Buffy had bought a car upon leaving Chicago. She felt that she needed a new one since her Jeep was destroyed, and she had the money due to the insurance that was collected in the disaster. It was a nice car, a navy blue Nissan 03 Altima (could change), it would get her around. It was much easier than bus hopping, and she could stop anywhere she pleased. Buffy was heading toward Cleveland, which was the new tourist attraction of everything evil. It wasn't a Hellmouth, before it was more of a hellnose. She was heading there to see everything that was going on. The slayers there and the exact location of the Hellmouth. Buffy didn't expect the Hellmouth to open for business so soon, it had doubled in mystical intensity since the destruction of the one in Sunnydale and was now replacing it. The First probably had this area for a backup plan. Cleveland always had a high demon activity; it was a perfect hotspot for a new Hellmouth.
Buffy was told that there were a few adult Slayers that were guarding the Hellmouth. They were trained and ready to protect the world. She wanted to talk to them about the operation, to make sure they stopped anything that made a visit, like so many times that Sunnydale had a Big Bad. Buffy had stopped the world from ending so many times. Now there were more of her, hypothetically, to stop the evils. She felt very secure about the new situation; now the growth of demonic activity will simmer much, much faster. Once the girls from the school, and more schools to come, graduate; they will be sent to different areas of the world to protect. It was like a dream, Buffy thought.
As she drove down (enter highway/interstate) she thought of what happened in Chicago. She had a great time. Buffy knew what she did was wrong though. She went in over her head again. Yet, she started to feel like Parker, the arrogant asshole that had used her. Buffy used Spike and now Pike. But with Pike it was different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it though. She felt something with Pike that she hadn't felt in a long time. Buffy looked in her rear view mirror and she saw that a tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it off as she saw the sign "CLEVELAND NEXT EXIT"
Buffy had been driving for most the day since she left Chicago. She entered the city and decided to pull over. She took out an address book out of her purse and looked up a name. Jennifer Daniels. And dialed her number from her cell phone.
"Hello?" Buffy said into the phone, "This is Buffy Summers,"
"Ms. Summers, great to hear from you." Jennifer said. "Are you in town?"
Buffy replied, "Yes, I just got here, where should I meet you?"
Jennifer paused, "The Hellmouth. Its underneath Jacobs Field Stadium."
"No way!" Buffy exclaimed. "Under the Cleveland Indian's Stadium?"
"Yes, we will talk more once you get here." She said. "See you in a little bit." Jennifer hung up.
Buffy closed her cell phone and put it and the book into her purse. She took out a map. "Jacobs Field."
************************
Pike's motorcycle had
broken down on route eighty heading to Cleveland. He was stuck.
He pushed his bike to an emergency telephone on the highway and
dialed information for a tow truck.
He was halfway to Cleveland,
and he needed a way to get to Buffy.
Pike drove with the tow truck driver as they entered Toledo. Still far away from where he wanted to go. The drive with the strange truck driver was an interesting experience. He kept looking at Pike as he sat next to him in the passenger's seat. He cursed himself in his head for following Buffy again.
"Thanks," Pike said as he got off his truck. He saw his motorcycle being moved into the garage of the auto body shop. Pike knew it would be a long time until he would hear news on his bike. Pike went to talk to the auto body shop mechanic.
"Sir, I really need to be getting on my way, so please try to tell me what you can do for the bike as soon as you can."
"Ah'll take a quick look now," the man said. He had red curly hair and a beard, he was wearing overalls with a plaid red shirt underneath. He led Pike to the garage, where Pike saw his motorcycle. A few minutes passed as the mechanic looked thoroughly at his bike.
"Just what I thought, your bike will need a pretty penny to fix. You have a busted engine son."
"What? You've got to be kidding me." Pike said.
"Nope, could cost up to a thousand dollars to fix. More to replace." Mechanic said.
"God Damnit." Pike said stepping out side of the garage.
Buffy parked in the Jacob's field parking lot. She saw that it started to snow, and she put on her winter hat. She closed the car door and headed toward the stadium. It was late December, and it was good that the season was over. Buffy came to the gate and a tall blonde, was there standing.
