Disclaimer: See first Chapter!
Title: The Counting Crow's CD, 'August and Everything After'
*****
"I guess that answers that," Jenny said from the couch, many moments later. She was tired, judging by the strain of her voice and the weariness her gaze held. "He's dead."
Giles and Buffy merely nodded. Willow had taken Dawn up to her bedroom, while Xander was making a quick patrol of the block. Another silent moment passed between the three of them before Giles spoke, his own voice soft.
"Now what?" he asked.
"I don't know," Jenny answered truthfully. "I was only told that Faith had a chance, not what would come of it. And I just..." Her voice failed her here as her eyes unfocused slightly. "You don't know how hard this is for me."
"What, Jenny?"
"Leaving... where I was."
The silence in the air was thick, but Buffy's small chuckle brought a harsh glare from the former teacher. When the Slayer walked over and took her hand, the surprise on Jenny's face was clear as day.
"It's not that bad," the blonde said softly. "Besides, there are people here to help. I've been there... if you ever need to talk..."
The gypsy's small nod was her only answer, but the warmth in Rupert's gaze gave her a small measure of hope. Maybe living wouldn't be as bad as she thought.
*****
He found her quite easily, despite the thick stench of death that hung in the air. Following a Slayer's scent was nothing new to him. There, by a pile of rotting limbs and tattered rags, she knelt. She seemed so small, rocking back and forth with her arms wrapped around herself, weeping softly.
She made no acknowledgement of his presence, not even when he gently sheathed the katana and lifted her easily. With a small sigh, he carried her from this place of death and pain, back into the world above.
*****
"Where the hell is he?" Buffy was fuming. Spike had been gone for almost two hours now, and hadn't even called to tell her he was alright. Not that she doubted he beat Angelus, but still... a girl was allowed to worry about her man.
My man? she thought with some surprise. Even after...?
Those thoughts were crushed quickly and viciously. After all they had been through, she had no right to doubt him. He had changed so much since that day, and in truth, she had forgiven him for it a long time ago. Still, those nagging thoughts ran around her mind for the next half hour, until Xander's voice brought her running.
As she stepped out the broken front door, her gaze was immediately carried to Xander, who knelt by two unmoving forms on the front lawn. One was Faith, who seemed unhurt from this angle. The other wore a long black duster, and had two sheathed blades on the ground beside him.
"Spike..." she whispered, even as she ran to his side. The questioning voices of her own mind were banished completely in that half second, when she feared he was dead. Every regret she had flashed through her mind as she knelt beside the bleached Englishman. With a trembling hand, she brushed her fingers at the base of his throat, looking for a pulse.
"Jus' a few more min'ts, luv," he murmured wearily, shifting slightly on the grass. All pretense of patience flew out the window as she engulfed him in a hug, waking the wounded man. In truth, he didn't give a damn that she woke him, despite his protests.
Xander carried Faith inside without a word, bringing her straight to the basement. Tucking her into the spare cot, he sighed softly before climbing back upstairs, turning out the light as he went.
*****
"Jenny," Rupert said quietly as they sat in the living room, alone for the first time. "I need to know how she was able to do it."
Jenny nodded slightly as she shifted on the couch, making herself a little more comfortable. She didn't speak for a few moments, seemingly gathering her thoughts. Giles gave her the time she needed, confident that the answers would be forthcoming.
"First, the Faith of the Fallen," the gypsy began. "The temple was destroyed almost two hundred years ago, but the talisman wasn't needed to draw forth the power. Faith was able to do that on her own. She was one of the Fallen, once. And she had the conviction necessary to focus those powers and use them in her fight against Him."
"The Faith of the Fallen is powered by the souls of those who had turned away from their beliefs, only to regret it within their hearts when they died. Faith, since she hadn't died yet, had a bond with these spirits. And they granted their power to her."
"And Michael's sword?" Giles asked.
"That's the easy one, Rupert," Jenny teased softly. "Think about it."
"Only one of his bloodline can wield it," Giles replied evenly. "There's no way that she could..." He stopped suddenly, his mouth working as he took his glasses of and cleaned them fiercely.
"Knew you could do it," Jenny laughed softly. "Not as old and foggy as everyone thinks."
*****
Faith didn't leave the basement much over the next two days, moving only to get food and use the bathroom. Otherwise, she simply sat in the semi-darkness, often crying herself to sleep. The others gave her the room she needed, until the third day, when Spike came down to see her.
"'Lo slayer," he said softly, standing just out of Faith's reach. "Seems y' could use a friend right now."
She shook her head, curling herself into a ball under the blankets. Hopefully, the annoying Brit would just leave...
