Episode 13: Lost
Fray felt her eyes begin to sting as Kennedy sobbed into her shoulder. "What do you mean she's gone?" Fray asked trying to keep her voice steady.
Kennedy pulled her head back and wiped her eyes. New tears quickly replaced the old ones though. "I went out to train and Willow went back to bed since she was still tired When I got home I found this on the bed."
She pulled a black mask out of her pocket and handed it to Fray. Fray felt a wave of guilt and anger wash over her. It was thanks to her that these masked freaks had invaded New Sunnydale, but she also knew that it was up to her to bring Willow back. She balled up the mask and felt something inside. When she turned it inside out there was a paper for a concert at the BRONZE balled up inside. She opened it and one of the dates was circled. "She'll be here on Monday," Fray said, tossing the paper to Hunter.
"Day after tomorrow," Faith said,. "We can think up a plan by then. You know, it's strange that the day your boy comes into our lives all this happens."
"Don't worry Faith," Fray snapped, standing up and helping Kennedy after her. "We got what we came for. As soon as we get Willow back we'll be gone and you can get back to your sleepy little demon fighting ways."
Faith just snorted and walked into the kitchen. Fray shook her head and turned to Hunter. "Go back to your place, heal, rest, brood, do whatever you want to do. I'll come and get you on Tuesday and you can show me how to get home."
She started to turn away but Hunter caught her shoulder and spun her around. "I want to help," he said. "I can fight too. Not as well as you can but I can still help."
"Don't let your emotions get in the way Shielder," Fray snapped.
"They started getting in the way the moment I met you," he said, his voice equally as harsh.
Fray shook off his hand but the look she gave him was softer. She turned towards Dawn who was now standing near the kitchen door and gave her a light smile. "I'll get her back," she said. "I promise."
"I know," Dawn said. "Is that what you were looking for?"
Fray tossed her the amulet and Dawn looked at it for a second before tossing it back. "Spike was the last one that wore that," she said. "Make sure that the next person that uses it is worthy."
Fray nodded. "I promise."
Faith came out of the kitchen, Wood steering her with a hand on her waist. She just sort of looked at Fray and nodded. That was how she knew it was alright. "Okay," Fray said. "We need to get into the Bronze without them knowing we're there. I'd like at least thirty Slayers plus you all in there."
"Thirty?" Kennedy said.
Hunter stepped forward and threw the mask on the ground. "The markings on that are from the Hawk clan. They're like highway robbers only through time. They want whatever we've got to sell it to whoever's willing to pay the price. For something this big they probably brought two fists of warriors; at least fifty."
Faith nodded. "I'll be able to get at least thirty in there. I might even be able to get one or two behind the bar and a small group in a back room."
Fray nodded. "Alright," she said. "If I break a bottle though when they come I want you to get out of there with everyone else and leave the fighting to me. That means you too Hunter."
Hunter started to protest but when he saw the fire in her eyes he quickly backed off. "I won't risk Willow's life for my own."
Kennedy wiped her eyes again and this time it looked like the tears had finally stopped. "When did you get back home?" Hunter asked.
"At about five, I was only gone for three hours."
"Why Willow though?" he asked.
Kennedy shrugged but Fray supplied her answer. "She's the strongest here. I mean sure, Kennedy and Faith are Slayers but Willow's got goddess power on her side. They could probably feel it."
Hunter nodded. "They would go for the second most powerful person here. They probably though she was working for Fray and that Fray would want her back. Even though Willow is more powerful than Fray, the Fader is the one they're after."
Fray sat down on the sofa and put her head in her hands. She looked at her watch and saw that it was after midnight. "We need to get some rest. Let's meet at the Coven at noon tomorrow and we'll make up a plan. Dawn, go by the Bronze tomorrow and get tickets. I shouldn't need one since I just got a job there."
Hunter nodded. "I won't need one either," he said. "I'll be able to smuggle some weapons into the back room. As long as all your girls are good with swords and axes they'll be fine."
Faith nodded. "My girls can hold their own with steel."
Hunter nodded. Dawn, Wood, and Faith started to leave. Xander and Hunter stuck around though. "Why don't you guys get some rest and we'll keep watch."
