Going on Faith - chapter 4
Faith awoke to full darkness, the scent of cooking wafting through the room, and a sharp rap on the door.
"Slayer, you awake?" a growly British voice enquired.
"Uh, yeah. Just a minute." Faith jumped from the bed, threw off her robe, and drew on her pants and a wrinkled but clean T from the duffel.
"Willow's got dinner on. Come down when you're ready."
In a few minutes Faith descended the stairs, the sounds of a beseeching Dawn and reprimanding Willow rising from the dining room.
"Come ON. My room's good enough. And why does Buffy care what it looks like anyway? She doesn't have to live in it. It's MY room!! Spike, tell her it's okay."
Willow's calm voice interrupted. "I'm just saying, Dawn. You know how Buffy is. You're the one that's going to have to deal with her when she sees your 'good enough'. Just start a load of laundry and that'll get rid of at least one of the piles."
"Sweep everything into a drawer," Spike added, helpfully.
""I'm seventeen not twelve! For God's sake, I'll be graduating next year. You'd think I could have a few square feet of this house to call my own and keep the way I like! If I wanna be a slob it's my prerogative. NO ONE's mom grounds them if they don't clean their room by the time they're my age. Buffy's insane. She's an anal-retentive bitch and she thinks she can micro-manage everyone's lives!"
"Dawn!" Willow exclaimed.
"Watch your mouth, Bit," Spike warned. "She may be an anal-retentive bitch but she's your sister. You respect her."
"Oh my God, I don't know why I even try. Neither of you will ever stand against her. You're both so Buffy-whipped I..."
"Enough," Spike snapped. "Just do the bloody work..."
"You know she's trying, Dawn. She's trying to do things the way she thinks your mom would have," Willow interrupted.
"Well then she's failing miserably, cause mom was never such a dictator. Slayer powers have gone to Buffy's head, and I think it's great that Faith's here to take over. Maybe being demoted will knock some humility into the mighty Slayer."
Faith almost laughed out loud. She liked this Dawn kid.
Just then the doorbell rang and the teen came barreling past Faith, who was poised at the foot of the stairs, to answer it.
"I'll get it," the teen was saying. "....Oh! Hi, Faith!......It's probably Tim."
"You're still not going anywhere till you finish your room," Willow called after her.
The girl flung open the front door eagerly. "It's just Xander!" Dawn reported, disappointment in her voice.
"And a good evening to you," he responded, coming in and taking his jacket off. "Am I too late for supper?"
"Moocher." Dawn flipped her hair over her shoulder, as she turned on her heel and started toward the stairs. "I'm not hungry anymore, Will. Gonna finish my room before Tim gets here." She smiled quickly at Faith as she passed.
The dark haired girl, blinked, and shook her head at the mercurial moods of a hormone-addled teenager. Then she looked up and caught Xander's puppydog eyes watching her.
"Faith." He bobbed his head in greeting, a sudden flush rising from his neck and spreading up to his face. Was he blushing?!
"Hey," she answered.
"You get some rest?" he asked. "You look better."
"Uh, yeah." Her stomach gave an unexpected rumbling growl. She smiled, sheepishly. "Guess I'm kinda hungry."
"Then let's see what Willow's made for dinner. After you." He ushered her into the dining room.
Willow presided at the table, serving out helpings of lasagna to Xander and Faith who sat on either side of her. Dawn's untouched place was on the left of Spike, who lounged in his chair at the foot of the table drinking very thick red liquid from a wine goblet. It might have been cognac.
"Buffy called," Willow informed Faith as she passed her a plate. "She said Giles gave her a number for you to call to contact the Council. They want you to check in right away. John Macardle, your Watcher, left London, arrived in L.A. but never made it here. They want you to try to find out what happened to him."
Faith nodded. "Figures. Makes my batting average with Watchers 3 and 0. The guy never left L.A., huh? Maybe he's just partying for awhile. You let those stuffy types get a taste of the nightlife and they cut loose. He'll probably show up here with the hangover from hell in a couple of days."
