Chapter Five
"God, this totally sucks," Dawn said bitterly as she plopped herself on one of the Hyperion's chairs in the main entryway. "We've been here nearly all day and we still haven't hit any of the malls!
Buffy rolled her eyes at her sister as she paced back and forth. She flipped another page on the phonebook she held firmly in her hands. "We still haven't found out where Cordelia lives. We have no idea what her phone number is…and with Faith out she might be in danger or worse…"
"Buffy, would you please calm down," Giles said irritatingly, removing his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I'm sure something will turn up sooner or later. As we all know, Faith…"
"Isn't low profile girl," Dawn finished nonchalantly. "Yah, you know, if she did maim and kill Cordy, her body should be turning up on our front doorstep or something. Rub it in our faces. That's how she is isn't she? Ignores the kill. Goes straight for the pain?" Her voice was soft and delicate as she looked from Buffy to Giles. "Who knows? She might be scared or…"
"On a murderous rampage," Buffy finished with a cold tone. I've tried that 'she-might-be-scared-and-alone' theory before and she ended up taking my body. If I find her I'll…
Giles cleared his throat and turned to Willow and Tara. Their hands were clasped and between them was a map of Los Angeles as they were performing a spell. "Willow, have you found anything yet?"
Willow's eyes snapped open, her expression told them that they didn't. "Sorry, I can't get a clear reading on her. There are too much people who fit under the 'murderous' and 'psychotic' category in this city." Her demeanor perked up slightly. "But we did find a big source of mystical energy. A-a demon bar, kinda like Willy's. A safe haven."
"I thought you were looking for seers too," Dawn asked confused.
Willow smiled. "There's a seer in the bar."
"Good. What's the address? If it's anything like Willy's I'll just put the hurting on the owner until he gives out info. Faith's sure to have left a trail somewhere," Buffy stated as she grabbed her coat.
Willow nodded and quickly scribbled down the address as Tara got up and placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Be careful, B-buffy."
Buffy just shrugged it off and took the address from Willow. "Handling demons is my job and Faith and I have battled it out before. Nothing I can't handle."
Tara gave Buffy a look of concern, her brows furrowing. "Th-that's not what I meant."
Buffy looked at her for a moment, as if contemplating something, before heading towards the door. "Just keep doing that locater spell. Maybe something will turn up." She looked over her shoulder. "Giles, watch Dawnie for me?"
Dawn was about to protest that she didn't need a babysitter, but changed her mind. Giles nodded and Buffy was out the door. Dawn sighed, almost wishing she was left behind with Anya and Xander. Then again at least she didn't have to go to school, but then again she still had makeup work. With a groan she got up and headed towards the stairs.
"I'm gonna try doing some makeup work, but I might end up drooling on my books," Dawn replied nonchalantly. "Don't wake me up unless there's an apocalypse."
Three hours later, a phone call woke Giles up. He had been dozing off in a chair with a book cradled in his lap. His head shot up at the sound of ringing and he made his way to the phone as Tara and Willow also stirred from their positions on the floor.
"Um…hello?" He fumbled with his glasses.
On the other end he could hear a weird kind of screeching sound to the tune of Whitney Houston's "Run To You", with many boos and hisses. "Giles?"
The Watcher's brows furrowed. "Buffy? Are you all right?"
There was a sigh. "Physically yes, but I think all this demonic singing is gonna permanently damage my hearing," Buffy answered dryly.
"D-demonic singing," Giles said concerned. "They're not performing any dark rituals…"
"No, Giles," Buffy said exasperatingly. "It's a karaoke bar. Apparently, the Host, the demon who owns this place is the seer and reads people…er…demons while they sing."
"Oh…interesting," Giles stated with fascination. "An anagogic demon that…"
"Giles! I don't have time for a lecture," Buffy hissed over the din in the background. "Look, the Host is a friend of Angel and Cordy. He coughed up the address for me and I'm on my way there. Did Willow find anything on Faith?"
Giles paused and looked at the redhead, who was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "She…um…she's trying."