"Ms Summers?" she said waving. Buffy smiled and walked up to her. "Its so nice to meet you. I would ask you for your autograph, but I don't have any paper or a pen."
"Remind me later," Buffy said still smiling. "You must be Jennifer?"
"You can call me Jenny," she said extending her hand. Buffy took and shook it. Jenny was about Buffy's age, a slayer, and had blond curly hair and was wearing a stylish winter cotton coat. "C'mon follow me."
Buffy followed Jenny into the stadium. As they were walking Jenny began a conversation. "You know, I was one of the potentials around the time you were chosen."
"Oh wow, really?" Buffy said taking off her hat, letting her hair fall down.
"Yeah, I was so excited when we had our little 'awakening.' All the hard work I did when I was a potential paid off. The training, the education, when you were called, it was a little disappointing. I mean it wasn't like I wanted to live the life of a Slayer then, but all the training was for nothing. But now it isn't." she hesitated. "How did you take it when you were called?"
"Ah, well, it was a surprise. I wasn't actually told I was a potential. They had a mix-up in their uh, system thing. So, this guy came up to me and said. 'You're the one' deal with it." Buffy said.
The girls stopped outside of the Indian's Clubhouse. "Wow, that must have been traumatizing." Jenny said. Buffy and Jenny went inside. "Welcome to Hellmouth Headquarters."
The clubhouse had huge plate glass window's overlooking the field. Couches and a big screen plasma television were to her right. And on the left was a large meeting table, topographic maps and stadium plans spread over it. A bar with a fridgerator was next to that. Two other women were there along with an eighteen-year-old girl.
"Wow," Buffy said as she looked around. "And you have this all year round?"
"Yes," Said a dark skinned woman with short corn rolled hair. She looked just under thirty years old. She was having a discussion with an Italian woman, who sat next to her. "My name is Ashley." Ashley said walking over to shake Buffy's hand.
"We actually bought this club house out. There's a much larger one on the other side of the field, on the side of the first baseline." She said pointing to the windows." Ashley said. Her large hooped earrings dangling on the sides of her head.
"Cool," Buffy said. Ashley invited her to sit down, Jenny did the same. "So, I guess what I wanted to know was," she kept thinking back to her last meeting with the Watchers' Council, "how you guys operate. Not that I'm the export."
"Don't sell yourself short," Teresa said. Buffy had trouble understanding what she said next but she was sure it was something about living so long in Sunnydale.
"Yeah, so. How do you stay here, and were you organized by the CSW?"
"Well, when the Awakening happened, we kept calling each other." Ashley said pointing to Teresa. Buffy looked surprised. "We were introduced by the Sisterhood a while back. They kind of paired us up as buddy. Ona and Sophie couldn't take care of everyone. When we realized the other Hellmouth had collapsed we came here. When we finally got in touch with Ona she said to make it permanent post."
"How did you know? The new Hellmouth would open here?" Buffy asked. "And Sophie and Ona?"
"It was in the required reading and prophecies said this is where the next one would open up. And Sophia and Fiona, the leaders of the Sisterhood. They're at the school now."
"Oh right, forgot, haven't met them yet. I've been told everybody likes them." She groaned think of her sister going on about them over the phone. "So what the game plan here? How do you get access?"
"You're looking at the chief of security." Ashley announced. "And to my highest deputy Teresa. It lets us be around here all the time and since the Hellmouth is in such open view, we also get paid. Jenny is a patrol cop. She always takes the beat around her. Anything out of the ordinary we find out what it is and during the Summer get to watch a lot of baseball. We also have a computer hooked up to the school in New York. They do most of the intense research since they have the library. They're copying all the books onto CDs now to make multiple copies for safe keeping. Most of the books got destroyed in the explosion of the watchers council. The girls seem to be realitvely safe to house them."
"Sounds good. So have you had any problems yet" Buffy asked trying to take all this down. They seemed to be in a pretty good way, now it was time to hear how Cleveland was doing with a stronger Hellmouth underneath it.
As they were bragging about the new demons they've come across, Buffy stared out the window. The field was covered with snow. She saw two people standing at home plate, wearing black outfits. Buffy turned to Ashley.
