See previous chapters for rating, pairing, setting, and so on...
I got another update! Go me! lol.
means thought speaking
PART 10: Connected In Light
Willow and Buffy were filling the potentials in. Just before they started, Christine spotted the cab outside and knew it was Fred. So she went out to help. Buffy nodded at Christine as she saw her come into the living room with who she guessed was Fred.
Willow was just finishing up on what she had already told Christine that very morning, obviously leaving out some parts. She told them about the scythe that she found information on and the spell to turn all potentials into slayers. She also told them a little about the prophecy and how she read it wrong at first and how it involved her, Faith, and Christine. She also told them about the spell that would 'weaken The First'. The redhead knew that any information given to the girls would give them hope and that's what they really needed right now. Other wise she wouldn't have told them anything in till she was absolutely sure. Although she did tell them that she wasn't sure on everything.
Faith stood in the doorway next to Kennedy as they listened to what Willow was saying. "...so that's what we got so far...we are just telling you this information to give you guys a heads up on what we know," Willow explained seeing Fred and Christine. The redhead's face lit up a little as she gave a small wave. Everyone turned to look at Fred, who was feeling really uncomfortable right at the moment.
"Just remember what I told you...they are good people...relax," Christine whispered to Fred. The shy brunette eased down a little as Christine stepped forward.
"Hey guys. This is Fred from LA. She'll be helping Willow with..." Christine was saying as she noticed some weird looks from some of the potentials...that were directed at her. Right then Willow spoke up.
"Fred and I will be going over the texts and all the information that we can find to help us and to get a hold on what's going on," Willow explained. Buffy stepped foreword ready to tell the girls what was going down for the day. Christine felt awkward with all the looks she was getting from some of the potentials. Why were they looking at her like that?
Christine picked up Fred's bags again. "You stay here, I am going to go take your stuff upstairs. You'll sleep in Willow's room with Willow, Kennedy, and me if that's ok?" the potential asked Fred. The brunette nodded as Christine picked her bags up and practically raced out of the room. Faith frowned from the doorway noticing Christine leave.
"Listen up. Fred and Willow will be doing the research gig. But as for us, I'll be splitting you guys into separate groups. We will change the groups every hour. Time is getting closer guys so we need to buckle down and stay focused. Xander will be leading the weapons group, Kennedy will be with me on hand to hand combat..." Buffy went on explaining the day.
Faith left the room following Christine upstairs. "Hey," the brunette slayer said from the doorway startling her.
"Hey," Christine replied setting Fred's bags down.
"What's up?" Faith asked leaning on the door frame.
"Nothing..." the potential answered. Faith gave her a look and Christine sighed. "I noticed the potentials giving me weird looks...it's nothing," Christine said as she tried to get by Faith through the doorway that the brunette had blocked.
"Christine...they just don't understand how important you are. People often are afraid or don't like things that they don't know or understand. They'll warm up again, I promise," Faith said to the potential standing back up straight again and putting her hands in her pockets.
Christine sighed and walked down the hall and sat on top of the stairs hearing everyone below as Faith sat next to her. The potetnial leaned her head on her hands as she heard them greet Fred warmly as they got ready to get in their groups. Christine smiled for a moment glad that Fred was feeling welcome. Then she heard something that caught her ears.
"Listen," Christine told Faith as a conversation could be over heard near the bottom of the stairs from a few potentials.
"Who does she think she is?" Gina, a potential asked.
"Yeah, what makes her so important?" another potential, Kim, agreed.
"You guys, she's just like us. She has to deal just like us..." a potential, Rona, said in Christine's defense.
"Oh yea right. Did you see her? Trying to get in with Faith, Buffy, and them? Like she will ever be one of them," Gina snorted.
"Hey! That's just mean! What about Kennedy? She's a potential too and she helps Buffy..." Rona tried again.
"Right. She HELPS. And she has more experience to help and she isn't in no prophecy," stated Kim as she crossed her arms.
"Right. What's up with that anyway? And did you notice Kennedy and Christine this morning? Someone got some loving last night," Gina laughed. Tears threatened to spill from Christine's eyes as she held them back. She wasn't going to cry and she wasn't about to cry about this or anything for that matter. She had a duty to uphold.
"That's enough! You guys are horrible. You don't know her! How dare you say those things. Christine has just as much experience as Kennedy and who cares if they are involved? And who cares if Christine is in a prophecy. She is a girl just like us if you haven't forgotten. I bet she feels very alone right now. I know I wouldn't want to be a part of this big prophecy and have the evil out there looking for me, wanting to kill me for it. Christine and Kennedy are the oldest potentials we have and they are strong and experienced. You should be ashamed of yourselves," Rona said to the group of potentials that were gathered around her.
"You're right...I shouldn't have said those things," Kim said feeling bad as she looked down at her feet.