Buffy sighed. "All right. I just want to find her before she does any damage."
"Right," Giles muttered.
"Ok, I'm going. Take care all right? And if anything happens…"
"I will call you immediately on that bloody contraption," Giles replied.
There was a dial tone, signifying that Buffy had hung up. Giles removed his glasses and made his way over to Tara and Willow. "Any news."
Willow stretched and shook her head. "I'm about to tap into the police records, see if she left a trail or something." Giles sighed heavily and Willow's brows furrowed. "Something the matter? Is…is Buffy…"
"Buffy's fine." Giles replaced his glasses and leaned against the counter, looking like he was deep in thought. "She's on her way to Cordelia's as we speak."
Tara eyed him with concern. "Something tells me y-you're more than just w-worried."
Giles sighed and nodded reluctantly. "I'm afraid of what will happen should Buffy find Faith."
Willow's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean? She deserves to get a good, old fashioned butt-kicking…breaking out of jail and all…"
"No, I mean, Buffy's always getting a bit carried away when it comes to Faith," Giles explained carefully. "We've got a hellgod after Dawn and another demon rising. With all this stress, plus the passing of her mother, I'm afraid Buffy's not entirely herself. And now with Faith in the picture, her hate and anger might cloud Buffy's judgment."
Willow shrugged. "Can you blame her after all that Faith's done?"
Tara wound a comforting arm around Willow's. "I th-think he's saying he's worried he's g-going to lose his Slayer."
"What do you mean," Willow said confused. "You think Faith will kill Buffy?"
Tara shook her head sadly. "N-no, the other way around."
* * *
Buffy stood on the sidewalk, staring at the small little apartment building. A smirk spread across her face at the thought of the high and mighty rich pompous snob, Cordelia Chase, was living in such low accommodations. She instantly felt guilty at taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune. Gathering herself, she took a confident step towards the house when she suddenly felt a faint tingling sensation prickle the back of her neck.
She stopped for a moment, looking around, but it was a different kind of tingle from the kinds she felt when a vamp was around. It sort of felt familiar and it was tugging in the back of her brain that it was something she should remember, but she shrugged it off and continued towards Cordelia's apartment. The tingling sensation never went away. Instead it got stronger with every step. She tensed as she made it to the door. What if it was some major baddie she was feeling and this was an ambush? What if it was Faith and she was walking into a trap that would ultimately get Cordelia and herself killed. Anger flared immediately at the thought of Faith and she made to pound open the door. However, before her fist could connect the door slowly creaked open and Buffy immediately stepped back into a fighting position, fully expecting a surprise attack from whoever opened the door. She realized nobody was there to greet her.
"Cordelia?" Buffy took a cautious step inside and peeked around the door to see who opened it. She saw that it was no one and fully stepped inside the house. As soon as she did, the door slammed shut behind her and she jolted in surprise. "Ohhhhkayyyy…that was different than your usual bell hoppers."
The tingling sensation was much stronger inside the house and she still had that nagging feeling in the back of her mind. What the hell is that, Buffy thought. Her head jerked to the side as she heard something break in the kitchen. She slowly made her way towards the kitchen and stopped as she saw a brunette with her back towards her, standing next to the stove with a broken glass by her feet. She felt the tingling sensation stronger now, coming from the brunette in front of her, and she figured it was because of Cordelia's new mystical powers.
Buffy sighed in relief. "Cordelia, we've been looking everywhere for you. We thought…" Buffy paused as she saw that the girl wasn't moving, almost as if she were frozen in place. She also noticed that she looked slightly different. A bit skinnier and her hair was different. "I see you've lost some weight…and I like what you've done to the hair. Gets rid of that snobby cheerleader look."
"Hey!"
Buffy whirled around at the sound of the familiar voice. Her eyes grew large at the sight of Cordelia standing in the kitchen entranceway with a bathrobe on and a towel wrapped around her hair. Buffy turned back to the other girl who she thought was Cordelia, finally noticing that she was trembling. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two brunettes, one she knew and the other…
Oh my God…Faith! Buffy clenched her fist angrily as she glared hard into the girl's back. She still hadn't moved.