"Who's that on the field?" she asked. Ashley came up beside her.
"I don't know, I've never seen them before." Ashley glanced at Jenny.
"Where does the Hellmouth open?" Buffy asked, she felt that she knew who was down there.
"Right where they are standing." Jenny said.
Buffy put back her coat and hat and ran out of the club house.
Buffy ran down the ramps that went around the stadium and went out to the boxed seating. She flew down the steps and lifted herself up and over, and fell down into the field. The two people, dressed in skin-tight black getups turned to Buffy as she fell.
Buffy walked slowly to the two, who were covered in light snow. "Riley? Sam?"
Riley smiled. "Buffy!" he handed the cell phone he was holding to his wife. Buffy hugged Riley.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Both of them said in unison. They chuckled, and started to talk at the same time again. Riley broke it, "I'll start."
"Sam and I got word on the new Hellmouth, and we were asked to check it out, give a report."
"Oh, so your government buddies now know what a Hellmouth is?" Buffy said.
Sam spoke up, "Well, now they believe it, after what happened in Sunnydale. We are glad that you made it out ok."
"We thought you were dead, we got report that Faith died. But nothing about you." Riley said. Buffy's expression was confused.
"Oh yeah, she died. Say, why don't we go inside? Its freezing out here." Buffy said trying to warm herself up with her hands.
"Are we allowed?" Sam asked.
"What? I thought you government types always broke into enterings?" Buffy said laughing as they started to walk back into the stadium.
Buffy, Riley, and Sam entered the Clubhouse. "Hey guys, these are my friends, Riley and Sam." Buffy said to the four girls sitting by the television.
"You own this room?" Riley asked Buffy.
"Yep, officially owned by CSW. Pretty much the Hellmouth Security. This is Ashley, Jenny, Kaleigh, and Teresa, they are all slayers." Buffy said. "But I don't run the program, Ashley does."
Ashley stood up. "Oh no, Ms Summers. You do, we are just here to make sure everything is under control. You are the leader of the Slayers, being the original one of course."
"We heard about the activation of the potential slayers," Sam said to Buffy.
"Oh," Buffy said looking uneasy. She hated the sound of being the leader slayer, and of course the government knowing all about it.
"We haven't met another slayer yet," Riley said. "Besides the five of you." Riley sat down with his wife. Jenny went to the bar and poured some coffee for them.
"Yeah well, after the 'awakening' Giles and the leftover Watchers' opened up a school for some of the new slayers and watchers. Once more watchers are trained, they are planning to make more schools over the world." She paused, "Wow, Dawn might actually be responsible for a bunch of slayers." Buffy said in shock, Jenny handing her a cup. "Thanks Jen."
"Wow, that's really awesome." Sam said taking a sip of her coffee. She looked at her husband. "Isn't it sweetheart."
"Yeah Buffy, how many slayer students are at the school?" Riley asked. "And little Dawn's gonna be a watcher?"
"Well, the last time I was there, there was about thirty. Its been almost four and a half months since I've been there, so maybe forty, fifty. Yes and think of Dawn no further, it worries me enough already."
"Holy shit, that's a lot of kick ass girls." Riley said smiling. He went to take a sip of his coffee. "Where is this school?"
"In one of the slayer's estates in upstate New York. Really nice home. If the pop gets larger, we might build on." Buffy explained. She saw Sam smile brightly. She was very pretty, and was glad that Riley had her.
Sam spilled her coffee on Riley's lap. "Oh jeez, I'm so sorry honey." She got up trying to soak up the spill with napkins.
"Its ok, it missed the delicate parts," Riley laughed.
"I'm going to take him into the bathroom and clean him up." Sam said smiling to Buffy and Ashley. She lead Riley out of the clubhouse.
Buffy turned to Ashley who said, "So Buffy, who are they?"
*************************
Sam took Riley into the Women's Bathroom. She figured it didn't matter since no one was around.
Riley took off his pants and gave them to Sam and sat on the sink's counter. Sam got some paper towels and wet them.
