling out imperiously for Spike the moment she entered the house.
"Miss me, pet? I knew you'd be back." Buffy's newly acquired boyfriend appeared at the top of the stairs. "Fixed the bed, but if you want another go at breaking it.." He broke off, catching sight of the two other women.
"Spike, this is Faith." Buffy cut to the chase. "You haven't met her yet, but she's the 'other' Slayer. She claims the Council sent her here to take my place and we're waiting for a call from Giles to find out what that's all about. I need you to watch her while I'm working, then bring her on patrol later."
Spike was descending the stairs slowly during this explanation, giving the stranger an assessing once-over. So, this was the bint who had come on to him in Buffy's body that time, something the real Buffy didn't know about and, as far as he was concerned, never would. He had only figured out the truth himself from piecing together bits of overheard conversation concerning Faith's last ill-fated visit to Sunnydale. Girl was a real hot item, and he was getting a little turned on remembering her words to him in the Bronze; ".ride you 'til you pop like warm champagne".
He realized he'd been silent too long, when Buffy gave him a sharp look. "So are you okay with that?" she asked.
"Whatever you need," he answered. Then the second part of what she'd said registered; Buffy's replacement. Replacement?! No more slaying? His girl wouldn't be too happy about that..or would she? In an instant all the possible ramifications of that statement flowed through his head. This could change everything. The delicate balance of the Buffy/Spike relationship was about to be hit by a freight train named Faith.
The vampire quickly pushed down the selfish thought and schooled himself to a restrained smile and nod.
"Let me take your bag," he said, like the polite Victorian gentleman he sometimes was.
"That's okay. I got it," the dark-haired woman bristled a little, her Slayer alarm going off at the presence of the enemy. 'Vampire. Vampire. Vampire.' sirened in her head.
Spike immediately backed off. Faith adjusted the duffel on her shoulder while returning his assessing stare.
"You got this one real well-trained," she said with mock admiration. "What do you use to keep him in line?" she smirked.
Buffy's eyes narrowed at the jab, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Willow, eyes darting back and forth between the two Slayers, interrupted.
"All right then. Faith, I'll show you to my room, or, that is, my ex-room - actually Buffy's old room," the witch babbled, attempting to diffuse the situation, "You can take a rest, or a shower," she continued as she tugged on Faith's arm and pulled her up the stairs.
Buffy waited until they were out of earshot before she started in on Spike.
"What? I can hear you thinking from here."
"Nothing. I just wondered what you want done with her 'til this evening."
"Willow will keep her entertained. But, if she's here on some agenda of her own, I want someone with super strength around to keep an eye on her. I'm expecting a call from Giles just as soon as he finds out anything from the Council, then I'll call you, and if that bitch is lying....."
"You'll what?" Spike asked, honestly curious.
"I don't know yet!" Buffy burst out, "but something. I can't have her running loose in Sunnydale again."
"And what if she's telling the truth?" he asked quietly. "What will you do then?"
"Not thinking about that now," she said firmly. "No time and no point until we know if there's something to think about. Besides, I'm almost late for work. So....I'll see you later." She turned to leave, but Spike caught her wrist.
"Uh-uh-uh. The kiddies'll wait an extra minute. Give me a proper goodbye," he reprimanded.
Buffy gave her patented sigh and eye roll, but without much conviction - it was such a habit, she didn't know any other way to react. Soon she was enveloped in her lover's embrace and was being thoroughly kissed.
For a moment she forgot what the hurry had been, but the beep of her watch called her back to reality. She glanced at it, then up at Spike. "Sorry. I really have to go," she muttered with a little smile for him. "Willow's a genius teaching me how to set my timer. I'm never late for anything anymore....or hardly ever....okay, only about half the time now." Her smile blossomed into a full-fledged, sunny Buffy grin, and Spike thought he would combust from the wattage being bestowed on him. He could swear he actually felt his skin begin to prickle and burn.
The vampire bent over her hand and kissed the back formally, then the palm seductively. "Later then," he promised. "Meet you at 9:00. Hillside Cemetery tonight, right?" He was suddenly all business. "We might also want to take a sweep on the north side of town. Overheard some talk of Kudur demons making an appearance there."