Hunter looked at him out of the corner of his eye and Xander smiled. "Okay, he'll keep watch and I'll supply comedic relief."
Fray smiled and nodded slightly. "Thanks for the offer Xander but you need more sleep then I do. I haven't done anything today."
Hunter looked like he was about to say something concerning the fight at Angel's and the trip to the Hellmouth but he quickly changed his mind and just shook his head. "I need to get a plan together. If you have any paper and some pens that would really help Kennedy," Fray said.
Kennedy nodded and disappeared into the bedroom. She appeared a few moments later carrying a sketch book and a handful of pens. She laid them on the kitchen table and then walked back out into the living room to join the conversation. Xander was still trying to talk Fray into getting some sleep but he was quickly losing that battle. "Look," Fray finally snapped. "If you want to stay here you can take my room but I don't want you going through any of my stuff or bothering me in the middle of the night. I don't expect to sleep but I don't need you breathing down my neck."
Xander looked at her, shook his head, and muttered a quick goodbye as he walked out the door. Then Fray turned to Hunter. He held up both of his hands and took a step back. "You can yell at me all that you want but I've got nowhere to go."
"How about home?" Fray asked.
Hunter smiled. "I don't have a home," he said. "I just have a big apartment to store all my junk."
Fray shook her head and pointed to the sofa. "There," she said curtly.
"You offer Xander the bed and I get the couch?"
"I like Xander more then I like you right now."
"That hurts," Hunter said a smile on his face. He fell onto the sofa and laughed slightly.
Fray looked at Kennedy and she choked back a sob before running off into her bedroom. Fray looked back at Hunter and was surprised to see that the smile was wiped off his face. "Go," he said, his voice serious. "Be with your friend."
Fray smiled and nodded. It was all the thanks that he needed. Hunter lay back, his hands behind his head, while Fray ran to Kennedy and Willow's room. Kennedy was kneeling by the bed; she had collapsed before she had even gotten there. Her head was hanging and tears were falling on the floor. Fray knelt beside her and helped her up into bed. She nearly had to pick the Slayer up and she was slightly surprised to see her so weak.
"So this is what love is?" Fray asked, sitting next to Kennedy.
"Pathetic isn't it?" she sniffed.
Fray smiled. "No, it's beautiful."
"Explain," said Kennedy.
"Alright," Fray cleared her throat. "You have so many emotions in your life. Anger, hate, pain, sorrow, nervousness, but nothing provokes the responses that love does. Love can make you hate, it can make you angry or sad or nervous but in the end, even after all those bad things. It still makes you feel good.
"Bad emotions and feelings and thoughts occur more often than good emotions and feelings and thought but out of everything love is the strongest. It can defeat anger and hate and pain. You can never hate someone you love and even though you still get angry at them, in the end it comes down to love."
Kennedy looked at her and smiled. "I've never had anyone explain it to me quite like that," she said.
Fray smiled. "Hey blondes aren't as stupid as people think."
Kennedy smiled and tears started to fill her eyes again. Fray just looked at her, knowing that there was nothing she could say to make her feel any better. She tried anyway though. "I'll get her back to you," she said, "no matter what."
Kennedy nodded and Fray wrapped her arms around the other girl's shoulders. Kennedy laid her head on Fray's shoulders. They stayed like that for a few moments, Kennedy drawing strength from the younger girl. "Thank you," Kennedy finally said, sitting up and looking Fray in the eyes. "It means a lot to me that you're willing to do this for me."
Fray smiled. "I'm doing this for both of us. I could never live with myself if anything happened to Willow knowing that I brought it down upon her."
Kennedy was about to say something but Fray just stood up and walked out of the room with a hurried goodnight. Kennedy just watched the closed door for a moment before turning off the light and fighting for sleep that was a long time coming.
Fray sat at the kitchen table and rubbed her eyes again. She looked at her watch and saw that it was three in the morning. The diagram of the BRONZE 2 was finished, complete with the location of every table, chair, door, and window. She had had to go to Hunter a few times for help but now he was lying quietly on the sofa, not asleep but at least quiet.