Cordelia crossed her arms impatiently. "What's going on in here?" Her eyes darted to the glass on the floor and she rolled her eyes annoyingly. "God! Can't you go anywhere without breaking something?"
There was a slow and shaky intake of breath as the brunette gathered her breath as if preparing herself before she turned to face the blonde Slayer. Buffy felt her rage well up inside her at the sight of her old nemesis. All the memories buried deep inside her of what this girl in front of her had done to her and her friends and family suddenly came rushing back, bringing with it the pain, betrayal, and anger. Without even thinking, Buffy's right fist collided against Faith's jaw with so much force Faith thought it would snap her neck.
Faith whirled back around, clutching her already bruising jaw. However, as soon as her haunted brown eyes met the angry hazel-green ones, memories of what she's done to this woman resurfaced, bringing with it the guilt, pain, and anguish she's caused. Realization came to Faith at that moment. Buffy had a right to act this way towards her after all she's done and Faith knew that she deserved whatever punishment she was going to get. There was no desire to fight the blonde Slayer anymore, not after all she's done to hurt her already. Her desire to hurt the blonde Slayer died that morning in the church, when she finally got a good look at what she had become. She's done hurting other people.
With a defeated sigh, Faith dropped her hand and again lowered her head. "I'm tired of hurting you Buffy. I…I've done so much. I won't fight you anymore."
Her voice was tired, defeated, and a little raspy, nothing at all like the Faith Buffy was used to. She sounded like the Faith she found on the rooftop of Angel's apartment. The desperation to make up to her for her crimes deeply set in the dark Slayer's brown eyes.
Buffy scoffed at the reply. "What game are you playing at now, Faith? Do you think for one second I'll believe your sorry act?" She strode closer to the brunette, fighting the urge to pummel her to a bloody pulp here and now, her eyes burning angrily into Faith's. "How did you escape from prison? I hope you didn't kill anyone in the process."
Faith winced at the harsh words, but remained still. "I know now that I can never make up for the things I've done, especially to you. I've hurt you the most and I deserve whatever you give me."
Buffy hesitated. What the hell? Where was that confident, cocky, strong young girl she used to know? The one that always had something to say? The one with the cocky, shit eating grin? The one that never gave up without a fight? This wasn't like Faith at all. Then again, Faith could be doing one of her stellar performances and Buffy would be damned if she fell for it again. However, it hit Buffy that Faith had called her by her whole name 'Buffy' and not her nickname 'B'. Was she actually, truly being serious? Her mind started to get confused.
Buffy finally noticed Faith's gaunt face, her sunken haunted eyes, and pale complexion. She then noticed the many fading bruises and welts on any part of her skin that was exposed, but she was wearing the same clothes that she made her confession in. She noticed how they slightly off her thin body. She finally noticed a red stain blooming on her shirt, just above where Buffy had stabbed what seemed like eons ago.
Faith followed Buffy's eyes, finally noticing a burning sting from her wound. Shit, musta ripped some stitches from B's punch.
Cordelia finally had enough of this exchange and strolled into the kitchen in front of Buffy, moving Faith behind her so she was blocked from Buffy's view. "Buffy, could you please just hang up your guns for now and sit down? The living room is out to the left." She turned to Faith and spoke softly. "Faith, can you go back to my room? Get cleaned up maybe?"
Faith nodded mutely, her eyes darting to Buffy's giving her one last remorseful look, and disappeared out the kitchen. Buffy's eyes never parted from her until she was out of sight. She concentrated on the tingling sensation she knew was coming from her sister Slayer. She shot an angry, 'you-better-have-a-good-explanation-for-this' look and stomped off towards the living room. Cordelia sighed heavily and shook her head at the broken glass on the floor. Faith had only come out of her room to get a glass of water while Cordelia was taking a shower and Buffy's voice must have spooked her. The poor girl was paranoid and scared of the blonde Slayer.