Xander grinned at the mental image of a tweed-suited, spectacled Wesley- type bumping and grinding with the best of 'em at a trendy nightclub.
"I don't know," he commented. "Watchers aren't known for their fun-lovin' ways."
"Well, he took a rental car, so he probably made it at least partway here," Willow said. "I suppose we should scope out the local hotels and motels to see if he checked in anywhere."
"Could check with police. See if the bloke got himself in an accident between here and there," Spike put in.
They all sat silently for a moment, considering the needle-in-a-haystack task in front of them.
"What's Buffy think of all this," Xander asked. "I mean, does the Council have a plan for her? What is she gonna do now?"
Spike gave a disgusted snort and downed the rest of his drink in a gulp, then rose and began rummaging in the sideboard for the whiskey.
"I don't know," Willow answered. "They were really vague, she said. Something about stationing her somewhere else for awhile....kind of a transition.....and eventually retirement. She's already the oldest Slayer.....ever."
Faith laughed ironically, "What a great gig. If you live you can retire by 30."
An awkward silence fell, disturbed only by the clink of silverware and the liquid sound of J&B being poured into a tumbler.
"So, what's the plan for tonight," Xander asked, digging into his salad.
"Hillside and north of town," Spike answered tersely.
"What? You go in a group all the time?" the Slayer asked. "Summers needs someone to hold her hand?"
"No. We meet, decide who's covering what area, then split up," Xander explained coolly, reigning in his rush of irritation.
"Very democratic. 'There is no 'I' in 'teamwork'," Faith continued to tease.
Spike glared and muttered. "Smart mouthed bint."
"Well," Willow interrupted mildly, "Our system's been working for us for seven years. Buffy is still alive, and so are we so...we must be doing something right. There's nothing weak about having backup."
"Sorry," Faith said. The witch was as sweet and polite as someone's grandma, but she sure knew how to put you in your place.
"Good lasagna, Will," Xander tactfully changed the subject, forking up a mouthful.
"Thanks! Oh. I almost forgot...garlic bread, too." Willow jumped up and went into the kitchen.
Spike grabbed his glass, and headed toward the living room.
"Not eating tonight, Spike?" Xander asked. "You don't wanna miss her garlic bread. I'll be sure and save you a piece for later."
The vampire flipped him off as he exited the room.
Faith watched the exchange with amusement.
"Claims it gives him headaches," Xander explained, as Willow sat back down and passed around the hot buttered bread.
********
After the meal, Willow excused herself to work on a paper for school and Xander began clearing the table. Faith stood and wandered around the dining room a little, looking at the pictures and photos on the walls.
"You want to carry some of this in the kitchen," he suggested.
"Oh, right. Sure," Faith quickly gathered up some of the glasses and followed him to the kitchen. She continued to clear while he filled the sink with soapy water. He tossed a dishtowel to her, and before she knew it Faith the Vampire Slayer was engaged in housework. Since she'd lived most of her life on carry out food with disposable cartons, it was kind of a trip.
"So...." she fished for a conversational thread. What did normal people talk about? "What's your day job, Ace?"
"Construction."
"Cool. Whaddaya build?"
"Well, I started out just doing small jobs; additions, decks, garages and stuff. Now I'm in charge of a couple of crews working on the new office building downtown. Near apocalypses are a blessing for those of us in the building industry."
"Yeah, you'd never be out of work in this town," Faith agreed, swirling her dishtowel around the inside of a glass.
"The Magic Box alone could keep you busy year round. So, between the building and helping Buffy with the slaying, I keep myself occupied."
It was on the tip of his tongue to say, 'And how 'bout you,' when again he remembered where Faith had spent the last two years. How could you ask someone how their prison time went? 'Was it everything you hoped it would be? Is it as gritty as the movies make it sound? Did you learn any new skills or make new friends?' Better to steer the conversation toward the future.
"So, Faith, you looking forward to working on the hellmouth?" he lamely questioned.
"You know me. Always enjoy a good fight."
"Well, hopefully we can find this Macardle guy and get you started."