"Can't hide from this forever," he murmured as he sat at the foot of the cot. "I'm just gonna give y' somethin' t' think about, then Ah'll let y' alone."
"Th' fightin's always th' easy part, with people like us. Tha' we can do, and do well. But th' aftermath of th' fightin', tha's were we need our friends an' family, slayer. Don't hide down 'ere forever. We'll all be waitin' t' help y' when y'r ready."
With that, Spike rose slowly and walked upstairs, leaving Faith alone in the blessed silence.
*****
About an hour later, the door to the basement opened quickly. Spike and Buffy looked over their shoulders in surprise as Faith ran from the basement, up the stairs, and into the bathroom. The slamming of the door echoed in the mostly empty house.
"Tha's not what I expected," Spike mused, earning a small punch from Buffy.
*****
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Faith leaned heavily against the wall, trying to calm her queasy stomach. After a few moments, she felt a little better, rising to her feet slowly. She rinsed her mouth out before splashing some water on her face.
The reflection she saw in the mirror scared her, just a little. Dark circles hung under her eyes, and her skin seemed a little pale. She felt sick, both body and soul.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath.
*****
When Faith staggered down the stairs, she wasn't surprised to see Spike and Buffy waiting patiently for her. Someone had always been waiting during her brief forays from the basement. Sighing softly to herself, she swallowed the small twinge of pain and spoke to them.
"Guys, I really don't feel like talking about it right now," she began, her words flowing past her lips faster as she continued. "I'm feeling sick, and just wanted to know if you had something that would help."
"It's perfectly normal y'r feeling sick," Spike replied a bit smugly, "After all... What?!"
He glared at Buffy, who was giving him her best Shut Up Or Die stare. After a small sigh, he settled back into his seat, muttering under her breath.
"Don't mind the loudmouth," Buffy said, trying for damage control. "You know how he gets, and..."
"What did he mean, 'perfectly normal?'" Faith asked, her voice growing slightly cold. When Buffy hesitated, she yelled, "Tell me what the fuck is going on!"
"Relax Faith," Buffy replied meekly.
"Think about it," Spike said from his seat, obviously ignoring Buffy's wishes. "You killed that bloody wanker with who's sword?"
"My sword," Faith answered immediately.
"No, y' didn't," Spike insisted. "Th' sword y' used is still by the cot downstairs."
Turning on her heel, Faith stormed downstairs, angry and confused by the peroxide-blonde's words. She never intended to look at the sheathed katana by the cot, but her gaze was drawn like a moth to the flame. Her knees went weak as the realization hit her, and was followed a moment later by the meaning behind Spike's words.
The smooth white leather of the sword pommel gave her all the answer she needed, strengthened by the white scabbard inlaid with silver. Her own katana was wrapped in blue, and lacked any decoration on the scabbard. She had used his katana.
"Only my bloodline..." she whispered as her hands slowly caressed her belly. A single tear ran a glistening trail down her cheek as a small smile, tinted with the barest sorrow, lit her face. It was his last gift to her, something she had never expected or let herself dream of, until he walked into her life.
She cried again, but the tears of sorrow were outnumbered by the tears of happiness. She was going to be a mother.
*****
"Are you sure about this?" Xander asked quietly as he loaded the last of her luggage into the back of the Mustang. She smiled slightly and nodded, leaning against the driver's side door. She wore clothing that wasn't really what she normally wore. One of Michael's sweatshirts almost engulfed her, and the slightly baggy jeans was something new on her. With a wave to the other's gathered on the porch, she opened the door and slid inside.
"Don't stay away too long, Faith," Xander said as he held the door open for a moment. "You're family 'round these parts." The last was drawled in a fairly good cowboy accent, and another smile lit her face.
"It's just for a little while," she answered.
"We'll all miss you," was all he said as he closed the door and stepped back onto the side walk, waving.
Faith started the car and drove off, much more carefully than she normally did. She was used to taking chances and risking her own life, but things had changed. It wasn't just her life she had to worry about.
She drove east, away from the setting sun and back to the life she had run from years ago. There was unfinished business with her family that she was finally ready to deal with, but after that, she wasn't sure. Maybe a trip to Ireland, to see his birthplace, before she got ready to return. After all, she finally knew were home was.
*****
A/N: That concludes 'A Question of Faith', save for the Epilogue, parts one and two. I enjoyed writing the story, and WILL be continuing along the path I've crafted. I'm not sure when, but it'll be soon. I promise :)
Thanks for all the reviews, support, and helpful suggestions. Please, let me know what you think, 'cause I'm not sure if how I'm gonna start the next story. ::raises his hand, waves slightly, and walks off to work::