"Dennis, could you clean this mess and make some coffee?" She glanced towards the living room where a still angry blonde Slayer was pacing back and forth. "I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."
After helping Dennis clean and making some coffee, Cordelia came into the living room and offered Buffy a mug. Buffy took it and without even looking at it, set it down on the coffee table and crossed her arms, staring angrily at Cordelia. When Cordelia didn't say anything, Buffy opened her mouth, prepared to berate her, but Cordelia suddenly raised her hand.
"Can I just tell you the story without being interrupted first," Cordelia asked annoyingly. "Then we can play twenty questions later."
"It better be good and it better be quick," Buffy said coldly, her eyes darting to Cordelia's room where she knew Faith was hiding, before starting to pace again.
Cordelia plopped herself on the couch wearily and motioned Buffy to do the same. The blonde Slayer raised an eyebrow at her and Cordelia rolled her eyes. "I can't speak if you're just gonna keep pacing around like that. You're making me all twitchy." Buffy sighed and reluctantly sat down. "Okay, you're probably wondering why a murderous, psychopathic Slayer is doing in my house and why I'm being all nice to her, am I right?" Buffy nodded her head. "Well, it all started with that stupid vision…ugh…you have no idea how much those things frickin hurt! Well anyway, I already told you all the details of the vision…" Buffy gave her a disbelieving look and Cordelia held up her hands defensively. "Okay okay…well…not all the details. Faith was in it too." Cordelia sighed and leaned back into the couch. "Of course, my first reaction was the same as yours, but I had no choice in the matter. Angel just shows up at my door with Faith all beaten, bloody, and slightly catatonic and then leaves just as quickly. That was three nights ago. The first thing I did was drug her and tied her to my bed with Dennis watching her."
"Dennis," Buffy echoed questioningly.
"My ghost friend, sorta like having a sweet and respectable invisible man around," Cordelia answered nonchalantly. "If there are such things as sweet and respectable men." She sighed as she thought of something. "God, why are all the decent men dead?"
"Well that explains the door," Buffy muttered to herself.
"What?" Cordelia shook her head, dismissing the question. "Anyway…" She paused and looked solemn for a moment. The nightly events of Faith's stay flashing through her mind. "Buffy, I don't know what happened to her in prison or how she got out, but…she's really changed," Cordelia replied seriously. "If you would have heard her screaming at night, trembling like a scared child, and the way she looked when she first came here…" She shook her head sadly. "She was so beaten and defeated…she was probably traumatized in prison, Buffy." She sighed. "I called you as soon as she woke up."
"Why didn't you tell me she was at your house," Buffy raged.
"Well, if you would have listened to me on the phone instead of wigging out, I would have," Cordelia snapped.
They were silent for a moment. Buffy was letting everything sink in, the anger still boiling, but questions were also brewing. Cordelia was still confused about the whole situation. Crossed between being compassionate for Faith and doubting and not trusting Faith after recalling her elbow colliding with Cordelia's face. Cordelia had never thought she would be able to forgive Faith for what she's done to her and those she's cared about, but after listening to Faith beg for forgiveness in her sleep and scream out in pain, Cordelia couldn't help but sympathize with her. After all Cordelia's been through, she couldn't hold grudges. She had to respect that Faith did go to prison and tried to reconcile for her crimes and after seeing Faith so vulnerable, trembling on her bed in chains and having to stitch up the nasty scar right above her old one, Cordelia couldn't see her as a threat, especially since after her vision. Faith had helped and died…
"Okay, Cordelia, I'm going to ask you questions and I want straight answers," Buffy said emotionlessly.
Cordelia nodded, her troubled expression not wavering.
"First of all, why didn't you tell me Faith was in the vision," Buffy asked.
"I figured you'd had enough on your plate already. Hello? Demon goddess after little sis and your mom…" Cordelia's sentence trailed off as she saw Buffy tense and the pained and uncomfortable expression that crossed Buffy's face. She took a deep breath. "Buffy, we are all in danger here and Faith…" She sighed, not knowing how to explain it to the angry blonde Slayer. "…Faith saves us."