Faith stretched up to put a bowl in the cupboard Xander indicated, and he took the opportunity to admire her long legs, tight rear, and the curve of waist and lower back revealed by the skimpy T-shirt she wore. Hmmm.
"I don't know why I need a Watcher anyway. I'm fine on my own. Besides Buffy doesn't have one, and she's doing okay."
"She has Giles, even if he's more back-in-England than on-site Giles these days. And she has all of us to help her. Dawn and Willow are whizzes at all the research, and Anya and Spike know more about demons and vampires than any Watcher."
"What about you?" Faith turned questioning eyes toward him. "What do you do?"
Ahh there was the million dollar question. 'What does Xander do?' Not the brain, not the muscle. Buffy had told him once he was the heart of their group, but what the hell did that mean? He was good with the jokey quips and the gung-ho optimism, but those were hardly bankable. What DOES Xander do?
"I...ah...help with the research, and I can hold my own in the fighting. I mean, no superpowers of course, but....I've done my share."
Faith sensed a little insecurity there and in the old days she'd have been on it like a terrier with a rat, but the new and improved Faith let the statement slide, nodding acceptance.
"Sure. Plus, you're like Buffy's friend, right? And that's important."
Xander shrugged, turning his attention to scraping the last pot.
"Hey," Faith lowered her voice, confidentially. "What's with Blondie and this vampire? Last time I was in town it was all about Riley the Commando- Boy. Is she totally flipped out or what?"
"That's what I ask myself every day. Believe me I tried to talk sense into her early on, but when Buffy seizes hold of something you can't budge her."
"Well, I mean it's not like he's not hot, but...aren't we supposed to be killing these things, not screwing 'em?"
"Exactly what I said!" Xander was enthusiastic, happy to have finally found someone who agreed with him on the subject. "E-except the part about Spike being hot...."
"Besides, I thought B liked 'em tall and hulking. He's kinda scrawny. What's the scoop?"
"Persistence I think," he answered. "I don't understand the whole relationship, but I gotta give the guy props for persistence. He was after Buffy for two years. He even went and got himself a soul but she still wouldn't have him. Then, in the big battle with the ancient Evil...well, even I have to admit the guy was pretty heroic. Anyway, next thing you know, they're an official.....ergh.... 'couple'. Makes my skin crawl, but what are you gonna do?"
" 'Dis my guy and you dis me.' I get it. You can't pick your friends' lovers." Faith hung up the dishtowel and leaned against the counter. "What about Willow? She told me a little about her big meltdown. What's the rest of the story?"
Xander grabbed a pair of mugs, filled them with tap water, and set them in the microwave. "Tara." He pressed a button, then pulled the instant coffee from the cupboard.
"Oh yeah," Faith remembered. "That shy, new-agey chick at the Bronze. Seemed kinda mousy for Willow."
"Well she wasn't," Xander said, shortly. "Mousy that is. Tara was quiet, but really....wise, you know? I think, first meeting her, we all underestimated her. But Willow saw it.....She was just....special." He trailed off.
"Died?" Faith asked quietly.
He nodded. "It was so pointless. There was this ridiculous trio of nerds plaguing Buffy all that year. They didn't really do anything too harmful at first, but by the end.....well, the leader, Warren, shot both Buffy and Tara. Willow sucked up all the black magic she could and went after him. It was....." He shook his head, and turned to prepare their coffee.
"You stopped her didn't you," Faith said, even more softly. "She told me a friend saved her."
"I just talked to her. Somebody had to do something. I was just lucky she listened."
"Sounds like you do earn your keep around here," Faith remarked. "Loyalty counts for a helluva lot."
Xander smiled slightly and handed her a cup of coffee.
The kitchen door burst open and Spike appeared, sharp-eyed and chomping at the bit.
"All right children. Hen party over? We've got places to be - demons to kill. Saddle up." He swirled out sucking all the energy of the room with him.
"God, I hate when he's in his manic phase," Xander sighed, putting the coffee down.
"Sounds like fun to me. I haven't had a good kick-ass since the riot over TV privileges in cell-block D," the Slayer grinned and swaggered jauntily out the door. Xander let her go first, enjoying her sexy strut from behind.
