A/N: I've been putting this chapter off – I know it has to happen but…::sighs:: I've put it off long enough.
Sanity of the Insane
Chapter 11 – Already gone
Buffy. Lips. Kissing.
Faith finally processed these thoughts and broke away from the older girl. Panting, the dark slayer tried to recollect her senses.
Buffy. Lips. Kissing.
Nope, still didn't make any sense. Buffy regarded her sister slayer with amusement, and more than a little sadness. In the back of her mind, Buffy had always known about the younger girl's feelings for her. But she had blocked the knowledge, because then she would have to acknowledge her own feelings. Now, it was too late.
"Why'd you kiss me?" Faith asked, finally coherent enough to speak. Buffy cocked her head and smiled gently.
"Because I wanted to, and because I like you."
"Oh."
Whatever Faith had been expecting, it wasn't the frank answer she received. She had imagined Buffy kissing her plenty of times; though being the cynic she was Faith's fantasy always ended with Buffy freaking out. Now here was the girl of her dreams, kissing her…after she had admitted to killing someone. That chilling thought brought Faith back to herself.
"Buffy, what's going on? First you act weird; then you start hanging out with strangers; now an orderly from when you were in the mental ward shows up and you start killing people."
Buffy's smile faded.
"I can't tell you, Faith. If I did, you'd be in danger."
Faith started laughing hysterically.
"Dangerous? My life expectancy is, like, two years. How much more danger could you put me in?"
"If I told you, you're life expectancy drops to forty-eight hours," Buffy answered seriously. The dark slayer stopped laughing as she realized that her partner was deadly serious. Buffy gestured for Faith to walk with her, and the two strolled through the cemetery silently. Faith found the silence unnerving, used to Buffy chattering constantly on their patrols. Since the other slayer didn't seem to want to talk, Faith fell into deep thought.
Great, just my luck Buffy finally shows some interest and she's gone insane. And what did she mean about being in danger? She killed the doc that wanted to take her away, but then she was talking about surveillance. Who'd want to watch Buffy…besides the obvious? Willow and Giles think the military was involved, but what would they want with kids locked in a mental asylum for? I can't believe her mom sent her there…
Man, for a crazy girl Buffy sure can kiss…
With a start, Faith broke out of her thoughts, realizing they had reached Buffy's home. Judging from the moving shadows, the dark slayer figured the Scooby gang was still rehashing the past with Mrs. S. Noticing Buffy had stopped, Faith turned back. She was surprised to find the girl looking sad and resigned.
"Hey, what's with the face? You look like you just killed someone."
The blond smiled wryly at the lame attempt to cheer her up. She looked at her home and felt as if she was looking at a stranger's house. Even though her friends and family were in there. But, they weren't the First One's friends.
Again, Buffy wondered if she still existed – or if she was just an echo in the First One's mind.
Sighing, she entered the house and walked into the living room. Instantly she was surrounded by her two best friends.
"Oh my god, Buffy I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell us that you were in the hospital?" Willow asked, concern filling her eyes.
"Yeah, Buff. You know you can always talk to us about these things," Xander jumped in with.
"Sure, because you were so supportive with Angel," Buffy replied sarcastically, causing the two teenagers to take a few steps back. Giles opened his mouth to say something when Buffy raised her hand.
"Look, I'm not here to build bridges or whatever. I just came to tell you I'm leaving."
"Leaving, as in this house – leaving as in …"
"As in this state, Xander."
"Buffy, honey, I know you're going through a difficult time but I thought you'd learned that running away isn't…" Joyce started.
"God, mom, this is nothing like last time. I'm not running away, I'm doing my duty."
"Buffy, as the slayer your duty is to the residents of Sunnydale," Giles said slowly, weary of upsetting his slayer further.
"I'm no longer the slayer."
"Buffy…"
"No! Faith is the Slayer, I'm retired." Buffy turned to leave when she felt a hand on her arm. She turned to look at Faith, who was struggling to keep her tough girl act in place. Through the link, Buffy could feel the girl's loneliness and despair over her partner's leaving.
Buffy understood; Faith was going from the Chosen Two to the Chosen One. At least Buffy would have the Pack, but Faith would have no one. The older slayer pulled the younger into a tight hug.
"I'll come back to you, I promise," she whispered in Faith's ear. This time the Chosen One let Buffy go. The blond walked down the stairs. Giles raced to the open doorway and yelled out.
"Buffy, the Watcher's Council will come for you!"
She turned back with a smug smile.
"Let them try."
**********************************
The members of SG-1 having returned from their 'vacation', met in the debriefing room. General Hammond walked in and he could tell by the looks on their faces, including Teal'c, that the news was not good.
"Did you fail to locate Colonel O'Neill?"
"Not exactly," Daniel said hesitantly. "We found him but he wasn't exactly himself."
"What do you mean 'not himself'?" Hammond asked in exasperation.
"ColonelONeill has apparently divulged knowledge of the Stargate program," Teal'c said tonelessly, the tilted head the only indication that he was disturbed by the news.
"What!"
There was a knock on the door and a sergeant entered the room.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but General Craig is here with his unit."
Hammond thanked the sergeant who left the room. Daniel turned to the General with a puzzled look on his face.
"Um, whose General Craig?"
"A few days ago I received a phone call from the president, asking me to incorporate General Craig's military unit into the SGC."
"Incorporate how?" Carter asked.
"An assassination team. Their job is the enter into Goa'uld strong holds and steal technology or kill any particularly dangerous threats to Earth."
"Such a team would be unsuccessful against the power of the Goa'uld," Teal'c responded.
"That's what I think, too, Teal'c. Unfortunately, the president agrees with Craig."
Hammond leaned forward on the table.
"General Craig was also the one of the project leaders for the Full Moon Project. It could be a coincidence, but I highly doubt it. I have command over the unit's missions, but the training of this unit is completely up to General Craig and his second in command. I want don't any of you interfering with these people until I find out more about him and his team."
The group left the debriefing room and headed down the elevator. As they went down Daniel casually remarked, "I didn't know the elevator went down this far."
"These lower areas were never really renovated after it was decided that there was no pressing need for more space," Carter replied.
The elevator doors opened and it took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the low light. The walls were rock and the floor dirt -- the air somewhat stagnate as the minimal air circulation barely achieved its purpose. They came upon an open area where a group of teenagers were sparring. The second the SGC members entered the 'room,' the teenagers stopped and observed the intruders. A shiver ran down their spines at their predatory study.
A tall, greying man approached the group.
"General Hammond, it's a pleasure to meet you. And you must be SG-1, I'm General Logan Craig."
"General, this is Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c. Their leader and my second-in-command, Colonel Jack O'Neill, is currently away from the base but I've heard you've already met."
Craig's eyes narrowed at the subtle thrust from the General, but his amicable smile remained in place.
"Indeed. In fact, he's down here right now becoming acquainted with the troops."
A young woman came to stand beside the General.
"The Third have completed their training, and are wondering if they can go topside for food."
In the dark light, SG-1 thought the girl looked familiar but it only dawned on them when she was introduced.
"General Hammond, SG-1, I'd like to introduce you to my second-in-command – Buffy Summers."
Buffy grinned at the shocked faced of SG-1.
"Hi"
TBC
Hmmm…thought I'd be farther along by now. Oh well, R&R and tell me what you think – I can't learn from silence :P