"What!" Buffy exclaimed incredulously. "You have got to be kidding me. She would probably be happy if we all suffered and died."
"Buffy, what's wrong with you?" It was Cordelia's turn to be angry. "Can't you see that she's changed?"
"No! Don't you remember she tried to kill all of us?" Buffy said disbelievingly. She couldn't understand why Cordelia, the snobby high school cheerleader, was being so forgiving. "Why are you being so forgiving?"
Cordelia stood up in front of Buffy, her arms crossed, giving Buffy that familiar narrow-eyed glare that sent most people scurrying for cover. "Think about it, Buffy, she's a Slayer. Just like you only she had a trip to the dark side. If she was really trying to kill us, we'd be dead already. I forgive her, Buffy. She's not all that bad. She's sorry for what she's done, I know that…" More memories of Faith pleading in a raspy voice plagued her mind. "…I see that. I'm not that stuck-up bitch in high school anymore, Buffy. I've changed. People change." A shaky hand went up to her throbbing temple. "I see things no one else does and we have to stop them from happening. These visions make me more compassionate and feeling than I've ever been and it's because I can feel what they're. I can feel their emotions, what they're going through, and of course I can't help but have compassion for them and try to help them. I've felt all the pain and suffering in this world, I've been to the hospital because the Powers That Screw Us gave me these mind-blowing visions for a reason. To help people and that's what I choose to do. Faith isn't that different from those people I choose to help." Cordelia shrugged, her standoffish demeanor returning. "Besides, she hasn't tried anything since I've untied her."
Buffy was silent again. Her mind reeling with what Cordelia had told her. She had never seen Cordelia so open before and actually making sense. Maybe Faith had changed, but does that mean Buffy should forgive her? Faith had betrayed her, took everything she could from her just to hurt her, and Buffy still didn't understand why.
However, the one thing that stuck was Cordelia said that if Faith really wanted to kill them they would already be dead. Buffy believed that. She was a Slayer herself. She knew how powerful Faith was; the strength and cunning that comes with the Slayer package, and she knew that if Faith really wanted to kill them they would be dead. She could have shot Angel through the heart instead of poisoning him if she really wanted him dead. She could have let Wesley die instead of saving him from that spidery demon thing that night in the cafeteria and giving up her beloved knife. She could have killed Willow right there in front of her, too. There were also many nights patrolling with her after she secretly went to the Mayor, before they had found out the rogue was working for him, where Faith had many chances to kill her or any members of the Scooby gang, but she didn't.
"You trust her?" Buffy asked feebly, her mind going numb with too many thoughts and questions about the dark Slayer.
Cordelia took a deep breath and nodded. "For now."
* * *
Faith sat at the edge of the bed, her face emotionless. She could hear them talking down the hall, the pros and cons of Slayer hearing. However, Faith was teetering on the edge of confusion, fear, and sadness. She didn't know why Cordelia was being so nice to her. She remembered saying a whole-hearted 'thank you' and the look of surprise and compassion on Cordelia's face astonished her. Cordelia had wordlessly removed the chains from around her wrist and ankles and left the room. The amount of trust Cordelia was giving her was alarming and she didn't understand why. All she did was say thank you and she really did mean it. Did it show on her face how much Faith wanted forgiveness? How much she wanted to redeem herself of her past sins?
Faith shuddered as she heard the front door slam. God, B, she thought sadly. She knew that she would never receive forgiveness from the one person she craved it from the most; from the one person she hurt the most. She had hurt Buffy in ways not even Angelus had and it sickened her. That it had come down to that. Buffy was once her role model, everything pure and good that Faith wanted to be.
~ "All my life there was only one person that tried to be my friend, - went out of her way when I had no right or reason to expect her to - and I screwed her…" ~
The door creaked open, bringing Faith out of her thoughts, and Cordelia slowly stepped in, looking a bit harassed. She gave an insecure smile and sighed.
"Well, it could have been worse. She could have killed me and you and stalked off into the night a happier Slayer," Cordelia mused nervously.