"You know your too good to me. Let it be coffee or demon blood, your always there to help me out." Riley said smiling.
Sam's face was very serious as she started to soak the stain with water. "Did you hear all that in there?"
"Yeah, the slayers. What about it?"
"Riley, our mission is to observe the Hellmouth and to bring slayers we find to General Lee." Sam said.
"Are you insane? There is no way in hell that I will bring Buffy and those women in. They are experienced slayers." Riley said looking into his wife's eyes.
"No, not them, the girls. We know where the school is Riley."
"No! They are just innocent young girls!" Riley yelled. His tone was getting harsh.
"Innocent girls with super powers, think about it Riley, what it could do for this country, for this world?"
Riley looked blankly at the bathroom wall.
Riley and Sam returned to the Clubhouse. Buffy arose from the couch. "Wow, what a great wife, she's even doing your laundry while on the job." Buffy smiled admiring Riley's pants.
"That's why I love her," Riley said hugging Sam. "We should be getting on our way."
"Oh, yeah you must have loads of top secret work to do." She kissed Riley on the cheek and hugged Sam. "Hope to see you again."
"It was great meeting all of you!" Sam called to the women sitting at the bar talking. The four girls waved. Buffy saw them to the door and saw them walk down the stadium hall. She closed the door behind her.
"Hey Buffy! Want to play some Monopoly?" Jenny said from the bar.
Buffy shouted, "I'm the car!"
Pike paid the taxi driver and went into a bar, where he usually went to drown his problems, and oh did he have them right now. Pike had just enough money to be driven to Cleveland. He also wanted some pocket money for booze.
Pike sat at the bar and ordered a corona. Beer after beer, he quickly started to feel the effects of the alcohol. He laid his head on the bar counter and the bartender asked if he wanted another. Pike shook his head as he squinted looking at him.
Pike looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall. It was about seven p.m. He sighed. A man sat next to him and ordered a drink. He was about Pike's age and had a clean cut look to him, with black hair. Pike tilted his head and looked at the man's face.
The man looked at him, "Yeah? What?"
Pike just stared at him. "Listen punk, what the fuck are you staring at?"
"You're a - you're a vamp-" Pike started.
The man stood up and pushed Pike off his stool, he tumbled to the floor. "What you call me boy?"
Pike got off his ass and stood up, he could barely stand straight. "YOU'RE A VAMPIRE!" he yelled and sluggishly punched the guy hard in the face.
The guy vamped and punched pike hard in the sternum causing Pike to fly backward smashing into a booth. People yelled and screamed, and started to spill out of the bar. The bartender called the police.
"Oh shit," Pike gasped trying to stand up. He held his chest with his right hand, he definitely had a broken rib. When he got up he took a bar stool and smashed it on the floor, and grabbed a stool leg. "Lets get it on," he said pointing the stake at him.
The vampire charged Pike, clothes-lining him.
******
Jenny got up from her board game and went to answer her police com. She turned to the group, "I got a bar fight, says there two men fighting, one looks like he could be on PCP. They're calling me in." Jenny looked at Buffy, "You wanna come along Buffy?"
"Your allowed to do that." Jenny nodded. "Sure, I haven't had me some action in a while." Buffy said smiling as she arose from her chair.
Ashley finished her turn at Monopoly and looked up at Buffy, "Have fun!"
*******
Pike hit his head on the floor. He started to black out. He hazily saw the Vampire standing over him, laughing. "Stupid punk." He snarled as he took the collar of Pike's jacket and pulled him up, their faces close. The vamp opened his mouth, showing his fangs, about to bite Pike's neck.
Suddenly the door busted open and the two slayer's walked in. "Freeze Vamp!" Jenny said, aiming a crossbow at the back of the vampire. It let go of the unconscious Pike, and turned around to face the women.
"A slayer? How fun this could be." He said laughing.
"Not 'A'," Jenny said, Buffy coming up beside her.
"Slayers."
Buffy attacked the vampire, quickly beating him down. Jenny went to aide the civilian on the floor. "Buffy he's alive."
Buffy kicked the vampire, sending him flying over the bar, and into the wall of bottles. She turned to see Jenny kneeling by the hurt man. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes grew wide.
