----------------------------------------------
The three appeared in a side alley next to the hospital. Moving towards the
front entrance, they found the Scooby gang and Red Moon just pulling up. "Okay
folks, here's the plan. First, everyone take one of these." Derrick handed each
the Scooby gang one of the Spider Fetishes. The Pack donned their own. "These
are Fetishes. You wear them on your ear, like this." He placed his own on,
making sure they all saw. Xander shivered when he saw the spider move on its
own. "These will allow all of us to communicate in a telepathic fashion. It's an
"open mike" if you speak verbally. If you want to go non-verbal you have to
consciously use it. It's like talking, but without moving your lips. Let's
practice."
It was weird at first but they all quickly got the hang of it. "The best part is
that these not only work here, but also in the Spirit world and in between. They
will also translate English and Garou. Willow, Tara, Giles and Xander will go in
like they are visiting Faith. Once you're in the room, begin drawing the
containment circle, but don't activate it. Hope and John will wander the halls
on Faith's floor, watching for trouble."
"Oz, Conn and Krieg will take Buffy across the Gauntlet into the Umbra. They
will make their way up to our bug and lure it away from Faith once I put her in
stasis. When it's clear, I'll signal Willow and Tara to engage the circle of
protection. Conn's team deals with the bug and we're done. Easy Peasy!"
"And where will you be Derrick?" asked Giles.
"I'll set up shop in the Van. I'll be using my Art to monitor the whole
situation. The Pack and I are used to fighting this way and I'm sure you guys
will fall right in step with it."
"Buffy," said Hope, "The biggest thing you need to remember is that you WON'T be
able to enter or leave the Umbra by yourself. You don't know how to cross the
Gauntlet and I don't know if we can teach it to you. It's important that you
don't become separated from the boys. If you do, get out of the hospital and
make your way to the church on Walnut Street. We checked the place out today and
it has a strong spiritual presence and resonates with True Faith, you can't miss
it. You'll be safe there until we can come get you."
"Plus, I know you're used to working alone for the most part, but while you're
in the Umbra, Conn is in charge. He's our packs War leader and he has more
experience fighting in the Umbra then you. Oh, and if you have anything more
technologically complex then a belt buckle, you'll need to leave it behind."
"Okay, I can live with that." Buffy replied. She took off her watch and handed
it to Giles along with her cell phone.
"Aye, and take this with ye lass." Conn pulled out a large fighting knife, like
a Bowie. Its sheath was decorated with runes and smaller fetishes. "Wooden
stakes might only piss this thing off. This here knife is a Fang Dagger, a type
of fetish, one o' the first I made. Contains a Pain spirit. Make sure ye dinna
touch the blade with your bare skin, or ye will find out. I'll need a drop o'
yer blood though."
"My blood?"
"Aye, I need to attune this to ye, or it'll nay work."
John moved over to assist them. Conn held the fang dagger under Buffy's hand and
John used a smaller blade to prick her thumb. Blood quickly welled up and a few
drops landed on the fang dagger. Conn was mumbling words in Garou at the same
time. As the drops landed, they were absorbed into the blade.
Handing the blade to Buffy, "There, now it knows ye lass. Wield it well."
"Anyone else have anything to add?" asked Hope. No one spoke. "Okay, places
everyone!"
Conn led his group to the same ally that Krieg and the Witches came out of.
"Okay Buffy, all you really need to do is hold on tight to one of us. Why not
just take Krieg and Oz's hand. I'll open the way for all of us."
Buffy took the other guys hands and they all stood next to Conn. "It's best if
you close your eyes the first few times" Oz told her. Conn pulled the leather
thong around his neck out from under his shirt. Attached to the other end was a
small copper mirror. He looked into it and concentrated. It felt to Buffy like
someone was pulling a sweater over her head and the neck was too small.
The sensation did not last long, but she kept her eyes closed when it was gone.
Oz squeezed her hand. "Okay Buffy, we're here." She looked around. Everything
was sort of grey. Stepping out from the ally she saw that the landscape was sort
of barren. A lot of the buildings she knew that were near the hospital were not
here. The hospital was though. It looked different, more ominous.