"All right." Buffy turned to go, then unexpectedly turned back for a fierce little hug. "I do love you, you know," she almost muttered, blushing, as she quickly released him and escaped out the door.
"Know you do, pet," Spike said to no one, smiling sappily. He shook it off, gave a speculative glance up the stairs, then headed for the kitchen to dig up refreshments for their unexpected guest. *********
"Whites, darks, whites.....plaids, reds, and more darks," Xander chanted the laundry mantra, as he stuffed as many of his clothes as he could cram into a maximum capacity washer. It was worth a few pink or blue undershirts to have this horrific task done as quickly and cheaply as possible. "And laundry......complete," he finished, feeding the last of the quarters into the coin slot.
Sitting in the molded plastic chair which had probably stood in the same spot since 1962, Xander held a dog-eared magazine open on his lap, but watched the colors tumbling past in the dryer in front of him. He thought about his job and what needed to be done on Monday morning, mentally assigning tasks to each of his crew members. He thought about Anya and how the Magic Box was thriving in her capable business hands. He wondered what Giles was up to in England and whether they could expect a visit in the next couple of months. He pondered Willow's newfound wisdom and wished some of it would rub off on him. Underneath the usual Willow-babble was a core of insightfulness that he had never seen in her before. It was like she'd absorbed the best parts of Tara into herself and was now Earthmother- Willow.
But mostly he thought about Faith's abrupt arrival back into their lives. Was she telling the truth about the Watchers' Council? (Had her hair always been that dark and soft looking?) If she replaced Buffy, would the rest of them continue to help out? She'd made it pretty clear they weren't welcome. (Man, those eyes! They seemed to look right into you and see the parts you tried to keep hidden.) And what did "retiring" a Slayer mean, anyway? Would Buffy's strength fade away or would she be expected to act as if it didn't exist anymore? Hell, in mobster movies "retiring" someone usually meant killing 'em! (Did Faith work at walking with that sexy sway or was it natural?) And if there was nothing keeping Buff on the hellmouth, would she take Dawn and move away? Maybe bundle Spike up in a coffin and take him too? God, what WOULD she do with a vampire boyfriend if she could finally lead a normal life? (How could someone be as pale and skinny as Faith and still be SO hot? The air practically crackled when she entered a room. Guess that's what you call magnetism.)
Xander shifted in the hard plastic chair, made sure the magazine was covering his sudden hard-on, and drifted into a daydream that prominently featured Faith and himself on one of the folding counters. Laundry day just couldn't get any better than this.
*********** Faith opened her eyes the minute Willow stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. She couldn't have stood one more second of the witch's well-meaning but overwhelming chatter. Faith hadn't done as much talking to people as she had today in the past two years put together. She had held herself aloof in prison and wasn't expecting to change that here in Sunnydale. Alone was best. Alone didn't get you into trouble.
She rolled on her back in the soft bed with the sweet smelling comforter and just reveled for a moment in the fact that it wasn't a scratchy, prison- issue blanket. She looked around the room, still decorated the way Willow had left it before she moved, and appreciated the art prints, the earthy colors, and natural fiber materials the young witch had favored. The smell of incense and candles lingered in the air.
"It's friggin' Pier One and the Pottery Barn all rolled into one," she murmured out loud.
This was the nicest room Faith had slept in since...ever. God bless Buffy for bringing her home even if it wasn't for hospitable reasons. She remembered the last time she'd been in this house; attacking Mrs. Summers, fighting Buffy, then taking her place and enjoying all the luxuries a middle-class kid took for granted. Luxuries like a soft bed, clean clothes, and a mother who looked you in the eye and told you how much she loved you. Yeah, well, screw that! Faith slammed the door shut on memories. She'd had the last three years to wallow in remembering and second guessing all her actions. Nothing would bring back the people she'd killed during her reign of terror as Mayor Wilkins' minion, and nothing would bring back the time she'd lost due to her own reckless choices. Time to put a lid on the past and start fresh.
A soft knock sounded on the door and Willow re-entered with a teapot and cup on a tray.
"Hey. You still awake," she asked softly.
"Yeah." Faith sat up in the bed, feeling caught as if she'd been casing the joint instead of just studying the décor.
"It's chamomile. It'll relax you," the witch explained, setting the tray down on the bedside table. She poured the tea and handed Faith the delicate rose-patterned cup.