As they went through the living room, Dawn announced to anyone who cared, "Tim's late! He's always late! I hate guys."
"He'll get here, Dawn. He always does," Xander soothed.
"Just make sure he's not late at the other end - the bringing you home part," Spike cautioned, then added as an afterthought. "Have fun."
They grabbed jackets in the foyer, Faith wearing one of Dawn's, and headed out to protect Sunnydale from the evil creatures of the night.
************** They met Buffy at the entrance to Hillside Cemetery where she sat on a headstone, twirling a stake absently in one hand.
"Any action yet?" Xander asked as the trio reached their leader.
"Naw. It's still kind of early." Buffy stared at Faith as she spoke, as if ready to attack if the other woman so much as looked at her cross-eyed. "Did you call the Council, yet?"
"Damn! I forgot," Faith exclaimed. "Really," she insisted at Buffy's look. "We were eating dinner, then it was time to go. Totally blew it off." She shrugged, "Oh well."
"It doesn't matter to me," Buffy hopped off the grave marker and sauntered over. "But with your history, you might want to stay on Council's good side - not that they have a good side. You're going to be their new girl here in Sunnydale, right?" She gave her counterpart another piercing stare and brushed past her.
Spike captured Buffy's hand in his as she stopped by him. "Did you eat yet?" he asked.
She nodded. "A yogurt. I'll have more later."
"Now!" he said firmly, and produced a brown sack lunch from his coat pocket.
Buffy sighed but complied, pulling out a bagel and starting to nibble. She poked around in the bag a little and whined, "Spike, you forgot my juice box!"
Faith rolled her eyes at Xander, who shrugged.
"So, let's get shakin'. What's your plan, B?" the younger Slayer asked, abruptly. "I'm getting jittery just standing around here."
"I figured you and I could go look for those Kudur demons Spike heard about on the other side of town. Spike and Xander can take a routine sweep of the cemeteries. Meet at the Bronze in a couple of hours?"
The two males exchanged a loaded look. Their mutual hatred had been banked like low-burning coals from necessity but was always ready to flare up at the slightest provocation. Patrolling together was near the bottom of their list of fun things to do on a Saturday night.
"Well, pet," Spike ventured. "I'm the one most familiar with signs of Kudur demons. Maybe I should come with you and let Harris accompany your girl here."
Buffy was unwilling to admit that she didn't want to let Faith out of her sight. Despite the Council's seal of approval she wasn't ready to trust her one-time nemesis. She looked at Faith speculatively, then summoned Xander with a jerk of her head.
"Can I talk to you over there for a sec?"
"Sure." Xander joined Buffy for a whispered consultation as the others turned away, examining headstones and pretending to be deaf for a few minutes.
"How do you feel about that?" Buffy asked her friend. "Do you trust her? Are you comfortable taking her around? I mean, the skank did try to kill you once."
"Hm...what are my choices again? An evening with my favorite dead guy or a hot chick with past homicidal tendencies. Guess I'll opt for the chick."
"Well, I could send her with Spike, hunting for demons, and you and I could go together," Buffy considered.
"It's okay, Buffy. I know demon-killing together is a standing Saturday night date for you two. Go. Have fun, you crazy kids. Don't stay out too late. I'll show Faith around town."
"If you're sure." Buffy was still hesitant.
"No problem," Xander insisted then lowered his voice even further. "I think....at least, I hope I'm right, but Faith seems changed to me. She's kind of subdued and sad-looking. I just feel like we don't have to worry about her." 'Of course, if I'm wrong I may be worm bait,' he mentally added.
She cast a glance over her shoulder at the other Slayer and sighed. "Yeah. She's not so much the cocky, mouthy Faith we all know and despise." She grimaced in distaste, "Besides," she admitted, "Giles said 'Be nice. Give her a chance.' So I guess Buffy has to share the playground. Yuck." She gave a rueful grin.
"All right," Buffy called to the others. "Faith, you and Xander will take the cemeteries. There haven't been too many vamps lately, but, as always, watch your backs. We'll see you in a couple of hours."
to be continued
Faith awoke to full darkness, the scent of cooking wafting through the room, and a sharp rap on the door.