"Buffy what you're seeing is the Hospitals spirit" explained Krieg. "Most
hospitals aren't very happy places due to the amount of trauma and death that
occurs here. Their spirits reflect that. We may encounter other things inside
here that we'll have to fight, but we'll avoid that if we can. About the only
non-dreary place is the maternity ward. Those are always filled with happiness."
Entering the building, Buffy noted that what would be the lobby was nothing like
she remembered it. It was empty; none of the desks or chairs were present. They
past what would have been the elevator bank. Instead of an elevator, what she
saw looked like a basket woven of spider webs.
Krieg saw her look of disgust. "I wouldn't use that Buffy. It would actually
work, but you don't want to trust it. It's made by Weaver spirits. They will
attack if they think their pattern is in danger. We'll take the stairs."
Faith's room was on the second floor. As they exited the staircase Buffy noted,
"There are no room numbers."
"Yeah, there never are" replied Oz. "Derrick we're on the 2nd floor, which way?"
In their minds they all heard. "Make a left out of the stair case, two
corridors down make a right, third door on the right."
To this point they'd not encountered anything, but as they passed the first
intersection, they spotted something walking down the corridor. It was human
like, but covered in some type of membrane.
"T'is a shade" said Conn. "One of the recently dead. Wandering the halls cause
for some reason he dinna pass to a higher plain, or lower. He'll eventually make
'is way ta the Shadow Lands. Another "layer" o' the Umbra that overlaps this
one. Not a fun place."
As the group turned right down the second corridor, they could see something
standing in front of the third door on the right. Three something's actually.
The first was an amorphous blob, somewhat man shaped. It glowed white at the
center, with different colored streaks. The second and third ones were more
defined.
Standing there was a soldier wearing Vietnam-era fatigues and full battle kit.
Sitting on the floor at his side, was the ugliest dog Buffy had ever seen. It
had a heavy collar and chain, the end of which was being held by soldier boy.
Buffy went up to the soldier. "You must be the guy inhabiting Xander."
Krieg stood next to her. "I don't think he can hear you Buffy. If we spent some
time at it we could probably reach him."
They both heard Derrick over their Spider Fetishes. "Guys I think if you address
him as a Commanding Officer would, he'll respond".
Krieg smiled and got in the guys face. "Ten Hut!" The soldier snapped to
attention. "Name, rank and unit!"
"Sir! Master Gunnery Sergeant Tom Spader, 1st Marine Division, 4th Recon
Battalion."
"Force Recon, ooo rah Gunney!"
"Semper Fi Sir."
"Okay, listen up Gunney. We're Spec Ops, and we're about to make a run on a bad
guy. We'd like you and your K-9 trooper here to guard our flank, you got that?"
"Aye Aye Sir! Sempre Fie, do or die!"
"Outstanding. Also it's imperative that the bad guy never makes it back into
this room."
"Aye Aye Sir!" The Hyena actually growled in apparent anticipation.
In the physical world, Xander and Giles were standing on either side of Faith's
door, trying to look unobtrusive. Had anyone been looking at Xander, they would
have noticed a visible change sweep over him. His face became harder, more
resolute. His back got a little straighter.
Willow and Tara had moved Faith's bed into the middle of the room. Using chalk,
they drew a containment circle around the bed, with themselves inside.
Over their Spider Fetishes they heard Derrick "Willow, hold out your hand."
She did so, and two small devices appeared in her palm. They looked a little
like metallic suction cups.
"Put one Faiths forehead and the other on the side of the monitoring machine
behind her bed" instructed Derrick. She did so.
"Okay, it looks like everyone is in place." Derrick announced to everyone. "I'm
set on my end. I'll put Faith in stasis as soon as you're ready. It's on you
Conn."
Conn addressed his team. "Okay you three this er's what's ginna appen. I'm ginna
"Call the Wyrm". Every Wyrm beast in a 'undred yards or so is ginna come a
runnin. Hopefully that bug on Faith will come a charging outa that door too.