"Uh. Thanks," said Faith, who hated herbal tea - nothing but flavored water.
Willow hesitated, then sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Look, Faith, probably I should just go and leave you to rest, but..I wanted you to know some things.things that have happened here, and to let you know that we've all been through..well, hell, actually. You may be carrying around a lot of guilt, but I want you to know you're not the only one. Everyone screws up one way or another. Some screw-ups are just more dramatic than most," she gave a rueful smile.
Sensing a story, Faith leaned in eagerly. "What's the scoop? What could a sweet little witch like you have possibly done to feel so guilty? Accidentally turned someone into a toad, didya?"
"Try, going all black-magic, killing a guy and trying to destroy the world." Willow shook her head at the memory. "I was a little nuts at the time," she explained.
"Are you serious?" Faith laughed, then caught the look on the redhead's face. "You ARE serious!" She paused. "What happened?"
"Well, I lost someone I loved and kinda went berserk with the vengeance, but Xander got through to me in the end - stopped me from doing anything stupid..or anything stupider than I'd already done."
"Which included killing a guy," Faith marveled.
"Skinning," Willow muttered.
"And Buffy lets you in the same house as her little sister?!"
"I know. Pretty amazing isn't it. Friends and forgiveness, that's what I'm trying to tell you, Faith. What you did before....it was bad and you should be sorry, but don't be too hard on yourself. Anything can be forgiven. It might take some time, but we'll try to trust you again, too."
Faith could feel herself choking up, like she'd done at the Magic Box - that was so not going to happen!
"Good to know," she said lightly, then changed the subject. "If you don't mind. I'd like to take that shower now." She quickly rose from the bed, and Willow popped up, too.
"Oh sure. Let me show you the bathroom and get you some towels."
The young witch led the way into the hall. Faith stopped when she saw Buffy's vampire stationed just outside the room. His chair was tilted back on the rear legs, leaning against the wall, and he was lazily flipping a lighter opened and closed. He glanced up at the two women, then back down at his lighter.
Faith shook her head. Out of prison but she was still under guard. "Trust, huh?" she muttered.
Willow smiled apologetically and showed her to the bathroom.
***********
"Focus, Ryan!" Buffy called to one of her young charges, as he aimed a kick at the punching bag. "It doesn't matter how much power you have if your focus is off. Concentrate on just one spot on the bag and nail it."
"Hey, Summers, phone!" Brian called as he passed through the training room. "Nina says, 'Keep it short.' You're on company time, you know." The weight trainer laughed at their receptionist's mini-dictator pretensions.
"Okay, boys, I want everyone to choose a partner and take turns practicing blocking for a few minutes," Buffy distractedly ordered, then rushed to the front desk and the phone. Nina gave her a petulant frown as she picked up the receiver.
"Hello? Giles?" Buffy turned her back on the glaring receptionist, trying for some privacy. "Why didn't you use my cell number? I can't really talk here."
"Oh.sorry. Yes, it had that 'out-of-range' message again, so.."
"Okay, okay. So what did you find out?"
"It would appear that Faith is indeed telling the truth. Unfortunately our illustrious Council neglected to keep me apprised of this development or allow me any time to prepare you for the change. Their intention is to install Faith at the hellmouth and to remove you to a lighter duty.elsewhere. Eventually they believe you can be fully retired and able to pick up the threads of a 'normal' life."
"Just like that? They should know by now that I don't take orders well! And where the hell is 'elsewhere'? Tanzania? Spain? Rockway, New Jersey? They think I'm just going to move wherever..." Buffy broke off with a glance over her shoulder at Nina, who was staring at her while still managing to buff her fingernails. Buffy lowered her voice. "Giles. I really can't talk right now. I'm going to call you back as soon as this class is over. Then you can tell me about this new Watcher and when he or she is expected in."
"Yes, well, that's the problem. John Macardle flew out from London two days ago. The passenger manifest indicates that he made his connecting flight from Boston to LAX and he did pick up the rental car reserved for him there. Beyond that......"
"You're telling me Faith's Watcher has disappeared!" Buffy hissed, pulling the phone cord to get as far away from Nina as possible.