"Get him to the car! I know him. I'll finish off here." Buffy said as she vaulted over the bar. Jenny picked up Pike in her arms and ran out of the bar.
Buffy grabbed the vampire by the back of his hair and started to knock his head into the bar. It groaned in pain. Buffy took a bottle and smashed it on the back of the vampire's head. She picked up a sharp shard and said "Bye babe," and beheaded him.
Buffy saw the bartender cowering in the corner as she started to leave. "Sorry for the mess." And ran out.
Jenny was in the drivers seat and yelled to Buffy. "Come on! More police will be here," and opened up the passenger side door. Buffy swooped in and they drove off.
Buffy looked behind her at the unconscious man in the back seat. "Damnit Pike."
"He has a few broken ribs, plus he's drunk. Might need stitching on his head." Jenny said. Buffy saw the small bloody gash on his forehead. Jenny continued. "Buffy, who is he?"
"A friend, I told him not to follow me, but he did." Buffy said turning, sitting correctly in her seat. Jenny saw Buffy's expression. She was not happy that he was here.
"Is that all that happened?" Jenny asked. Buffy didn't answer, she just looked out the window. Jenny didn't say anything else.
Buffy noticed that they weren't going back to the stadium. She broke the silence. "Where are we going?"
"You are going to stay at my place, I don't want you to waste your money on a hotel. We can treat your friend there, and you can get some rest." Jenny said smiling.
Buffy was grateful for all that Jenny was doing for her. "Thanks."
Pike woke up, surprisingly with out his shirt on. He looked around the room, it was unfamiliar. He tried to move but then he was reminded of his ribs. He flinched at the pain. He noticed that he was bandaged up. Pike lightly touched his forehead, which also had a bandage. He looked around the room again. Poster's of teen age boy actors covered the wall. A large poster of N'sync's Justin Timberlake was on the closet door. Pike shuddered, it must have been a nightmare.
There were boxes on the floor. Pike, slowly sat up. He held his chest as if something was going to fall out. The door opened and a blonde woman peeked in.
"Oh good your awake. Hold on just a second."
A moment passed and Buffy came in the room. She said nothing and slowly walked toward Pike. Her lips were tightly pressed together. She was not pleased with Pike.
"Hey Summers, funny how we keep meeting like this." He said.
Buffy was silent.
"Listen, I'm sorry. But I couldn't help it." Pike said. "Wait a tick, you're the one who left me. You fucked and left. I'm not the one who should be apologizing."
"Shut up!" Buffy cried. "You shouldn't have went after me. You're an idiot! I used you and left. You don't follow a person who does that to you!" Buffy started to cry.
Pike stood up. "Maybe I shouldn't have. But I don't think your getting the point here Buffy. I know you didn't leave because you're a bad person. I think you were damaged way to many times before. And I followed you because-," he started to step toward her slowly. "I think I'm -,"
"NO! Don't you dare say it! You don't! No one can, can- have that with me!" she yelled pointing at him. Buffy may be physically strong but her emotions were still human. Buffy's tears started to pour.
Pike grabbed her by the shoulders. "I'm in love with you!"
Buffy heaved and cried and fell into Pike's arms, Pike took her down to the floor and let her cry on his chest.
Buffy awoke in Pike's arms, laying on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window, the winter sun was shining brightly into the room. She looked at Pike, who was sleeping peacefully, and kissed him on the cheek. She took off the covers and got out of bed. She had slept in her clothing, so she just quickly went out of the room and slipped into the bathroom. Buffy took a shower and put a robe on that Jenny had lent to her. Jenny had no problem with Pike and Buffy staying for a few weeks, she had no one else living in the house. Her family was murdered by a vampire clan. Her mother, father and her teenage sister were violently mutilated a year ago when they were at a supermarket at night.
Pike and Buffy had stayed up the whole night, basically talking. She told him about Angel and Spike. Pike told her that he was in love with her and he wanted to start a relationship with her. Buffy hadn't answered him yet. Buffy had feelings for Pike, but wasn't sure of what those feelings were. She felt extremely comfortable around him, but not the comfort from a person like Xander. He's a brotherly comfort, this was more in the pants comfort. She talked it out in her mind, she was babbling inside her own head and it gave her a slight headache.