Buffy an me will deal with it. Oz, you and Kreig are gonna cover our backs when
the rest of the Wyrm's beasties arrive. Hopefully we won't attract anything too
powerful. Buffy I want you to concentrate on makin sure our beastie dinna get
back in the room. Ye ken me?"
They all replied "Aye Aye Sir!" with a twinkle in their eyes.
"Funny. Get ready."
Oz and Krieg took up opposite positions about 10 yards from Faiths door. Buffy
stood on the other side of the door, trying not to make actual contact with
Giles's spirit. Even the Hyena spirit got up and faced the door. Conn moved so
he was not directly in front of the door, and transformed into Crinos. There was
barely enough room for him. He mumbled a few words in Garou and the let out a
Howl. Those close by in the physical world paused as if they'd heard a strange
noise.
It was sort of creepy, and Buffy could detect the hint of a challenge in it.
Sort of a "Here I am, come and get me" thing. Conn repeated the Howl.
Derrick timed it so that Conn's first Howl would distract the beast, allowing
him to put Faith into stasis without it noticing. It was harmless to her; the
suction cup device was just a way for him to make direct contact with Faith. The
problem was that as soon as he did this to her, all of her vital sign monitors
flat-lined. That's what the other device was for, to provide the nurses station
with the correct signals so they wouldn't call a Code. On Conn's second Howl,
the bug reacted. "It's on the move!" they all heard Derrick say. The thing burst
through the doorway, landing on the opposite wall, clinging to it like a spider.
It hissed at Conn. Conn Howled back and attacked.
"Willow, Tara Now!" Derrick shouted. The witches snapped into action. Linking
hands over Faith they began the incantation. It could be rushed, but not
mispronounced so they were careful. But something felt different. They'd done
containment spells before, but somehow this was, better. Normally the field was
invisible. Now the pair could see actual walls coming up around them, strong
walls like a fortress. Had anyone been looking, they would have seen the same
wall appear in the spirit world too.
In the Umbra, the Umbrood and Conn were in a furious contest. Buffy didn't dare
try to enter the battle yet, there was not enough room. Instead she set herself
to guard the way back in. So did Gunny Spader and the hyena.
When the witches completed their spell, the Umbrood turned and screamed. It
broke from Conn and tried to get back. Conn grabbed it by one of its hind legs
and restrained it. Buffy took the opportunity to get her licks in. Using the
Fang Dagger Conn gave her she slashed at one of it's flailing arms, severing it.
The thing screamed in pain.
It was then that some more Wyrm beasts arrived, bane spirits in many twisted
forms. Krieg and Oz attacked first. Some pattern spiders actually came down from
the ceiling behind Buffy. The Marine attacked one bare-handed and the Hyena
grabbed one in its jaws, shaking it viciously.
Willow and Tara were standing on either side of Faith's bed, still holding
hands, Amazed at what they constructed. Suddenly, both heard the rustle of
sheets from the bed. Faith was stirring.
"Faith! It's me Willow! Can you hear me?"
Faith slowly opened her eyes. "That you Red?"
"Yes Faith it's me. How do you feel?"
She started to speak, but her voice cracked. Tara reached for a water container
with a bendy straw. After taking a few sips Faith said. "Thanks Blondie. Do I
know you?"
"K-kinda."
"Cool. So what's the what Red?"
"You were being mentally sucked dry by some kind of Spirit bug. It kept you in a
coma for the better part of a year. Buffy and some friends got it off you and
are fighting it now."
"A year? Buffy. Does she….?'
"Relax Faith. We think we know what went on. Buffy is sorry she put you in here
and wants you back. What happened, happened. We can work though it all. I know
you've been in coma, but try to go back to sleep."
One of the pattern spiders actually made it past Gunny Spader. It encountered
the shield wall the Witches had erected. The two of them could sense the
intruder. Tara sent her perceptions beyond the wall, saw the thing and its life
force. She simply snuffed it out. The pattern spider dissolved into a mist.