"Evidently," Giles said, drily. "And I'm afraid the Council in its infinite wisdom has decided to make that Faith's first case...or trial, if you will. They want her to attempt to locate Macardle. You are to have her phone in at once for her instructions. Let me give you the number she is to call...."
"Wait," the Slayer exploded. "Just wait a minute. Now I'm expected to act as a message bearer between a woman I detest and a group I despise even more? And Faith is going to be running loose around Sunnydale playing Nancy Drew and the Case of the Missing Watcher? This is ridiculous!"
"Buffy, line two is ringing. You're going to have to hang up now!" Nina's annoying whine broke in.
"Just a second!" she snapped.
"You know you're not supposed to make personal calls....." the receptionist droned on in the background, while Buffy hurriedly jotted down the phone number Giles gave her.
"Look, Giles, I'll call you back as soon as I can, so don't go anywhere."
"All right....and, Buffy, I just want you to know I'm terribly sorry about the way this whole thing was handled. As usual, the Council's personnel skills are abominable."
"Yeah, I think we've pretty much established that," she agreed. "Anyway, you have nothing to be sorry for. You've been jerked around by Council as much as me. As far as I'm concerned they owe us both big fat apologies AND some big fat paychecks! Has my application for recompense gotten any feedback at all?"
"I'm afraid not," Giles said, quietly. "I've called numerous times and am consistently told that it's 'under consideration'."
"Of course." Buffy's mouth thinned into a straight line. "What else would I expect."
"Buffy...."
"No. It's all right, Giles. I've really gotta go now," she added, as Nina tugged on the cord still babbling about proper business phone etiquette. "Call you back as soon as I can."
She hung up the phone with a fierce look at the woman behind the desk. The Slayer's glare cut through Nina's tirade and shut her up for once.
Buffy gave a sigh, then shook off her mood and plastered a smile on her face as she returned to her class of punching, tumbling ten-year-olds.
**********
Faith stood under the pounding spray of the shower and just appreciated the unlimited flow of hot water over her skin. Life was good. She fully intended to luxuriate in that shower until she'd emptied the last drop out of Summers' water heater. In the slammer, they'd been allowed five minutes to shampoo, clean body parts and shave whatever needed shaving. It wasn't relaxing. Besides which, in the shower room you wanted to keep on your guard even if you did have super strength and no one messed with you any more - just in case.
She rested her forehead on the tile and watched the water swirl down the drain. She forced her mind blank. Whatever the Council was planning for her was out of her hands. She would just relax and go with it. Whatever Buffy and Company thought of her was also out of her hands. She could take any mistrust or hatred they threw at her. Didn't matter. She'd earned it.
So there was no reason to worry or wonder what would happen next; where she would stay, what she would eat, what had happened to her new Watcher. Life would just happen and she would suck it up and deal with it like always.
Funny thing was, coming back to Sunnydale, although she'd only spent a short time here once years ago, felt sort of like coming home. And the Scooby gang, even though she'd only known them briefly and not very well, felt familiar and....safe. Even Buffy's little sister and that Anya woman, both of whom she didn't know at all, seemed real nice. Well, it must just be the contrast between 'normal' and the hard-assed chicks in prison. There was no other explanation for it 'cause this wasn't her home and these certainly weren't her people.
Faith sighed and turned the now lukewarm water off. She wrung out her hair, pulled back the shower curtain, and retrieved a towel. As she dried off, her mind drifted to what Willow had said, "Forgiveness." Why would anyone want to forgive her? Why would they want anything whatsoever to do with her? She suddenly flashed on Xander pushing a juice box toward her and Willow handing her Buffy's sandwich. And why in hell would they be nice to her? These people couldn't be for real.
She wrapped herself in Buffy's terry robe and walked down the hall to her assigned room. The vampire looked up and nodded politely as she passed, then resumed reading the soccer magazine in his lap. Faith entered the bedroom and saw that Willow had lit several candles, which permeated the shaded room with a flowery scent. She smiled at this bit of thoughtfulness, then tossed herself down on the bed and was asleep in minutes.
to be continued
After swinging by the bus station, where Faith had stored her duffle in a locker, Willow pulled the car up in front of the house on Revello Drive. The three women got out, Faith noticing the odd contrast of this bit of suburbia and the black windowed DeSoto parked in the drive like a malignant tumor. Interesting. From the sounds of it Summers had taken up with another vamp - and Faith though herself the wild one!