"Slayer, you awake?" a growly British voice enquired.
"Uh, yeah. Just a minute." Faith jumped from the bed, threw off her robe, and drew on her pants and a wrinkled but clean T from the duffel.
"Willow's got dinner on. Come down when you're ready."
In a few minutes Faith descended the stairs, the sounds of a beseeching Dawn and reprimanding Willow rising from the dining room.
"Come ON. My room's good enough. And why does Buffy care what it looks like anyway? She doesn't have to live in it. It's MY room!! Spike, tell her it's okay."
Willow's calm voice interrupted. "I'm just saying, Dawn. You know how Buffy is. You're the one that's going to have to deal with her when she sees your 'good enough'. Just start a load of laundry and that'll get rid of at least one of the piles."
"Sweep everything into a drawer," Spike added, helpfully.
""I'm seventeen not twelve! For God's sake, I'll be graduating next year. You'd think I could have a few square feet of this house to call my own and keep the way I like! If I wanna be a slob it's my prerogative. NO ONE's mom grounds them if they don't clean their room by the time they're my age. Buffy's insane. She's an anal-retentive bitch and she thinks she can micro-manage everyone's lives!"
"Dawn!" Willow exclaimed.
"Watch your mouth, Bit," Spike warned. "She may be an anal-retentive bitch but she's your sister. You respect her."
"Oh my God, I don't know why I even try. Neither of you will ever stand against her. You're both so Buffy-whipped I..."
"Enough," Spike snapped. "Just do the bloody work..."
"You know she's trying, Dawn. She's trying to do things the way she thinks your mom would have," Willow interrupted.
"Well then she's failing miserably, cause mom was never such a dictator. Slayer powers have gone to Buffy's head, and I think it's great that Faith's here to take over. Maybe being demoted will knock some humility into the mighty Slayer."
Faith almost laughed out loud. She liked this Dawn kid.
Just then the doorbell rang and the teen came barreling past Faith, who was poised at the foot of the stairs, to answer it.
"I'll get it," the teen was saying. "....Oh! Hi, Faith!......It's probably Tim."
"You're still not going anywhere till you finish your room," Willow called after her.
The girl flung open the front door eagerly. "It's just Xander!" Dawn reported, disappointment in her voice.
"And a good evening to you," he responded, coming in and taking his jacket off. "Am I too late for supper?"
"Moocher." Dawn flipped her hair over her shoulder, as she turned on her heel and started toward the stairs. "I'm not hungry anymore, Will. Gonna finish my room before Tim gets here." She smiled quickly at Faith as she passed.
The dark haired girl, blinked, and shook her head at the mercurial moods of a hormone-addled teenager. Then she looked up and caught Xander's puppydog eyes watching her.
"Faith." He bobbed his head in greeting, a sudden flush rising from his neck and spreading up to his face. Was he blushing?!
"Hey," she answered.
"You get some rest?" he asked. "You look better."
"Uh, yeah." Her stomach gave an unexpected rumbling growl. She smiled, sheepishly. "Guess I'm kinda hungry."
"Then let's see what Willow's made for dinner. After you." He ushered her into the dining room.
Willow presided at the table, serving out helpings of lasagna to Xander and Faith who sat on either side of her. Dawn's untouched place was on the left of Spike, who lounged in his chair at the foot of the table drinking very thick red liquid from a wine goblet. It might have been cognac.
"Buffy called," Willow informed Faith as she passed her a plate. "She said Giles gave her a number for you to call to contact the Council. They want you to check in right away. John Macardle, your Watcher, left London, arrived in L.A. but never made it here. They want you to try to find out what happened to him."
Faith nodded. "Figures. Makes my batting average with Watchers 3 and 0. The guy never left L.A., huh? Maybe he's just partying for awhile. You let those stuffy types get a taste of the nightlife and they cut loose. He'll probably show up here with the hangover from hell in a couple of days."
Xander grinned at the mental image of a tweed-suited, spectacled Wesley- type bumping and grinding with the best of 'em at a trendy nightclub.