With Buffy attacking from one side, and Conn from the other, they made short
work of the Bug. By then though, more Banes had arrived at the scene. Buffy went
to help Krieg, and Conn went to Oz.
With the added help, the banes were quickly defeated. But as Buffy and the guys
were catching their breaths, they felt the building shudder.
"Crap, Derrick, what was that?" Krieg asked nonchalantly.
"Wait one. Okay, I have movement from the basement. Something big just left
the morgue and is heading up the elevator shaft on Conn's side, to the left."
Buffy sighed, "The morgue, why don't I like the sound of that."
Conn didn't hesitate, he ran towards the elevator shaft, his mates and Buffy
right behind him. Peering down the shaft, he saw something rising up. Well,
oozing might have been a better term. It looked like it was made up of human
bodies, lots of them. Heads, arms, legs torsos, all mixed together. Some of the
heads had grown larger and where there should be teeth, fangs appeared. They
were screaming in pain or fury, it was hard to tell the difference. Some arms
ended in claws or pincers instead of hands.
Buffy and the rest could not see as Conn blocked the entrance to the shaft. He
backed up momentarily and paused. Buffy began to see something grow over the top
of Conn's fur. It looked chitinous, like the shell of a bug. I covered him head
to toe like armor. Tilting his head back, Conn howled in Rage and then jumped
down into the shaft.
Krieg, Oz and Buffy looked down the shaft. They got their first glimpse of the
monstrosity, and could see Conn sinking into it as if it was quicksand. e didn't
seem to be fighting it. Krieg started to growl. Derrick spoke to them, "Guys,
I can see that this thing extends down into the basement still. It's probably
exposed down there too."
With only a look at each other, Krieg, Buffy and Oz hit the stairs. They were
only on the second floor, so the trip to the basement didn't take long. When
they arrived they could see the thing stretching from what must have been the
morgue, into the elevator shaft.
Oz and Krieg wasted no time attacking it. Sharpened claws were no match for
naked flesh. They tore huge gouges out of the thing. Of course to get that
close, they also came in range of the things many arms, and were getting hit
themselves. Buffy, armed only with her Fang Dagger darted in and out, striking
and attempting to stay out of the things range.
The three could hear Howls of rage from the other side of the nightmare
creature. John and Hope announcing they had chosen to join the fight as well.
With two pairs of Garou on either side of it, they managed to sever it in two,
one end retreating back into the morgue, while the other remained in the shaft.
The four Garou regarded each other, and through the Spider Fetish, Buffy could
hear Hope ask "Where's Conn?"
Krieg pointed at the elevator shaft. The remaining part of the beast was still
"Alive", its various faces and arms reaching out towards the 5, but it didn't
make any moves to come closer. Just then, its entire bulk gave a shudder. An arm
thrust out from the middle of the thing, only this arm ended in a Garou's claws
and was covered in chitious armor. Conn's other arm appeared, ripping an opening
for the rest of him to come sliding down onto the floor. From the floor he
Howled in Victory.
Krieg and John helped the big guy up. "Anyone for round two?" Conn asked.
Hope stepped in front of him. "Well that was a harebrained stunt" She could see
Conn bristle, and he was about to argue the point, but Hope stopped him. "Hold
on Conn, the other half of that thing is still in there." Hope pointed towards
the morgue. "I think we need to finish it. Oz, why don't you take Buffy back, I
think the three of us can deal.
"No!" replied Buffy. "I've come this far, I want to finish it. Besides," she
looked down at herself, covered in blood and gore, "I've already ruined this
sweater, a little more can't hurt."
"Derrick?"
"I'm here. I've scanned the rest of the area, no apparent movement. Your John
Carpenter Movie extra seems to be anchored to the body storage thingy. You know,
all those drawers where they keep the stiffs in."
Hope turned to Conn again, "It's your show dare-devil boy, lead on."
Conn just kicked the doors in. There against the back wall was the creature.