Buffy brushed her wet short hair, making it pin-straight, and walked back into the bedroom she spent the night in. She saw the bed was unmade, and Pike wasn't in it. She went toward the bed, suddenly she was tackled to the floor by a shirtless Pike, tickling her. Buffy laughed uncontrollably.
Pike whispered into her ear. "Paybacks a bitch." Smiling, he let her back on his feet.
"Pike! I could have been disrobed!" Buffy said laughing. Pike pulled Buffy into him and they both kissed passionately.
Pike broke the kiss and said, "That's what I was planning on."
"Ok, stud that's enough." Buffy said.
"I'm gonna go get showered up, you'd better not ditch me." Pike said heading to the bathroom. Buffy got changed into some clean clothes and walked into the kitchen.
Jenny was there watching a small eight inch television, drinking coffee. "Morning Buffy." She greeted her, smiling. "Help yourself to some coffee."
Buffy poured a cup and sat down with Jenny. "So how'd it go last night?" Jenny said devilishly smiling.
Buffy rolled her eyes sweetly, "Nothing happened but we did sort things out and made up."
"Great! Its really good to have a former military man on the team for a bit. He could help out a large deal." Jenny said taking a sip of her coffee.
"Speaking of work, when do we have to head on in?" Buffy asked.
"Well its eleven now, should be there by twelve." Jenny answered.
"Sounds good to me, unless pretty boy spends forever in that bathroom." Buffy said looking toward the bathroom door. They could hear the shower being turned on.
"Say why don't we go out for dinner tonight?" Jenny asked. "I think it would be fun."
"Yeah that sounds great." Buffy said.
Work was rather easy, until of course sundown. They spent their day talking and having some fun at the stadium. Buffy introduced Pike to the gang. Teresa and Jenny would watch the security cameras from time to time. Ashley, Buffy, and Pike would train Kaliegh in some hand-to-hand combat in an empty hallway. And as a break, they would order pizza and play some basketball.
At five thirty in the evening, it was time for the daily patrol. They split into two groups. Buffy, Pike, and Jenny. Ashley, Teresa, Kaliegh.
Team one patrolled a large cemetery while team two would patrol the streets. Buffy, Pike, and Jenny entered the cemetery. The graves and plots were covered in thick snow. Buffy missed the California weather, snow made patrolling quite difficult. Buffy was told that since Cleveland was a much larger town, vampires were extremely large. There were an average of ten risings each night in this cemetery.
Buffy turned to Jenny, "You feeling anything?"
"Very cold," she said shivering, she zipped her coat all the way up to her chin.
"No, I mean vampires?" Buffy asked, scanning the area.
"Oh right, sorry. Not yet no." Jenny said. "Oh look." She was pointing to an empty grave.
"A vampire rose?" Buffy looked down into the deep whole. "Interesting, its pretty early."
"Unless there's already someone slaying vampires, look." Pike said pointing to a distance. Buffy looked to where he indicated and she saw a woman fighting a vampire, with brown wavy hair.
"Lets go!" Buffy ordered, and the three ran. Buffy and Jen dodged through headstones and plants with ease. As if they were flying. Pike, on the other hand was behind.
Buffy saw the familiar woman stake the vampire. "Faith!"
Faith turned. "Hey B!" she said wiping the dust off her clothing. Faith had black leather pants on and a heavy leather jacket.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked.
"Well, I got bored over at the school, did most of my chores. Decided to get some more action and to see my best buddy." She said lightly punching Buffy's right arm. "Also just to see how you are doing. We miss ya a great deal over there. Well, maybe just me. Tell you the truth, everyone seems to be pimping. Giles, Xander, Willow even Dawn have someone to-, you know." Faith said smiling.
"What about Dawn?!" Buffy asked forcefully.
"Nothin', don't worry bout it." Faith said laughing.