"I don't know," he commented. "Watchers aren't known for their fun-lovin' ways."
"Well, he took a rental car, so he probably made it at least partway here," Willow said. "I suppose we should scope out the local hotels and motels to see if he checked in anywhere."
"Could check with police. See if the bloke got himself in an accident between here and there," Spike put in.
They all sat silently for a moment, considering the needle-in-a-haystack task in front of them.
"What's Buffy think of all this," Xander asked. "I mean, does the Council have a plan for her? What is she gonna do now?"
Spike gave a disgusted snort and downed the rest of his drink in a gulp, then rose and began rummaging in the sideboard for the whiskey.
"I don't know," Willow answered. "They were really vague, she said. Something about stationing her somewhere else for awhile....kind of a transition.....and eventually retirement. She's already the oldest Slayer.....ever."
Faith laughed ironically, "What a great gig. If you live you can retire by 30."
An awkward silence fell, disturbed only by the clink of silverware and the liquid sound of J&B being poured into a tumbler.
"So, what's the plan for tonight," Xander asked, digging into his salad.
"Hillside and north of town," Spike answered tersely.
"What? You go in a group all the time?" the Slayer asked. "Summers needs someone to hold her hand?"
"No. We meet, decide who's covering what area, then split up," Xander explained coolly, reigning in his rush of irritation.
"Very democratic. 'There is no 'I' in 'teamwork'," Faith continued to tease.
Spike glared and muttered. "Smart mouthed bint."
"Well," Willow interrupted mildly, "Our system's been working for us for seven years. Buffy is still alive, and so are we so...we must be doing something right. There's nothing weak about having backup."
"Sorry," Faith said. The witch was as sweet and polite as someone's grandma, but she sure knew how to put you in your place.
"Good lasagna, Will," Xander tactfully changed the subject, forking up a mouthful.
"Thanks! Oh. I almost forgot...garlic bread, too." Willow jumped up and went into the kitchen.
Spike grabbed his glass, and headed toward the living room.
"Not eating tonight, Spike?" Xander asked. "You don't wanna miss her garlic bread. I'll be sure and save you a piece for later."
The vampire flipped him off as he exited the room.
Faith watched the exchange with amusement.
"Claims it gives him headaches," Xander explained, as Willow sat back down and passed around the hot buttered bread.
********
After the meal, Willow excused herself to work on a paper for school and Xander began clearing the table. Faith stood and wandered around the dining room a little, looking at the pictures and photos on the walls.
"You want to carry some of this in the kitchen," he suggested.
"Oh, right. Sure," Faith quickly gathered up some of the glasses and followed him to the kitchen. She continued to clear while he filled the sink with soapy water. He tossed a dishtowel to her, and before she knew it Faith the Vampire Slayer was engaged in housework. Since she'd lived most of her life on carry out food with disposable cartons, it was kind of a trip.
"So...." she fished for a conversational thread. What did normal people talk about? "What's your day job, Ace?"
"Construction."
"Cool. Whaddaya build?"
"Well, I started out just doing small jobs; additions, decks, garages and stuff. Now I'm in charge of a couple of crews working on the new office building downtown. Near apocalypses are a blessing for those of us in the building industry."
"Yeah, you'd never be out of work in this town," Faith agreed, swirling her dishtowel around the inside of a glass.
"The Magic Box alone could keep you busy year round. So, between the building and helping Buffy with the slaying, I keep myself occupied."
It was on the tip of his tongue to say, 'And how 'bout you,' when again he remembered where Faith had spent the last two years. How could you ask someone how their prison time went? 'Was it everything you hoped it would be? Is it as gritty as the movies make it sound? Did you learn any new skills or make new friends?' Better to steer the conversation toward the future.
"So, Faith, you looking forward to working on the hellmouth?" he lamely questioned.
"You know me. Always enjoy a good fight."
"Well, hopefully we can find this Macardle guy and get you started."