From where the dozen or so drawers would have been extended the merged and
mutilated corpses. From there they merged again to form one mass, which now
ended in a bloody stump. It looked like some sort of twisted Play-Doe factory.
Conn directed Buffy and the Pack to move around the perimeter of the room. Conn
just attacked the stump head-on. Krieg, Oz and Buffy on one side, and Hope and
John on the other, they attacked the parts that came out of the drawer openings.
It only took another minute or so to totally defeat the thing. They all picked
up some more scratches, but nothing life threatening.
"Are we clear?" Conn asked.
"Yup, I don't scan any movement. If you head out and to the left, there is a
locker room. It's currently empty in the physical world. You can cross over and
Buffy can pick up some scrubs."
"Thanks Derrick" replied Conn. "How's Faith."
"Out of the coma already, but a little shaky as you'd expect. The girls are with
her."
Buffy looked relieved and anxious at the same time. "Can we go to her now?"
"Sure," replied Hope "let's just get you cleaned up first."
Walking over to the locker room, John brought everyone through to the physical
world. Again, Buffy had that feeling of being pulled through something. On the
other side the Garou all transformed back into Human form. The blood and gore
that had been on their hides, disappeared. Their human forms were fully clothed
and clean!
"Hey!" Buffy objected, "How come you're clean and I still look like a reject
from a Butcher shop?"
"Just a little Garou magic" replied Hope. "Okay, Men OUT! Buffy and I will be
out in ten minutes. Derrick, please keep your eyes out of here, and please see
that no one comes down here."
Ten minutes later, the girls emerged. Buffy was dressed in hospital scrubs, her
wet hair combed back. "Okay kids, let's go meet the person all this fuss was
about" announced Hope, leading them to the stair case. No one wanted to take the
elevator.
Arriving at Faith's room, Buffy was the first one in, only to narrowly avoid
slamming her face into a wall. Giles and Xander were wandering around examining
it.
"Huh? Where did this come from?" asked a surprised Buffy.
"S-s-sorry Buffy" replied Tara. "Something weird happened; this was not what was
supposed to happen." But everyone outside the wall only heard this through the
Spider fetish.
"Yes it was Tara" said Willow. "We were both thinking about putting up a wall,
the strongest one we could. We got one."
"Welcome to the club girls, you've just performed your first act of Dynamic
magic." They, and only they, heard Derrick say that.
Both of them were stunned. "H-h-how?" asked Tara.
"It was my little talk with you earlier that did it. You were both on the
verge of your Awakening. By simply introducing the concept that there was
something more out there pushed you over the edge. You imposed your will on
Reality. The wall by the way extends to the spirit world too. You accomplished
what you wanted to do, only more so."
"So how do we get rid of it?" pleaded Willow.
"Join hands and concentrate on merging your energies again. I think you each
acted as the others Foci. When it feels right, simply will the wall gone."
They looked at each other and smiled. It pleased them that they had that level
of cooperation. Grasping each others hands, they opened themselves to each
others life force. It felt, wonderful.
"Tara?"
"Yes Willow?"
"I think I can learn to like this."
Through their connection, they could feel each others emotions and more. It was
the most intimate thing either had ever experienced. They began to revel in each
other. Tara brought them back into focus.
"Willow, the wall?"
Sounding very disappointed Willow responded "Oh, yeah."
Both sent their senses out to the wall, touching the reality of it. Then acting
as one, they simply willed it away.
Those who were waiting outside blinked in astonishment as the wall disappeared,
revealing Faith in her bed with the two lovers holding hands over her.
Even with the wall gone the room was too small for the whole crew to be in there
at the same time so Conn and Krieg stayed outside. Xander went out to join them.
Buffy went up to Faith's bed, standing next to Willow. Faith's eyes were closed
at the moment. Buffy looked at Tara and then Willow, silently asking for some
sort of permission.
Willow told her "Go ahead Buff; she's been in and out of sleep since coming out
of the coma."
Buffy called out quietly "Faith?"