Buffy led the way indoors, calling out imperiously for Spike the moment she entered the house.
"Miss me, pet? I knew you'd be back." Buffy's newly acquired boyfriend appeared at the top of the stairs. "Fixed the bed, but if you want another go at breaking it.." He broke off, catching sight of the two other women.
"Spike, this is Faith." Buffy cut to the chase. "You haven't met her yet, but she's the 'other' Slayer. She claims the Council sent her here to take my place and we're waiting for a call from Giles to find out what that's all about. I need you to watch her while I'm working, then bring her on patrol later."
Spike was descending the stairs slowly during this explanation, giving the stranger an assessing once-over. So, this was the bint who had come on to him in Buffy's body that time, something the real Buffy didn't know about and, as far as he was concerned, never would. He had only figured out the truth himself from piecing together bits of overheard conversation concerning Faith's last ill-fated visit to Sunnydale. Girl was a real hot item, and he was getting a little turned on remembering her words to him in the Bronze; ".ride you 'til you pop like warm champagne".
He realized he'd been silent too long, when Buffy gave him a sharp look. "So are you okay with that?" she asked.
"Whatever you need," he answered. Then the second part of what she'd said registered; Buffy's replacement. Replacement?! No more slaying? His girl wouldn't be too happy about that..or would she? In an instant all the possible ramifications of that statement flowed through his head. This could change everything. The delicate balance of the Buffy/Spike relationship was about to be hit by a freight train named Faith.
The vampire quickly pushed down the selfish thought and schooled himself to a restrained smile and nod.
"Let me take your bag," he said, like the polite Victorian gentleman he sometimes was.
"That's okay. I got it," the dark-haired woman bristled a little, her Slayer alarm going off at the presence of the enemy. 'Vampire. Vampire. Vampire.' sirened in her head.
Spike immediately backed off. Faith adjusted the duffel on her shoulder while returning his assessing stare.
"You got this one real well-trained," she said with mock admiration. "What do you use to keep him in line?" she smirked.
Buffy's eyes narrowed at the jab, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Willow, eyes darting back and forth between the two Slayers, interrupted.
"All right then. Faith, I'll show you to my room, or, that is, my ex-room - actually Buffy's old room," the witch babbled, attempting to diffuse the situation, "You can take a rest, or a shower," she continued as she tugged on Faith's arm and pulled her up the stairs.
Buffy waited until they were out of earshot before she started in on Spike.
"What? I can hear you thinking from here."
"Nothing. I just wondered what you want done with her 'til this evening."
"Willow will keep her entertained. But, if she's here on some agenda of her own, I want someone with super strength around to keep an eye on her. I'm expecting a call from Giles just as soon as he finds out anything from the Council, then I'll call you, and if that bitch is lying....."
"You'll what?" Spike asked, honestly curious.
"I don't know yet!" Buffy burst out, "but something. I can't have her running loose in Sunnydale again."
"And what if she's telling the truth?" he asked quietly. "What will you do then?"
"Not thinking about that now," she said firmly. "No time and no point until we know if there's something to think about. Besides, I'm almost late for work. So....I'll see you later." She turned to leave, but Spike caught her wrist.
"Uh-uh-uh. The kiddies'll wait an extra minute. Give me a proper goodbye," he reprimanded.
Buffy gave her patented sigh and eye roll, but without much conviction - it was such a habit, she didn't know any other way to react. Soon she was enveloped in her lover's embrace and was being thoroughly kissed.
For a moment she forgot what the hurry had been, but the beep of her watch called her back to reality. She glanced at it, then up at Spike. "Sorry. I really have to go," she muttered with a little smile for him. "Willow's a genius teaching me how to set my timer. I'm never late for anything anymore....or hardly ever....okay, only about half the time now." Her smile blossomed into a full-fledged, sunny Buffy grin, and Spike thought he would combust from the wattage being bestowed on him. He could swear he actually felt his skin begin to prickle and burn.