Fray leaned back in her seat and cursed quietly to herself. If she had just left when she had meant to she wouldn't have brought this on Willow and the others. Willow wouldn't be in some unknown location with strange creatures from another time doing God-knows-what to her. And Kennedy wouldn't be in the other room fighting for sleep between bouts of tears. Fray shook herself out of her daydream and was surprised to find hot tears running down her face.
She sniffed loudly and regretted it the moment that she did. Hunter turned over and looked at her. She saw his brow furrow when he saw her face and he walked over to her. "Why are you crying?" he asked.
"I feel responsible," she said. "Everything that's happened to Willow and Kennedy and the others has happened because I was here. I should have left earlier. You still would have found me. I just wouldn't have had to involve them."
"That's not true," he snapped. "They involved themselves. They could have dropped you at the first sign of danger but they didn't because they care about you. Now I don't really understand human emotions and I guess I don't understand why you're crying but I know what it's like to care for someone. I know what it's like to want a moment to never end or to want to have someone to love and care for. I was stupid to think you'd want to give that up and you were right, I was jealous. I'll never be that stupid again though."
He said this last part with such ferocity that Fray just sat there, slightly dumbstruck. "You've never even cried," she finally said.
Hunter smiled. "I've never cared about anything that much to be that emotional."
Fray shook her head. "But you've never been sad enough or happy enough to just cry. Or ever even been in a bad mood and just needed to let it out?"
Hunter's smile grew and he shook his head too. "I've never been sad about anything. I was raised in a lab so I never had anything to be happy or sad about, everything just was."
Fray smiled. "I hope you find someone that you care enough about to cry for."
Hunter laughed. "Well," he said. "If I ever do I'll let you know."
Fray nodded and smiled too. Hunter put his hand on hers and Fray was surprised at the shock that went through her body at his touch. She quickly shook it off though. "Come on," Hunter said. "You're tired right now. Let me make the plan for you. I know the Bronze and I don't need sleep like you do."
Fray nodded and allowed herself to be led to bed. She barley noticed Hunter taking off her shoes and allowed him to bring the covers close up to her chin. She did notice however when he kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight Fader," he whispered.
Fray whispered goodnight and fell asleep, still able to feel his lips on her forehead.
Fray felt her eyes begin to sting as Kennedy sobbed into her shoulder. "What do you mean she's gone?" Fray asked trying to keep her voice steady.
Kennedy pulled her head back and wiped her eyes. New tears quickly replaced the old ones though. "I went out to train and Willow went back to bed since she was still tired When I got home I found this on the bed."
She pulled a black mask out of her pocket and handed it to Fray. Fray felt a wave of guilt and anger wash over her. It was thanks to her that these masked freaks had invaded New Sunnydale, but she also knew that it was up to her to bring Willow back. She balled up the mask and felt something inside. When she turned it inside out there was a paper for a concert at the BRONZE balled up inside. She opened it and one of the dates was circled. "She'll be here on Monday," Fray said, tossing the paper to Hunter.
"Day after tomorrow," Faith said,. "We can think up a plan by then. You know, it's strange that the day your boy comes into our lives all this happens."
"Don't worry Faith," Fray snapped, standing up and helping Kennedy after her. "We got what we came for. As soon as we get Willow back we'll be gone and you can get back to your sleepy little demon fighting ways."
Faith just snorted and walked into the kitchen. Fray shook her head and turned to Hunter. "Go back to your place, heal, rest, brood, do whatever you want to do. I'll come and get you on Tuesday and you can show me how to get home."
She started to turn away but Hunter caught her shoulder and spun her around. "I want to help," he said. "I can fight too. Not as well as you can but I can still help."
"Don't let your emotions get in the way Shielder," Fray snapped.
"They started getting in the way the moment I met you," he said, his voice equally as harsh.
Fray shook off his hand but the look she gave him was softer. She turned towards Dawn who was now standing near the kitchen door and gave her a light smile. "I'll get her back," she said. "I promise."
"I know," Dawn said. "Is that what you were looking for?"
Fray tossed her the amulet and Dawn looked at it for a second before tossing it back. "Spike was the last one that wore that," she said. "Make sure that the next person that uses it is worthy."
Fray nodded. "I promise."