Faith stirred and opened her eyes "Hey B"
Tears beginning to come to her eyes, Buffy moved to take Faith's hand. "Oh
Faith, I'm so sorry!"
"Sokay, B. Nothing for you to be sorry for. I'm the one that tried to kill
everyone."
"Faith listen to me, there was something, attached, to your soul, your spirit.
We think it might have been controlling you. We don't know how long it was
there, but don't you see? None of this was your fault!"
Faith was still a little groggy to totally comprehend what Buffy just said.
Willow came around to Tara's side. Clasping Willow's hand, Tara looked down at
the remains of their spell, the circle of protection they drew and a bunch of
candles. Looking at it all, she simply waved her hand, and it all disappeared.
"This is going to come in h-handy"
Out in the hall, someone who looked like a doctor approached the boys. Conn
moved to block his path into the room. "Excuse me, but what's going on. We don't
allow these many visitors at one time. Please step aside."
"Sorry doctor" Oz interceded. "We are all friends and family of the Faith's.
And…"
Giles emerged from the room. "It's alright gentleman. I think the doctor needs
to see his patient. Something miraculous happened shortly after we arrived."
Conn stepped aside and let him pass.
"High doc." Added Faith, as he entered the room, which stopped the Doctor in his
tracks.
"My God, Ms. Wilkens, you're awake. How do you feel?"
Wilkens? Faith thought to herself. "I'm Five (cough) by Five."
"Well all of you will have to leave the room while we examine Ms. Wilkens to see
how she's doing." He stepped over to the intercom and called for a nurse.
While this was happening, Xander was talking to Conn and Krieg.
"Okay, I heard part of what happened through these spider things, but the rest
is sorta blurry. Can you guys fill me in?" Xander asked them.
Krieg put a hand on his shoulder. "Well kid, let's just say that you got in
touch with your passengers. They both joined in and did good for themselves
within the limits placed on them. And if I were you, I'd make an effort to find
out everything I could about Master Gunnery Sergeant John Spader, USMC."
"I've already pulled his jacket Xander." All three could hear Derrick. "From
first glance, the guy was a regular hero type. More medals then you can shake a
stick at, including the CMH, posthumously. I'll have a hardcopy for you when we
get back."
"CMH?" asked Xander.
"Congressional Medal of Honor. The highest award the military can bestow upon
someone in uniform." Replied Derrick.
Krieg continued "There you go kid. My personal opinion is that the only reason
the Hyena spirit has not run away with your psyche is that Gunny Spader is
keeping him in line. We "awoke" his spirit for the fight. What you need to do is
learn how to tap into both of them when you need to. Spader was Force Recon,
sort of special forces for the Marines. I'd think twice before tangling with
those guys."
"Wow, and you're saying I can do all that Arnold Schwarzenegger stuff?"
"No, what I'm saying is that with the Gunny's help, you can train to do all that
stuff and do it well. Do you play football?" Krieg asked him.
"No, I never really had what it took."
"Do you know how to play the game?"
"Sure, I watch Pro ball all the time."
"It's the same thing, the Gunny can tell you the rules and show you the plays,
but you still have to train in order to be in the game. Think about it."
Just then a nurse came up to the room, and gave each of them a nasty look,
especially Conn, and then entered the room.
Giles and the girls came out soon after. "Doctor kicked us out, but she's okay."
Buffy informed them.
Hope came up to her. "Buffy, the boys and I are going to go. Faith doesn't know
us, so no need to add things to her pile yet. Derrick is going to maintain a
watch over her, so you don't need to stay past getting some info from the doctor
and saying goodnight to her. I don't think I need to tell you that the sooner
she's out of here the better."
"No, if I could bring her home now I would."
"Don't forget to let her know that. My point being that if someone did put that
thing on her for a reason, they will find out soon enough that it's gone. She's
too vulnerable here. I think if she's up to it, tomorrow we have Derrick check
her out."
"Derrick?"
"You'd be surprised what that little conniver is capable of."
"Hey, I resemble that remark!" both girls heard Derrick announce.