The vampire bent over her hand and kissed the back formally, then the palm seductively. "Later then," he promised. "Meet you at 9:00. Hillside Cemetery tonight, right?" He was suddenly all business. "We might also want to take a sweep on the north side of town. Overheard some talk of Kudur demons making an appearance there."
"All right." Buffy turned to go, then unexpectedly turned back for a fierce little hug. "I do love you, you know," she almost muttered, blushing, as she quickly released him and escaped out the door.
"Know you do, pet," Spike said to no one, smiling sappily. He shook it off, gave a speculative glance up the stairs, then headed for the kitchen to dig up refreshments for their unexpected guest. *********
"Whites, darks, whites.....plaids, reds, and more darks," Xander chanted the laundry mantra, as he stuffed as many of his clothes as he could cram into a maximum capacity washer. It was worth a few pink or blue undershirts to have this horrific task done as quickly and cheaply as possible. "And laundry......complete," he finished, feeding the last of the quarters into the coin slot.
Sitting in the molded plastic chair which had probably stood in the same spot since 1962, Xander held a dog-eared magazine open on his lap, but watched the colors tumbling past in the dryer in front of him. He thought about his job and what needed to be done on Monday morning, mentally assigning tasks to each of his crew members. He thought about Anya and how the Magic Box was thriving in her capable business hands. He wondered what Giles was up to in England and whether they could expect a visit in the next couple of months. He pondered Willow's newfound wisdom and wished some of it would rub off on him. Underneath the usual Willow-babble was a core of insightfulness that he had never seen in her before. It was like she'd absorbed the best parts of Tara into herself and was now Earthmother- Willow.
But mostly he thought about Faith's abrupt arrival back into their lives. Was she telling the truth about the Watchers' Council? (Had her hair always been that dark and soft looking?) If she replaced Buffy, would the rest of them continue to help out? She'd made it pretty clear they weren't welcome. (Man, those eyes! They seemed to look right into you and see the parts you tried to keep hidden.) And what did "retiring" a Slayer mean, anyway? Would Buffy's strength fade away or would she be expected to act as if it didn't exist anymore? Hell, in mobster movies "retiring" someone usually meant killing 'em! (Did Faith work at walking with that sexy sway or was it natural?) And if there was nothing keeping Buff on the hellmouth, would she take Dawn and move away? Maybe bundle Spike up in a coffin and take him too? God, what WOULD she do with a vampire boyfriend if she could finally lead a normal life? (How could someone be as pale and skinny as Faith and still be SO hot? The air practically crackled when she entered a room. Guess that's what you call magnetism.)
Xander shifted in the hard plastic chair, made sure the magazine was covering his sudden hard-on, and drifted into a daydream that prominently featured Faith and himself on one of the folding counters. Laundry day just couldn't get any better than this.
*********** Faith opened her eyes the minute Willow stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. She couldn't have stood one more second of the witch's well-meaning but overwhelming chatter. Faith hadn't done as much talking to people as she had today in the past two years put together. She had held herself aloof in prison and wasn't expecting to change that here in Sunnydale. Alone was best. Alone didn't get you into trouble.
She rolled on her back in the soft bed with the sweet smelling comforter and just reveled for a moment in the fact that it wasn't a scratchy, prison- issue blanket. She looked around the room, still decorated the way Willow had left it before she moved, and appreciated the art prints, the earthy colors, and natural fiber materials the young witch had favored. The smell of incense and candles lingered in the air.
"It's friggin' Pier One and the Pottery Barn all rolled into one," she murmured out loud.
This was the nicest room Faith had slept in since...ever. God bless Buffy for bringing her home even if it wasn't for hospitable reasons. She remembered the last time she'd been in this house; attacking Mrs. Summers, fighting Buffy, then taking her place and enjoying all the luxuries a middle-class kid took for granted. Luxuries like a soft bed, clean clothes, and a mother who looked you in the eye and told you how much she loved you. Yeah, well, screw that! Faith slammed the door shut on memories. She'd had the last three years to wallow in remembering and second guessing all her actions. Nothing would bring back the people she'd killed during her reign of terror as Mayor Wilkins' minion, and nothing would bring back the time she'd lost due to her own reckless choices. Time to put a lid on the past and start fresh.
A soft knock sounded on the door and Willow re-entered with a teapot and cup on a tray.
"Hey. You still awake," she asked softly.