Faith stared at her, trying to compose her thoughts. "Why?"
Cordelia shook her head, not understanding. "Why what?"
"Why are you doing this? Why are you being so nice to me?" Faith asked hesitantly, keeping her head bowed and her eyes on the floor.
"Ugh! Why do you people think I'm some sort of ditsy, snobby, high school cheerleader?" Cordelia shook her head, clearly irritated. "Okay, yeah, sure, I was…and I was the most rich and powerful, not to mention popular, girl in school, but people change. God, I thought you of all people would understand that."
"That's not what I meant," Faith said softly. Cordelia stared at her confused. "I mean, I did ram my elbow into your face, tortured Wes, and tried to kill Angel. You do remember that don't you?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Of course I remember! I slept with a baseball bat under my pillow for weeks. Not to mention I almost had to go to therapy…" She stopped as she saw Faith grimace. Cordelia exhaled a breath and sat down beside her. "Look. People make mistakes okay? Yours was just a really, really big messed up one. You went to jail for it already, paid the price." She gestured at Faith. "In blood even…"
"It's not enough," Faith replied quietly, staring down at her bandaged hands and bloodied shirt. "It won't bring them back. I shouldn't be here. I should be behind bars."
"Did you escape," Cordelia asked seriously.
Faith shook her head. "No. I was set free. I don't know why…but those bastards set me free."
Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief. "You know that's not where you belong. If you want to make up for what you did, you should be out here, where you're needed. You're the Slayer. It's your job to fight and protect people…just as long as you don't, you know…go all psycho and kill people again."
~ "Being a Slayer is not the same as being a killer." ~
Faith shook her head and forced a weak smile. "Wow. Angel is actually rubbing off on you with the speech thing." She looked down again. "But I'm not the Slayer, haven't been for awhile. B is. She's the best."
"Okay. You need to quit with the whole self-loathing thing, not really your style," Cordelia replied. "You could give Brood-boy a run for his money."
Faith was silent for a moment, thinking things over. She finally looked at Cordelia and Cordelia's heart almost cried at the haunted look etched permanently in Faith's eyes. "Can I ask you one more question?" Cordelia nodded. "What was I doing in your vision?"
Cordelia bit her lip, in her mind's eye she was seeing Faith's bloody body in the arms of a distraught Angel. "You were doing what you were born to do. You were fighting by our side. You were helping us, saving us." She got up to leave, but stopped and turned to her at the door. "You are not lying in my bed with a bloody shirt."
With that, she left, leaving Faith in the dark bedroom to her own thoughts.
Saving them? Faith thought amusingly, not that she doubt she would. She'd sacrifice her life a million times to save one of theirs, just to show that she had changed that she was good, that she didn't want to go back to who she was before. She did want to fight again, for the right side this time, but she had to learn how to control the darkness inside her that still screamed to be let lose. She had to find a way and for right now, it was the thought of Cordelia forgiving her that was giving her a sense of calming.
* * *
Dawn strode lazily into the lounge, rubbing her sleepy eyes with a long yawn. She glimpsed around the room at the tired bunch and concluded that they had spent all night in 'research mode'. Giles looked a little ruffled up with a book resting on his lap while his head lolled from one side to the other as he tried to stay awake. Willow was leaning heavily on Tara's shoulder, drooling lightly as she slept, while Tara's head was resting on the couch. One hand was resting lightly on her laptop, the other wrapped protectively around the blonde Wicca. No sign of Buffy. Dawn guessed that Buffy had a rough night out on patrol, especially it being the city of Los Angeles.
She jumped suddenly when the doors burst open and a very angry blonde Slayer stomped in, the morning light filtering in the door awoke the small group.
"Buffy, finally. Is Cordelia all right," Giles muttered sleepily.
Buffy's eyes nearly glazed over in anger. "No!"
"What? What happened," Giles asked, becoming very wide awake.
"She's gone insane!" Buffy exclaimed while Giles visibly relaxed.
"Oh, thank god, I thought…what? Buffy…" Giles started, but was quickly interrupted by Buffy.