Faith came out of the kitchen, Wood steering her with a hand on her waist. She just sort of looked at Fray and nodded. That was how she knew it was alright. "Okay," Fray said. "We need to get into the Bronze without them knowing we're there. I'd like at least thirty Slayers plus you all in there."
"Thirty?" Kennedy said.
Hunter stepped forward and threw the mask on the ground. "The markings on that are from the Hawk clan. They're like highway robbers only through time. They want whatever we've got to sell it to whoever's willing to pay the price. For something this big they probably brought two fists of warriors; at least fifty."
Faith nodded. "I'll be able to get at least thirty in there. I might even be able to get one or two behind the bar and a small group in a back room."
Fray nodded. "Alright," she said. "If I break a bottle though when they come I want you to get out of there with everyone else and leave the fighting to me. That means you too Hunter."
Hunter started to protest but when he saw the fire in her eyes he quickly backed off. "I won't risk Willow's life for my own."
Kennedy wiped her eyes again and this time it looked like the tears had finally stopped. "When did you get back home?" Hunter asked.
"At about five, I was only gone for three hours."
"Why Willow though?" he asked.
Kennedy shrugged but Fray supplied her answer. "She's the strongest here. I mean sure, Kennedy and Faith are Slayers but Willow's got goddess power on her side. They could probably feel it."
Hunter nodded. "They would go for the second most powerful person here. They probably though she was working for Fray and that Fray would want her back. Even though Willow is more powerful than Fray, the Fader is the one they're after."
Fray sat down on the sofa and put her head in her hands. She looked at her watch and saw that it was after midnight. "We need to get some rest. Let's meet at the Coven at noon tomorrow and we'll make up a plan. Dawn, go by the Bronze tomorrow and get tickets. I shouldn't need one since I just got a job there."
Hunter nodded. "I won't need one either," he said. "I'll be able to smuggle some weapons into the back room. As long as all your girls are good with swords and axes they'll be fine."
Faith nodded. "My girls can hold their own with steel."
Hunter nodded. Dawn, Wood, and Faith started to leave. Xander and Hunter stuck around though. "Why don't you guys get some rest and we'll keep watch."
Hunter looked at him out of the corner of his eye and Xander smiled. "Okay, he'll keep watch and I'll supply comedic relief."
Fray smiled and nodded slightly. "Thanks for the offer Xander but you need more sleep then I do. I haven't done anything today."
Hunter looked like he was about to say something concerning the fight at Angel's and the trip to the Hellmouth but he quickly changed his mind and just shook his head. "I need to get a plan together. If you have any paper and some pens that would really help Kennedy," Fray said.
Kennedy nodded and disappeared into the bedroom. She appeared a few moments later carrying a sketch book and a handful of pens. She laid them on the kitchen table and then walked back out into the living room to join the conversation. Xander was still trying to talk Fray into getting some sleep but he was quickly losing that battle. "Look," Fray finally snapped. "If you want to stay here you can take my room but I don't want you going through any of my stuff or bothering me in the middle of the night. I don't expect to sleep but I don't need you breathing down my neck."
Xander looked at her, shook his head, and muttered a quick goodbye as he walked out the door. Then Fray turned to Hunter. He held up both of his hands and took a step back. "You can yell at me all that you want but I've got nowhere to go."
"How about home?" Fray asked.
Hunter smiled. "I don't have a home," he said. "I just have a big apartment to store all my junk."
Fray shook her head and pointed to the sofa. "There," she said curtly.
"You offer Xander the bed and I get the couch?"
"I like Xander more then I like you right now."
"That hurts," Hunter said a smile on his face. He fell onto the sofa and laughed slightly.
Fray looked at Kennedy and she choked back a sob before running off into her bedroom. Fray looked back at Hunter and was surprised to see that the smile was wiped off his face. "Go," he said, his voice serious. "Be with your friend."
Fray smiled and nodded. It was all the thanks that he needed. Hunter lay back, his hands behind his head, while Fray ran to Kennedy and Willow's room. Kennedy was kneeling by the bed; she had collapsed before she had even gotten there. Her head was hanging and tears were falling on the floor. Fray knelt beside her and helped her up into bed. She nearly had to pick the Slayer up and she was slightly surprised to see her so weak.