Faith stretched up to put a bowl in the cupboard Xander indicated, and he took the opportunity to admire her long legs, tight rear, and the curve of waist and lower back revealed by the skimpy T-shirt she wore. Hmmm.
"I don't know why I need a Watcher anyway. I'm fine on my own. Besides Buffy doesn't have one, and she's doing okay."
"She has Giles, even if he's more back-in-England than on-site Giles these days. And she has all of us to help her. Dawn and Willow are whizzes at all the research, and Anya and Spike know more about demons and vampires than any Watcher."
"What about you?" Faith turned questioning eyes toward him. "What do you do?"
Ahh there was the million dollar question. 'What does Xander do?' Not the brain, not the muscle. Buffy had told him once he was the heart of their group, but what the hell did that mean? He was good with the jokey quips and the gung-ho optimism, but those were hardly bankable. What DOES Xander do?
"I...ah...help with the research, and I can hold my own in the fighting. I mean, no superpowers of course, but....I've done my share."
Faith sensed a little insecurity there and in the old days she'd have been on it like a terrier with a rat, but the new and improved Faith let the statement slide, nodding acceptance.
"Sure. Plus, you're like Buffy's friend, right? And that's important."
Xander shrugged, turning his attention to scraping the last pot.
"Hey," Faith lowered her voice, confidentially. "What's with Blondie and this vampire? Last time I was in town it was all about Riley the Commando- Boy. Is she totally flipped out or what?"
"That's what I ask myself every day. Believe me I tried to talk sense into her early on, but when Buffy seizes hold of something you can't budge her."
"Well, I mean it's not like he's not hot, but...aren't we supposed to be killing these things, not screwing 'em?"
"Exactly what I said!" Xander was enthusiastic, happy to have finally found someone who agreed with him on the subject. "E-except the part about Spike being hot...."
"Besides, I thought B liked 'em tall and hulking. He's kinda scrawny. What's the scoop?"
"Persistence I think," he answered. "I don't understand the whole relationship, but I gotta give the guy props for persistence. He was after Buffy for two years. He even went and got himself a soul but she still wouldn't have him. Then, in the big battle with the ancient Evil...well, even I have to admit the guy was pretty heroic. Anyway, next thing you know, they're an official.....ergh.... 'couple'. Makes my skin crawl, but what are you gonna do?"
" 'Dis my guy and you dis me.' I get it. You can't pick your friends' lovers." Faith hung up the dishtowel and leaned against the counter. "What about Willow? She told me a little about her big meltdown. What's the rest of the story?"
Xander grabbed a pair of mugs, filled them with tap water, and set them in the microwave. "Tara." He pressed a button, then pulled the instant coffee from the cupboard.
"Oh yeah," Faith remembered. "That shy, new-agey chick at the Bronze. Seemed kinda mousy for Willow."
"Well she wasn't," Xander said, shortly. "Mousy that is. Tara was quiet, but really....wise, you know? I think, first meeting her, we all underestimated her. But Willow saw it.....She was just....special." He trailed off.
"Died?" Faith asked quietly.
He nodded. "It was so pointless. There was this ridiculous trio of nerds plaguing Buffy all that year. They didn't really do anything too harmful at first, but by the end.....well, the leader, Warren, shot both Buffy and Tara. Willow sucked up all the black magic she could and went after him. It was....." He shook his head, and turned to prepare their coffee.
"You stopped her didn't you," Faith said, even more softly. "She told me a friend saved her."
"I just talked to her. Somebody had to do something. I was just lucky she listened."
"Sounds like you do earn your keep around here," Faith remarked. "Loyalty counts for a helluva lot."
Xander smiled slightly and handed her a cup of coffee.
The kitchen door burst open and Spike appeared, sharp-eyed and chomping at the bit.
"All right children. Hen party over? We've got places to be - demons to kill. Saddle up." He swirled out sucking all the energy of the room with him.
"God, I hate when he's in his manic phase," Xander sighed, putting the coffee down.
"Sounds like fun to me. I haven't had a good kick-ass since the riot over TV privileges in cell-block D," the Slayer grinned and swaggered jauntily out the door. Xander let her go first, enjoying her sexy strut from behind.