"How could she harbor that psychopathic killer?" Buffy threw her hands up in a tirade and began pacing. Willow, Tara, Dawn, and Giles were all staring at her like she had completely lost it. They were utterly confused. "I mean, it's bad enough without Angel and now Faith's out of jail and…"
"Faith's at Cordelia's," Willow asked nervously, her green eyes suddenly wide with fear. "Is Cordy all right? Oh…of course not, because Faith's there a-and Cordy's not here. That's bad…that's…that's really bad. Why aren't you helping her? Sh-shouldn't you be helping her? I mean, I know Cordy's not the best…" Tara placed a finger on Willow's lips to silence her before she went into full 'babble mode'.
Giles stood up, taking out his glasses in the process and began polishing them. "Did you see her? Did she try to hurt you? Was she with Cordelia? Is Cordelia all right?"
"Yes, I saw her. Alive and kicking, and she didn't try to hurt me, which, I say, was very odd and disappointing," Buffy answered. "I would have seriously loved an excuse to kick her ass. As for Cordelia…" She shook her head in disbelief. "Cordelia's protecting Faith." She shivered in disgust, still feeling the odd tingling sensation raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Why am I still feeling that?
"What," Willow said, not believing her ears. "Why would she do that? We are talking about the same woman right? Cordelia Chase, the stuck-up cheerleader from hell, Cordelia?"
"Gee, nice to know I'm known and loved," a dry, familiar voice said from the doorway.
The room fell to a deafening silence as their eyes found the door. Cordelia was standing there with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. But their attention wasn't to her, it was to the timid, yet opposing figure behind her.
"Faith," Dawn exclaimed, breaking the eerie silence.
Faith's head slowly rose up to meet Dawn's green eyes and a faint smile rose on her lips. "Hey, Muffet."
Dawn grinned and ran straight towards her much to the surprise of her older sister and nearly everybody else in the room.
"Dawn…" Buffy called out in surprise, but it was too late.
Dawn slammed into Faith's body, nearly knocking them both over as she embraced the Dark Slayer. She grimaced as pain shot through the wound in her side from the impact. She stood their awkwardly not knowing what she should do. Slowly, hesitantly, Faith's arms went around the young Summers.
"God, I missed you," Dawn murmured, her head buried in Faith's shoulder.
Of all the memories the monks could have implanted in Dawn and Faith, they chose to make them good memories; every single last one of them. Faith had never personally attacked Dawn when she went evil. Before things went bad, Faith and Dawn had gotten along pretty well and it was probably because Faith had never had a little sister or always wanted one. Plus, Faith enjoyed being looked upon as a role model because that was what she was to Dawn. Dawn looked up to her, she thought she was way cooler than Buffy and Faith never treated her like an annoying little kid, but always an equal. She even helped with homework sometimes, even though Faith never knew half the stuff because she dropped out herself, but it was still fun hanging out. Dawn couldn't hold any grudges, not after all she's been through, finding out she was the Key and her mom dying. The young Summers was just glad to have an old friend back.
Dawn's eyes snapped open as she realized how skinny Faith was, lacking her usual voluptuousness. She let go of Faith and stared into Faith's face and was horrified at how gaunt it was. Her eyes grew wider as she saw a large bruise on the side of her face. She knew how hard it was for a Slayer to bruise and she wondered who or what was strong enough to leave a mark on a Slayer. She slowly turned around and saw Buffy glaring angrily and somewhat fearfully at Faith. Had Buffy done this? She said Faith didn't try anything.
Dawn took one of Faith's bandaged hands in her own and slowly led her into the house. "C'mon, Faith. I need some help with history. We're learning about mythology."
All eyes followed them as Dawn led Faith upstairs to her room, all silent, not knowing what to do. Buffy was shell-shocked, Tara and Willow watched in horror, Cordelia had a small smile on her lips, and Giles watched with a sense of fatherly pride at the amount of maturity showing from the young girl.
Out of the mouth of babes, Giles thought with a smile.