"Yeah." Faith sat up in the bed, feeling caught as if she'd been casing the joint instead of just studying the décor.
"It's chamomile. It'll relax you," the witch explained, setting the tray down on the bedside table. She poured the tea and handed Faith the delicate rose-patterned cup.
"Uh. Thanks," said Faith, who hated herbal tea - nothing but flavored water.
Willow hesitated, then sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Look, Faith, probably I should just go and leave you to rest, but..I wanted you to know some things.things that have happened here, and to let you know that we've all been through..well, hell, actually. You may be carrying around a lot of guilt, but I want you to know you're not the only one. Everyone screws up one way or another. Some screw-ups are just more dramatic than most," she gave a rueful smile.
Sensing a story, Faith leaned in eagerly. "What's the scoop? What could a sweet little witch like you have possibly done to feel so guilty? Accidentally turned someone into a toad, didya?"
"Try, going all black-magic, killing a guy and trying to destroy the world." Willow shook her head at the memory. "I was a little nuts at the time," she explained.
"Are you serious?" Faith laughed, then caught the look on the redhead's face. "You ARE serious!" She paused. "What happened?"
"Well, I lost someone I loved and kinda went berserk with the vengeance, but Xander got through to me in the end - stopped me from doing anything stupid..or anything stupider than I'd already done."
"Which included killing a guy," Faith marveled.
"Skinning," Willow muttered.
"And Buffy lets you in the same house as her little sister?!"
"I know. Pretty amazing isn't it. Friends and forgiveness, that's what I'm trying to tell you, Faith. What you did before....it was bad and you should be sorry, but don't be too hard on yourself. Anything can be forgiven. It might take some time, but we'll try to trust you again, too."
Faith could feel herself choking up, like she'd done at the Magic Box - that was so not going to happen!
"Good to know," she said lightly, then changed the subject. "If you don't mind. I'd like to take that shower now." She quickly rose from the bed, and Willow popped up, too.
"Oh sure. Let me show you the bathroom and get you some towels."
The young witch led the way into the hall. Faith stopped when she saw Buffy's vampire stationed just outside the room. His chair was tilted back on the rear legs, leaning against the wall, and he was lazily flipping a lighter opened and closed. He glanced up at the two women, then back down at his lighter.
Faith shook her head. Out of prison but she was still under guard. "Trust, huh?" she muttered.
Willow smiled apologetically and showed her to the bathroom.
***********
"Focus, Ryan!" Buffy called to one of her young charges, as he aimed a kick at the punching bag. "It doesn't matter how much power you have if your focus is off. Concentrate on just one spot on the bag and nail it."
"Hey, Summers, phone!" Brian called as he passed through the training room. "Nina says, 'Keep it short.' You're on company time, you know." The weight trainer laughed at their receptionist's mini-dictator pretensions.
"Okay, boys, I want everyone to choose a partner and take turns practicing blocking for a few minutes," Buffy distractedly ordered, then rushed to the front desk and the phone. Nina gave her a petulant frown as she picked up the receiver.
"Hello? Giles?" Buffy turned her back on the glaring receptionist, trying for some privacy. "Why didn't you use my cell number? I can't really talk here."
"Oh.sorry. Yes, it had that 'out-of-range' message again, so.."
"Okay, okay. So what did you find out?"
"It would appear that Faith is indeed telling the truth. Unfortunately our illustrious Council neglected to keep me apprised of this development or allow me any time to prepare you for the change. Their intention is to install Faith at the hellmouth and to remove you to a lighter duty.elsewhere. Eventually they believe you can be fully retired and able to pick up the threads of a 'normal' life."
"Just like that? They should know by now that I don't take orders well! And where the hell is 'elsewhere'? Tanzania? Spain? Rockway, New Jersey? They think I'm just going to move wherever..." Buffy broke off with a glance over her shoulder at Nina, who was staring at her while still managing to buff her fingernails. Buffy lowered her voice. "Giles. I really can't talk right now. I'm going to call you back as soon as this class is over. Then you can tell me about this new Watcher and when he or she is expected in."
"Yes, well, that's the problem. John Macardle flew out from London two days ago. The passenger manifest indicates that he made his connecting flight from Boston to LAX and he did pick up the rental car reserved for him there. Beyond that......"