Laughing Hope continued "We'll just plan it as a contingency. If it looks like
Faith is in an ounce of trouble, pop her out Derrick."
"You got it."
"Won't he need to be relieved? It's almost midnight as it is" asked Buffy.
Derrick exclaimed "Sleep is for wimps!"
"Don't worry Buffy, Derrick treats sleep as an enemy and he has ways around it.
We're leaving. You talk to the doctor and say goodnight to Faith. We'll call you
in the morning." Hope hugged Buffy. Krieg punched her lightly on the arm and
said "Nice job, I'd fight next to you anytime." Conn picked her up into a bear
hug. "Same for me Lass!" Oz just smiled and said "Later." The Red Moon Pack
walked away.
The rest of the Scoobies were rather impatiently waiting for the doctor to come
out. They were about to barge in when he came he finally did. "She appears to be
fine. I gave her some simple neurological tests and there appears to be no brain
damage. The wounds that brought her here are all healed long ago, but her
muscles have atrophied from disuse during her coma. There will be a few months
of physical rehabilitation ahead of her, but otherwise, she's okay"
"Thank you Doctor, that's a relief" answered Giles. "May we see her?"
"For five minutes only. Despite her enforced rest, she is still tired and will
hopefully sleep normally tonight. We've removed the nasal feeding tube, but we
won't try feeding her until the morning." With that he left.
The gang re-entered. Buffy went to one side of her bed, Giles to the other.
Willow and Tara stood at the end.
"Faith, I'm pleased to see you awake" said Giles.
"Are you really Giles? After what I did to you, how can any of you even look at
me?"
"Faith," replied Buffy, "Like I said we think you were being controlled. Do you
remember talking to me, the dreams we shared."
"Yeah, but it's a little vague. I don't know if that was real or not."
"Well it was; it's a Slayer thing. We talked a lot in those dreams and we've
already forgiven each other. I'm sure we were talking to one another at a level
that thing couldn't control. I wish we would have discovered it earlier Faith,
none of this would have happened."
"Yeah, well, nothing to do now but pay the piper. I'm a murderer; I guess its
jail time for me."
"No Faith, you made a mistake! Besides it really wasn't you was it? That thing
could have been controlling you! Giles am I right?"
"Well, yes. Besides, I'd say a year in a coma was payment enough for an
accident. Plus the fact as Angel would attest, rotting in jail is not the best
place to repay for ones sins. "Fighting the Good Fight" as it were would prove
more helpful."
"Tweed is right kid." The gang turned to see Whistler standing in the corner.
"What do YOU want?" Buffy said with no small amount of hostility.
"Relax Slayer, I'm just the messenger." Whistler walked up so Faith could see
him. "The Powers That Be agree with Giles. So don't go sliding into some sort of
self-punishing gloom like Angel. You're not getting a second chance Faith."
Anger erupted in the room.
"Wait, wait all of you and let me finish. She's not getting a second chance
because she never really had a first one! The dark forces had it rigged."
Looking at Buffy he continued. "You and your new friends just took a big piece
off their side of the board and put it back on yours. You are right about a few
things, but don't have the whole picture yet."
"And I suppose you're not going to fill us in." Buffy stated angrily.
"Not the way it works babe. I'm just here to tell Faithy that things are Tabla
Rosa as far as the PTB's and her go. She needs to get back on her feet pronto
too. Buffy you once told me you were sick and tired of doing all this by
yourself. We'll now you're getting some help, use them wisely. Not immediately,
but soon you're going to need all the help you can get."
"Adam?" Willow ventured.
"Him, no, he's just a speed bump. You and you're new pals will find a way to
deal with him. Let's just say that a few people who were otherwise ignoring
Sunnydale will begin to take notice; dangerous people. Watch you're backs
everyone, and decide now who you can trust and who you can't. Later." Whistler
disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Xander remarked. "Do any of you feel more informed then before he got here?"
No one answered.
They all looked back at Faith, who was crying. Buffy rushed over and gathered
her into her arms. "Don't worry Sister. Everything's going to be alright."
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TBC