As they went through the living room, Dawn announced to anyone who cared, "Tim's late! He's always late! I hate guys."
"He'll get here, Dawn. He always does," Xander soothed.
"Just make sure he's not late at the other end - the bringing you home part," Spike cautioned, then added as an afterthought. "Have fun."
They grabbed jackets in the foyer, Faith wearing one of Dawn's, and headed out to protect Sunnydale from the evil creatures of the night.
************** They met Buffy at the entrance to Hillside Cemetery where she sat on a headstone, twirling a stake absently in one hand.
"Any action yet?" Xander asked as the trio reached their leader.
"Naw. It's still kind of early." Buffy stared at Faith as she spoke, as if ready to attack if the other woman so much as looked at her cross-eyed. "Did you call the Council, yet?"
"Damn! I forgot," Faith exclaimed. "Really," she insisted at Buffy's look. "We were eating dinner, then it was time to go. Totally blew it off." She shrugged, "Oh well."
"It doesn't matter to me," Buffy hopped off the grave marker and sauntered over. "But with your history, you might want to stay on Council's good side - not that they have a good side. You're going to be their new girl here in Sunnydale, right?" She gave her counterpart another piercing stare and brushed past her.
Spike captured Buffy's hand in his as she stopped by him. "Did you eat yet?" he asked.
She nodded. "A yogurt. I'll have more later."
"Now!" he said firmly, and produced a brown sack lunch from his coat pocket.
Buffy sighed but complied, pulling out a bagel and starting to nibble. She poked around in the bag a little and whined, "Spike, you forgot my juice box!"
Faith rolled her eyes at Xander, who shrugged.
"So, let's get shakin'. What's your plan, B?" the younger Slayer asked, abruptly. "I'm getting jittery just standing around here."
"I figured you and I could go look for those Kudur demons Spike heard about on the other side of town. Spike and Xander can take a routine sweep of the cemeteries. Meet at the Bronze in a couple of hours?"
The two males exchanged a loaded look. Their mutual hatred had been banked like low-burning coals from necessity but was always ready to flare up at the slightest provocation. Patrolling together was near the bottom of their list of fun things to do on a Saturday night.
"Well, pet," Spike ventured. "I'm the one most familiar with signs of Kudur demons. Maybe I should come with you and let Harris accompany your girl here."
Buffy was unwilling to admit that she didn't want to let Faith out of her sight. Despite the Council's seal of approval she wasn't ready to trust her one-time nemesis. She looked at Faith speculatively, then summoned Xander with a jerk of her head.
"Can I talk to you over there for a sec?"
"Sure." Xander joined Buffy for a whispered consultation as the others turned away, examining headstones and pretending to be deaf for a few minutes.
"How do you feel about that?" Buffy asked her friend. "Do you trust her? Are you comfortable taking her around? I mean, the skank did try to kill you once."
"Hm...what are my choices again? An evening with my favorite dead guy or a hot chick with past homicidal tendencies. Guess I'll opt for the chick."
"Well, I could send her with Spike, hunting for demons, and you and I could go together," Buffy considered.
"It's okay, Buffy. I know demon-killing together is a standing Saturday night date for you two. Go. Have fun, you crazy kids. Don't stay out too late. I'll show Faith around town."
"If you're sure." Buffy was still hesitant.
"No problem," Xander insisted then lowered his voice even further. "I think....at least, I hope I'm right, but Faith seems changed to me. She's kind of subdued and sad-looking. I just feel like we don't have to worry about her." 'Of course, if I'm wrong I may be worm bait,' he mentally added.
She cast a glance over her shoulder at the other Slayer and sighed. "Yeah. She's not so much the cocky, mouthy Faith we all know and despise." She grimaced in distaste, "Besides," she admitted, "Giles said 'Be nice. Give her a chance.' So I guess Buffy has to share the playground. Yuck." She gave a rueful grin.
"All right," Buffy called to the others. "Faith, you and Xander will take the cemeteries. There haven't been too many vamps lately, but, as always, watch your backs. We'll see you in a couple of hours."
to be continued