"You're telling me Faith's Watcher has disappeared!" Buffy hissed, pulling the phone cord to get as far away from Nina as possible.
"Evidently," Giles said, drily. "And I'm afraid the Council in its infinite wisdom has decided to make that Faith's first case...or trial, if you will. They want her to attempt to locate Macardle. You are to have her phone in at once for her instructions. Let me give you the number she is to call...."
"Wait," the Slayer exploded. "Just wait a minute. Now I'm expected to act as a message bearer between a woman I detest and a group I despise even more? And Faith is going to be running loose around Sunnydale playing Nancy Drew and the Case of the Missing Watcher? This is ridiculous!"
"Buffy, line two is ringing. You're going to have to hang up now!" Nina's annoying whine broke in.
"Just a second!" she snapped.
"You know you're not supposed to make personal calls....." the receptionist droned on in the background, while Buffy hurriedly jotted down the phone number Giles gave her.
"Look, Giles, I'll call you back as soon as I can, so don't go anywhere."
"All right....and, Buffy, I just want you to know I'm terribly sorry about the way this whole thing was handled. As usual, the Council's personnel skills are abominable."
"Yeah, I think we've pretty much established that," she agreed. "Anyway, you have nothing to be sorry for. You've been jerked around by Council as much as me. As far as I'm concerned they owe us both big fat apologies AND some big fat paychecks! Has my application for recompense gotten any feedback at all?"
"I'm afraid not," Giles said, quietly. "I've called numerous times and am consistently told that it's 'under consideration'."
"Of course." Buffy's mouth thinned into a straight line. "What else would I expect."
"Buffy...."
"No. It's all right, Giles. I've really gotta go now," she added, as Nina tugged on the cord still babbling about proper business phone etiquette. "Call you back as soon as I can."
She hung up the phone with a fierce look at the woman behind the desk. The Slayer's glare cut through Nina's tirade and shut her up for once.
Buffy gave a sigh, then shook off her mood and plastered a smile on her face as she returned to her class of punching, tumbling ten-year-olds.
**********
Faith stood under the pounding spray of the shower and just appreciated the unlimited flow of hot water over her skin. Life was good. She fully intended to luxuriate in that shower until she'd emptied the last drop out of Summers' water heater. In the slammer, they'd been allowed five minutes to shampoo, clean body parts and shave whatever needed shaving. It wasn't relaxing. Besides which, in the shower room you wanted to keep on your guard even if you did have super strength and no one messed with you any more - just in case.
She rested her forehead on the tile and watched the water swirl down the drain. She forced her mind blank. Whatever the Council was planning for her was out of her hands. She would just relax and go with it. Whatever Buffy and Company thought of her was also out of her hands. She could take any mistrust or hatred they threw at her. Didn't matter. She'd earned it.
So there was no reason to worry or wonder what would happen next; where she would stay, what she would eat, what had happened to her new Watcher. Life would just happen and she would suck it up and deal with it like always.
Funny thing was, coming back to Sunnydale, although she'd only spent a short time here once years ago, felt sort of like coming home. And the Scooby gang, even though she'd only known them briefly and not very well, felt familiar and....safe. Even Buffy's little sister and that Anya woman, both of whom she didn't know at all, seemed real nice. Well, it must just be the contrast between 'normal' and the hard-assed chicks in prison. There was no other explanation for it 'cause this wasn't her home and these certainly weren't her people.
Faith sighed and turned the now lukewarm water off. She wrung out her hair, pulled back the shower curtain, and retrieved a towel. As she dried off, her mind drifted to what Willow had said, "Forgiveness." Why would anyone want to forgive her? Why would they want anything whatsoever to do with her? She suddenly flashed on Xander pushing a juice box toward her and Willow handing her Buffy's sandwich. And why in hell would they be nice to her? These people couldn't be for real.
She wrapped herself in Buffy's terry robe and walked down the hall to her assigned room. The vampire looked up and nodded politely as she passed, then resumed reading the soccer magazine in his lap. Faith entered the bedroom and saw that Willow had lit several candles, which permeated the shaded room with a flowery scent. She smiled at this bit of thoughtfulness, then tossed herself down on the bed and was asleep in minutes.
to be continued