"Yeah. You are right. Maybe we should try and do something with her later to get her mind off of everything," Gina suggested, feeling bad too. Rona smiled.
"I bet she would like that. Now let's get going," Rona stated as the potentials left to go out the back. Faith turned and looked at Christine who refused to look at her.
"That's what I am talking about," Christine stated.
"Yea, but someone defended you, and now they might better understand..." Faith was saying. She knew that Christine wasn't really paying attention. Her mind was on something else. That bothered the brunette slayer. She felt like Christine was hiding something from her.
"Hey, I know how you feel. I was the fuck up slayer, remember?" Faith stated. Christine looked at the brunette realizing her point, even though her choice of words were a little wrong. Why was she even worried about this? And after what she told Fred about everyone...Christine was now doing the opposite. This was something that she shouldn't worry about right now. Christine woke up feeling so great this morning and she was going to keep it that way. Faith was right.
"You're right..." Christine said turning to Faith then smiling, "Let's get down there."
Faith smiled and led the way downstairs into the kitchen were Buffy stood with Willow, Dawn, and Fred.
"We need to get a little bit more supplies from the magic shop," Willow stated "Incase if something goes wrong. Plus we might need something that we haven't even realized yet." Fred nodded her head in agreement.
"I brought all the texts that I thought would help...but do you think that we will have time to go get the stuff?" Fred asked. The redhead thought a moment.
"I'll go get it," Christine offered. Everyone turned and looked at her. "I mean it's no big. It would spare you all the time and Faith could help train the potentials that need help. I mean it makes sense if I go."
Buffy thought a moment. Christine was right. Buffy was going to have Faith and Christine practice and train together most of the time anyway. They were going to need it since they were both their main fighters in this war. And Buffy could use Faith's help.
"Ok, later on in the day when Willow and Fred know what they need they can send you and Faith can help me train the others," Buffy stated. Christine just wanted a break from the house and the whole end of the world slayerness going on. It was starting to get to her.
None of the girls were aware of the shadowed figure of Caleb who watched and listened from outside. As quietly as he came, he left. Faith looked at Christine.
"So it's you and me training then huh?" the brunette slayer asked.
"I guess so," Christine answered smiling.
"I got to teach you how it's really done," Faith said laughing.
"Hey!" Buffy protested.
"Just teasing you B, you know you're my girl," Faith stated with a wink, causing the blonde slayer to blush. Christine laughed a little at the older slayer's expression.
"Uh...well, Willow, why don't you guys settle yourselves in the living room and use whatever books you need. Based on the information you uncover today, forms our game plan. Dawn, I want you to go with Andrew to get some supplies..." Buffy started.
"Buffy!" Dawn whined.
"I'm sorry. It won't be that bad...where is Andrew any way?" the blonde slayer asked. Christine saw movement out of the corner of her eye.
"Hey! I saw you Andrew!" the potential said, reaching out into the other room and yanking the boy inside.
"I wasn't trying to avoid you I swear! I didn't eat the last hot pocket!" Andrew exclaimed. Everyone rolled their eyes and Andrew wiped the crumbs off his chin.
"Andrew...no one cares," Anya stated as she came through the back door, "Buffy, Kennedy said she could use you when you're ready," Anya told her.
"Alright, I'll be there soon," Buffy said as Anya turned back around and went back out the door. The older slayer turned her attention back to Andrew and Dawn.
"I also need you guys to try to get in touch with Wood, Spike, and Giles. They left a few days ago to get information about Caleb. I think they might be at Giles but I am not sure...we haven't heard word and I am a little worried." Dawn and Andrew nodded.
"Ok guys, let's do it," Buffy stated. Dawn and Andrew went out the front door as Willow and Fred went into the living room to get going on the information. Buffy smiled at Faith as she walked by her to the back door. The brunette slayer quickly reached out and grabbed her hand pulling the older slayer to her, giving her a quick kiss.
"You know, for patience..." Faith stated smiling. Buffy blushed a little due to Christine being there and smiled at the younger slayer, grabbing her hand and squeezing it before going out the back door.
"Yup, it's official. Defiantly whipped," Christine teased crossing her arms. Faith looked at her.
"Oh I'm whipped? What about you, miss-I-can't-look-at-Kennedy-with- out-a-school-girl-look," Faith teased almost laughing.
"Wh-what!? Hey! I am not a school girl...I don't do that!" Christine protested. Faith laughed not being able to hold it in any more.
"That's it. I'm so not talking to you anymore," Christine said jokingly going out the back door.
"Wh-What? Oh come on Christine I was only joking..." Faith said going after the girl still laughing.
CHAPTER 17
"She's nice," Fred stated as Willow dumped all her books on the table.
"Who?" the redhead asked.
