Ok folks, I'd like to thank Zira from Twisting the Hellmouth for taking up the job of beta-reader for this story (even if she did complain that the chapter ended to early for her liking...). Having a beta means that any spelling/grammatical mistakes are not my fault, so don't flame me for them.

Darkling: not sure you're going to like this...

The Sunnydale Connection (Part 5)

Mathilda's eyes moved from one Turok-Han to another, counting them: four of the proto-vampires where circling them, cutting of their only means of escape, but not attacking the terrified Potentials.

"I bet you wish you'd taken me up on my offer." A voice called from the shadows, and The First stepped forward, still looking like Léon, "Care to reconsider? There's no reason for you to die down here."

"Go to hell!" Mathilda spat, actually managing to sound more convinced than she really was.

"This is not your fight, you don't owe them anything." The First stepped passed the Turok-Han, who had stopped moving, "Swear allegiance to me, and live. Stay with them, and die."

"Forgive me if I have trouble believing you..."

"I can have you killed instantly." The First pointed at the vampires, "What do I have to gain by lying to you?"

"You're The First Evil, how should I know what sick and twisted games you like to play?"

"Kill those children and the Slayer, and I'll let you go." The First stood, arms crossed, "Well?"

Mathilda looked at the shaking Potentials, then gently lowered Faith to the ground before taking a grip on her sword with both hands, "No women, no kids."

"Oh well, I offered." The First morphed into its regular Buffy guise, then turned to the Turok-Han, "Kill them, kill them all."

The four Turok-Han roared, then turned to face the huddled Potentials. Their talons flexed, razor-sharp claws scrapping against each other like fingers down a blackboard.

Swallowing hard, Mathilda raised her sword to the ready position, and shifted her balance to lower her centre of gravity: she'd trained in the use of knives, but had never felt the need to experiment with anything larger. She knew she was going to die, that this would be her last stand, but she sure as hell was going to go out fighting.

"Ok boys." She looked the nearest Turok-Han in the eyes, "Let's dance!"

There was the sound of running feet, followed by a blur of motion as Buffy left through the air, scythe in hand. She brought the weapon round as she landed, decapitating one of the daemons instantly.

Most of the Potentials screamed, but Kennedy and Mathilda did their best to hold two of the proto-vampires back while Buffy took down the third with a jab that sent the spike on the end of her weapon into its heart.

The other two quickly followed, and the hurt and scared Potentials quickly made their way beck to the house.

Mathilda sat in a chair next to the bed where the still unconscious had been put after her cuts and bruises had been seen to. No one else seemed that eager to spend any time with the infamous 'Dark Slayer', but Mathilda was not about to abandon one of the few people who'd even tried to talk to her since she'd arrived.

Spike had stayed with her for a while, and they'd talked about New York, but sunrise had come and he'd retreated to the basement to sleep.

"You did well last night." Buffy appeared in the doorway, startling Mathilda to the point where she almost fell out of her chair.

"Um, thanks." Mathilda blinked, unsure how to react.

"I'm sorry if I'm a little hard on you at times, but I've learned the hard way that it can be dangerous to trust people without question."

"I understand, I..."

"No: let me finish or I'll never have the confidence to say it again." Buffy took a deep breath, "I heard about the deal The First offered you, and how you turned it down. That took a lot of courage, and more than a little honour. Giles said you weren't a cold-blooded killer, but I didn't believe him." She turned to leave, "I'm sorry."

The elder Slayer left.

"B apologising?" Faith groaned from the bed, "I'd never have believed it if I hadn't heard it myself."

"You're awake!" Mathilda span round, "How you feeling?"

"Like a bomb went off in my face. What happened?"

"A bomb went off in your face."

"Oh, well I guess that explains that then..."

"Do you need any help?"

"I could use a drink."

"Let me." Mathilda grabbed a glass of water from the nightstand and held it while Faith took a sip, "You scared the hell out of me: you're just about the only friend I have in this town."

"I'm a Slayer M: we take a lot of killing."

"You looked dead."

"Wouldn't be the first time, and I doubt that too many people would be that upset if I did die."

"I would."

"Thanks M." Faith looked the older woman in the eye, "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes..."

"Why?"

"You're the first person in a long time who's cared about me as a person, not because of what I can do."

"I know how hard it can be to live like that." Faith smiled, resting a hand on Mathilda's shoulder, making her shiver, "But it's more than that, isn't it?"

"Yes..."

"Come here."

"Why?"

"I'm going to show you something." Faith moved her hand to the back of Mathilda's head and pulled her closer.

"I've never done anything like this before." Mathilda admitted hesitantly.

"Well that makes two of us..." Faith whispered as their lips met.

To Be Continued...