"But no her with the- the bed thing right? With that boy?" Buffy asked nervously. "Not that I would have a problem with it being a girl but-"
"Chill. No there 'ant no guy nor girl that I know of, B. I have a feeling you don't have to worry. Looks like your doin' some pimpin' yourself." Faith said looking toward Pike. "Who's the cutie?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Pike this is Faith, Faith- Pike." She said introducing the two. Faith and Pike shook hands. Faith leaned toward Buffy.
"He isn't a vamp is he?" Faith whispered.
Buffy did her normal, angry-at-faith look and said, "No Faith, he's an old friend, who happens to have military training and slays vampires."
"Now that's hot," Faith said flirtingly at Pike. Pike seemed to blush. "Oh and whoa with the hair, B. Trying to be like me?"
"Don't flatter yourself." Buffy said crossing her arms. "Just trying to look different now. Maybe since your dead you should die yours blonde?"
"Wait, you raised her from the dead too?" Pike asked Buffy.
"No Pike, she's an ex-convict. Went to jail, broke out to help me and Angel, and she's on brownie points. We let her change her name and pretend that 'Faith' died in Sunnydale." Buffy said with an attitude.
Faith looked toward the ground. She was obviously hurt by Buffy's comment.
"Faith, this is Jenny. One of the guards at the Hellmouth. The Hellmouth is under Jacobs Field Stadium." Buffy said.
Faith shook Jenny's hand. "Cool,"
"Well seems like you'll be joining us." Jenny said.
"I'm only visiting, I have to go back in a day or two. But while I'm here lets go kick some vamp ass!" Faith said excitedly.
The team, that now included Faith continued on their patrol.
"How many vampire's have you slayed tonight, Faith?" Jenny asked. The four of them were walking horizontally through the graveyard trail.
"Bout' four. Not sure if ya gonna see anymore tonight." Faith said.
Buffy was walking in between Faith and Pike. "Well supposedly we should see around six more tonight." She said.
Jenny saw a fresh grave starting to move around. "There!" she got out her small crossbow and headed on over toward it. "This one's mine."
The vampire's hand sprouted from the dirt. Jenny was impatient so she took the vampire's hand and pulled it out. It was a young blonde teenage girl. Jenny put the stake to the girls heart. The girl was not in vampire mode, and she had the sweetest eyes. It reminded Jenny of her sister. "I can't do it," she said letting the vampire go.
The vampire started to run. Buffy and Faith ran after it while Pike comforted Jenny. Buffy performed a run jump and kick to the back of the young vampire, causing it to fall to the ground. Faith took out a stake and leaped over a tombstone and jumped on top of the back of the vampire, stabbing the piece of wood through the back of the girl. Buffy turned around to see Jenny sitting on the ground head in her hands. Pike tried to help her. Buffy knew what it was like to loose a family member. But not to loose her whole family.
"Listen B, I'm sorry for you know coming on such a short notice." Faith said from behind her.
Buffy turned around. "Oh don't worry about it. Its not like you haven't done that before."
"Why? Why do you treat me like crap constantly?" Faith asked.
"You really want me to answer that? Lets see, you're a murderer, a boyfriend and friend stealer, taken my job, oh and you're psychotic?" Buffy said crossed.
"Buffy, its been five years. Why can't you except that I've changed?" Faith hesitated her tone quieter. "How many times do I have to apologize?"
"You think saying you're sorry to me is going to solve anything?"
"What do you want from me then? I came to Sunnydale to help you out, because I feel bad about what I have done to you. I know I've done wrong. I know that you tried to help me, and I refused it. But its different now."
"How is it different Faith? Just because you helped me in Sunnydale, and you happened to help Angel, I should think we are best buddies again? I don't think so." Buffy said.
"My God! You are such a hypocrite sometimes B! You're still pissed at me because I might just be as good, or maybe better than you now! I helped Angel, when you couldn't. I'm the one who didn't almost get my self killed, -again!" Faith yelled.
Pike saw the two girls arguing and decided not to get involved. "Looks like they've got their own problems as well." He said to Jenny. Jenny turned to watch.
Buffy punched Faith in the face. Faith quickly recovered. "What is with you and hitting people when you know your wrong?"