"Christine...do they always do that?" Fred asked taking the amulet out of her pocket and setting down the books she had in her arm. Willow looked at her.
"What? Oh you mean Christine and Faith? Yeah, they've gotten to be good friends. Make a funny pair huh?" the redhead asked, sitting down. Fred smiled then looked confused.
"I thought Faith and Buffy..." Fred was saying. Willow looked at her and laughed.
"No no silly. I meant Faith and Christine make good friends," the redhead stated opening one of the books.
"Oh! Ok I get it," Fred answered sitting down. Both Willow and Fred reached for a book and their hands met. Fred pulled away quickly.
"S-Sorry," the shy brunette stuttered.
Outside...
Kennedy stole a glace at Christine while she was going around observing the other potentials in her group. She couldn't help but smile whenever she saw the girl. Christine made eye contact with her as she was stretching and smiled. Kennedy smiled back as Buffy came and stood in front of her.
"Eyes on the group Ken," the blonde slayer scolded smiling. The brunette potential blushed and went back to work
The other side of the backyard...
"Alright. Willow said that we got to be in sync with each other," Faith stated as she stretched her arm behind her back.
"What I am wondering about, is this whole becoming one and connected in light thing that the prophecy states," Christine stated standing up.
"Well I really don't get it either myself. Here, come here," Faith instructed the potential. Christine gave her an odd look but did as she was told and stood in front of the brunette. "Angel taught me this. We have to clear our minds if we are going to sense each other and fight together." Faith explained.
"Like you and Buffy fight?" Christine asked.
"Yeah, sort of. Ok, now close your eyes and block out all your thoughts. Here, place the palms of your hands against mine. Now focus on the rhythm of your breathing and concentrate on nothing but me and you...or at lest try to," Faith said snickering. Christine opened her eyes that she just closed.
"Ugh, you're impossible. You know that?" Christine asked huffing. Faith laughed then got serious.
"Ok, let's do it again. Remember what I told you and then we'll go from there...ok?" The brunette instructed. Christine nodded putting her hands back against Faith's. She concentrated on the rhythm of her breathing and blocked everything from her mind. After a while, she started to feel something. A tingling...it had to be Faith.
"You feel that?" Faith asked even though her eyes were closed.
"Yeah..." Christine answered as she concentrated on the being alone. The potential could sense Faith's breathing rhythm and tried to match it. Christine then started to feel something else and opened her eyes wondering if Faith noticed anything. That's when she noticed that they weren't on the ground any more...
"Um Faith?" Christine said almost panicking. Other potentials stopped what they were doing and looked at the two girls floating in the air. "I really don't think we are in Kansas any more," the potential stated.
"What?" Faith said opening her eyes a little annoyed. Then she noticed too that they were floating and started to take her hands away from Christine's.
"No! You might break the connection and we'll fall. This might be what Willow was talking about," Christine stated. Faith looked at the potential worried. Christine's own face reflected the brunette's. Buffy came running over to the girls.
"Faith!?" Buffy yelled concerned.
"Go get Willow!" Faith answered never looking away from Christine.
"Now what?" the brunette slayer asked.
"Like I know! Ok...ok let's come down or we're going o break the connection. I don't know what's happening but..." the potential said as Faith's and Christine's hands started to glow. Both girls looked down at them as Willow and Fred came running out the back door.
"Oh my..." Christine could hear Willow say. In one second the glow got bigger, engulfing both girls. Buffy and Kennedy watched horrified and helpless as the ones they loved floated above them.
"What the hell is going on?" Kennedy questioned Willow.
"I don't know!" Willow replied just as scared as all the others.
"I think they are being connected," Fred stated looking up at them worriedly.
"What?" the redhead asked as she turned to Fred.
"Well, in the prophecy it says that they will become one and connected in light. Maybe this is what's happening...Their energy and essences are becoming one...I think," Fred stated looking back up at the two. Christine's and Faith's heads snapped back and legs went straight as something seemed to flow through them.
"Can't we do something?" Buffy asked scared for Faith. What was going on? Then there was a bright light and everyone tried to block their eyes from it. When everyone opened their eyes, they saw Christine and Faith standing facing each other. Then Christine's hands went on her hips and she gave Faith a look who rolled her eyes.
"Ok...what's going on?" Kennedy asked almost a little angry. Why did it have to be Faith with her in this stupid prophecy? Fred smiled understanding.
"I think they are talking," she stated. Everyone looked at her like she was nuts. Buffy looked back at Faith, who had cocked her head to the side and shrugged...it did look like they were communicating.
Everyone was confused. Christine then looked at everyone starring at them.
uh...Faith? They're starring at us Christine told Faith. The brunette slayer turned and looked at everyone.
This kind of sucks in a cool way. Faith told her.
We need to tell them. Christine told Faith looking back at her.