"So this is what love is?" Fray asked, sitting next to Kennedy.
"Pathetic isn't it?" she sniffed.
Fray smiled. "No, it's beautiful."
"Explain," said Kennedy.
"Alright," Fray cleared her throat. "You have so many emotions in your life. Anger, hate, pain, sorrow, nervousness, but nothing provokes the responses that love does. Love can make you hate, it can make you angry or sad or nervous but in the end, even after all those bad things. It still makes you feel good.
"Bad emotions and feelings and thoughts occur more often than good emotions and feelings and thought but out of everything love is the strongest. It can defeat anger and hate and pain. You can never hate someone you love and even though you still get angry at them, in the end it comes down to love."
Kennedy looked at her and smiled. "I've never had anyone explain it to me quite like that," she said.
Fray smiled. "Hey blondes aren't as stupid as people think."
Kennedy smiled and tears started to fill her eyes again. Fray just looked at her, knowing that there was nothing she could say to make her feel any better. She tried anyway though. "I'll get her back to you," she said, "no matter what."
Kennedy nodded and Fray wrapped her arms around the other girl's shoulders. Kennedy laid her head on Fray's shoulders. They stayed like that for a few moments, Kennedy drawing strength from the younger girl. "Thank you," Kennedy finally said, sitting up and looking Fray in the eyes. "It means a lot to me that you're willing to do this for me."
Fray smiled. "I'm doing this for both of us. I could never live with myself if anything happened to Willow knowing that I brought it down upon her."
Kennedy was about to say something but Fray just stood up and walked out of the room with a hurried goodnight. Kennedy just watched the closed door for a moment before turning off the light and fighting for sleep that was a long time coming.
Fray sat at the kitchen table and rubbed her eyes again. She looked at her watch and saw that it was three in the morning. The diagram of the BRONZE 2 was finished, complete with the location of every table, chair, door, and window. She had had to go to Hunter a few times for help but now he was lying quietly on the sofa, not asleep but at least quiet.
Fray leaned back in her seat and cursed quietly to herself. If she had just left when she had meant to she wouldn't have brought this on Willow and the others. Willow wouldn't be in some unknown location with strange creatures from another time doing God-knows-what to her. And Kennedy wouldn't be in the other room fighting for sleep between bouts of tears. Fray shook herself out of her daydream and was surprised to find hot tears running down her face.
She sniffed loudly and regretted it the moment that she did. Hunter turned over and looked at her. She saw his brow furrow when he saw her face and he walked over to her. "Why are you crying?" he asked.
"I feel responsible," she said. "Everything that's happened to Willow and Kennedy and the others has happened because I was here. I should have left earlier. You still would have found me. I just wouldn't have had to involve them."
"That's not true," he snapped. "They involved themselves. They could have dropped you at the first sign of danger but they didn't because they care about you. Now I don't really understand human emotions and I guess I don't understand why you're crying but I know what it's like to care for someone. I know what it's like to want a moment to never end or to want to have someone to love and care for. I was stupid to think you'd want to give that up and you were right, I was jealous. I'll never be that stupid again though."
He said this last part with such ferocity that Fray just sat there, slightly dumbstruck. "You've never even cried," she finally said.
Hunter smiled. "I've never cared about anything that much to be that emotional."
Fray shook her head. "But you've never been sad enough or happy enough to just cry. Or ever even been in a bad mood and just needed to let it out?"
Hunter's smile grew and he shook his head too. "I've never been sad about anything. I was raised in a lab so I never had anything to be happy or sad about, everything just was."
Fray smiled. "I hope you find someone that you care enough about to cry for."
Hunter laughed. "Well," he said. "If I ever do I'll let you know."
Fray nodded and smiled too. Hunter put his hand on hers and Fray was surprised at the shock that went through her body at his touch. She quickly shook it off though. "Come on," Hunter said. "You're tired right now. Let me make the plan for you. I know the Bronze and I don't need sleep like you do."
Fray nodded and allowed herself to be led to bed. She barley noticed Hunter taking off her shoes and allowed him to bring the covers close up to her chin. She did notice however when he kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight Fader," he whispered.
Fray whispered goodnight and fell asleep, still able to feel his lips on her forehead.