Buffy's eyes were filled with anger. "You have no idea what you are talking about!"
"Don't I? Interesting how you let yourself go last year. Fucking Spike all the time? I heard about the whole psychotic hospital thing as well, tried to kill your friends huh?" Faith hesitated, fueling Buffy's anger. "Let yourself go? Looks like we've actually switched bodies again hon. Oh and the hair just puts the cherry on the sundae."
Faith saw that Buffy had started to cry. "Don't you think I know this? Do you realize how many times I wanted to kill myself?"
"I'm sorry, I just felt that you needed to have someone say something to you. It should be me since you love doing it constantly to me." Faith said. "Look, why can't we start over? A whole new slate? I am tired of fighting with you all the fucking time. I think we are pretty much even right now. Don't you think?"
"Yeah, I think so too. I think we did enough here, why don't you join us for dinner?" Buffy said wiping her face of tears.
"Five by Five." Faith said smiling.
Buffy, Pike, Faith and Jenny walked into the restaurant, Good Times. They saw Teresa, Ashley and Kaleigh sitting at a large long table. The four joined them.
"Hey guys, this is Faith, the other original slayer." Buffy said, introducing them. They all ordered food and talked.
Faith was being very friendly with Ashley and Teresa. They told each other jokes. While Jenny and Kaliegh chatted. Pike and Buffy sat next to each other being very flirtatious. The waitress handed each of them their drinks. Pike had a beer while Buffy had an Apple Martini. They were soon handed their dinner along with refills of drinks and were having a great time.
After they finished eating, Pike said, "Hey look there's a karaoke machine!" to Buffy.
"I don't think so." Buffy said smiling.
Pike got out of his chair and headed on over to the stage. It was late, so he didn't mind doing it, there were only the slayers and a couple in the corner of the room. Good thing the restaurant was twenty-four hours.
Pike grabbed the microphone and selected a song from the machine. The music started and the table quickly quieted down. Faith, who sat beside Buffy, nudged her in the side.
Pike started to sing. Buffy remembered that he was in a band in High School. She knew that he had a great singing voice.
She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies.
Pike looked into Buffy's eyes.
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child
But she's always a woman to me
She can lead you to live
She can take your or leave you
She can ask for the truth
But she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
She steals like a thief
But she's always a woman to me
Buffy smiled as her eyes had begun to water. Faith whispered in her ear. "What a catch, Hon, he can sing too."
Everyone watched Pike as he walked around the stage. His voice was rock ballad type and he had perfect pitch. Even when buzzed he put on a great show. All Buffy did was watch his eyes as he gazed at her.
Oh-she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh-and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind
She will promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you're bleedin'
But she'll bring out the best
And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause she's always a woman to me
Pike slowly walked down the stage and to the table. He carelessly sang and his eyes never left Buffy's. The room was silent as the other slayer graveled at him with their eyes. He stopped at Buffy's side, looking down at her. He took her hand and helped her stand up. He sang to her:
She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to
see
She hides like a child
Pike started to lower his voice, ending the song. He moved closer to her, Buffy could feel his breath on her face.
But she's always a woman to me . . .
The song ended and the entire room clapped and rooted for Pike. Buffy smiled and Pike kissed her passionately. The table of slayer's went wild. Faith chanting, raising her hands, "Go B! Go B! Its your birthday."
A month had passed, and Buffy and Pike stayed in Cleveland helping the Guards of the Hellmouth. Faith had left just two days after they arrived in Cleveland. Buffy and Pike had developed a strong friendship with the girls and promised to return soon. They also had developed a strong relationship between themselves. Ever since that night when Pike sang to her, Buffy feels that she has fallen in love, finally. Pike was carrying their bags as Buffy hugged and said goodbye to Ashley, Jenny, Teresa, and Kaliegh. She thanked Jenny for letting she and Pike stay at her house. Buffy told them that she would soon return.
Buffy and Pike left the stadium and headed for Buffy's car. Snow lightly covered the parking lot, and they could feel the crisp late January air on their noses. Pike put both bags in the trunk and they both got in the car. Buffy started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, and headed to New York.
End Chapter Seven.