She's Gone 2 - Almost Home
Faith took a breath as she stepped off the coach. "Home, oh the warm fuzzy feelings," she muttered. Her heart stopped when she saw a figure leaning against a car in the parking lot. "Xan."
Gone was the scrawny youth whose cherry she'd popped two and a half years ago. In his place was a well-muscled man with an air of capability. Taking a second to calm herself she made her way through the bustling crowd, ignoring the voice inside her telling her to get the fuck out of Dodge. "Hi Xman."
The man stared wordlessly at her for a second before nodding curtly. "Do you want to give me that bag?" So no tearful reunion, Faith passed the bag over, watching as the man opened the back door and threw the bag onto the back seat before opening the passenger door. "Get in," the man started to walk away.
"Xander," the man turned back towards her, his face stiff. God this was so hard, she bit down on her bottom lips for a moment before continuing. "It's good to see you again," she paused, "I'm sor -."
"Save it," the man snapped, "I don't want to hear it. I'm only here because G-Man asked me. You want to prove how sorry you are, prove it by saving lives not by spouting cheap lines!"
Faith forced her temper under control before speaking, her voice low and controlled. "So why did you visit me all those times in hospital Alexander?" She'd looked on her visitor sheet before running out and had been surprised to see the man had visited once a week from September onwards. "Only way you could get near a babe was wait until she was unconscious is that it? Were you copping a feel Harris?"
"No," she was surprised when the man stepped into her personal space, forcing her to back off, "I figured you didn't deserve to be deserted, that you needed to know that someone cared. That you should have a second chance. And guess what, you screwed it up! You stole Buff's life, fucked her boyfriend, and tried to kill her mom! Then you run off and find god with Angel!"
"Is that it Xander?" Faith felt her temper snap, "is that what's got your prick in a knot? That I chose a real man's help over yours?"
Even as she said the words she regretting them. Seeing the embarrassment on the man's face she opened her mouth to apologise but the Scooby beat her to it. "You know Faith I never got it with you and Buff. I mean you I guess I can understand, you never were choosy," she almost flinched at the disdain in her hoped for friend's voice, "but Buffy? Must be part of the Slayer inside you that attracts you to vampires. Maybe Kendra would have gone the same way if she lived, but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have ended working for a demon. Do you want a lift or not?" The car journey was completed in near silence broken only when Xander snapped at her for trying to change the radio station. Her eyes widened as they pulled up outside a shop. "The Magic Box?" she turned to Xander, "how come we didn't go to B's crib?"
"This is G-Man's magic shop," Faith noticed Xander's face hadn't lost any of its tightness. "We use this as our operations base and Buffy's training gym. G-Man figured it was less confrontational if we met here."
Made sense. "Five by five." She slid out of the car and started towards the door only to stop when the man grabbed her arm. She turned and looked into the man's cold eyes.
"Bear this in mind Faith," she swallowed at the Scooby's tone, "you decide to turn bad, kill me first. Because if you don't, Angel, the Council, the army, and the devil himself won't stop me from killing you if you hurt anybody in there."
If was an effort to brush off the icy finger that crawled up her spine at her companion's words. "Damn it Xan I'm here to help," her voice trailed off as the man stepped past her and shoved the door open. Sighing she followed the man into the shop. "Just give it time he said," she murmured, somehow she figured she was going to spend a lot of time phoning L.A. Once inside she was met by several pairs of hostile, and one pair of kind, eyes. "Can you feel the love in the room?" she muttered.
A honey-blonde dressed in new-age gear stepped towards her, holding out a hand and smiling nervously. "H.hello I'm T..tara pleased to meet you."
Faith smiled, there was just something about this girl that relaxed her. "Hi Tar, we met last time. Good to see you again."
Suddenly Red was beside Tara, her posture hostile and her eyes containing the sneering contempt that always made her bristle. "She's with me, keep away," the Wicca hissed.
Quelling the urge to punch the red-head's nose through to her brain, Faith turned to Dawn. "Hi Pip," she forced herself to meet the teen's gaze, "sorry about your ma and sis they-," her words trailed off as Pip burst into tears and ran into a room at the back. That went well. Finally she turned towards G and waved uncertainly. "G, looking good."
"Faith," the Watcher's stern mask didn't slip an inch. "It's" the normally loquacious Watcher struggled for words, "you're looking well."
Faith decided to cut out the bullshit, just stick to the business. If she tried to open her heart she'd only get hurt - she'd learnt that with her mom and the Scoobies last time whatever Fang said. "So what's the sitch training and demon wise?"
"I still say we don't need her," Willow snapped, "we've still got Spike."
Spike? Faith kept her face expressionless but inwardly she was fuming. They couldn't be so dumb as to work with a soulless vampire could they? Ignoring Willow she turned back to G. "So what my sched?"
"I'll expect you here at eight in the morning until eleven to train. At six you'll return here and practice your unarmed combat skills. As I'm advancing in years Xander," the Watcher needed to the young man, "has agreed to spar with you under my supervision." Great, more time with Bitter & Angry. "I understand you completed your high school diploma in prison?"
Faith smiled proudly and nodded. "Yeah, GPA 3.3."
The buzz she always felt at the mention of her accomplishment disappeared as she picked up the red-headed Wicca's muttered comment. "Bet she slept with her tutors to get her grades."
G either didn't hear or care about what Willow said. "I've taken the liberty of signing you up for Ancient History and Mythology classes at college in the hope they help you with the academic side of Slaying. Xander also told me about your interest in bikes, so you've been signed up for Auto Shop," well the last bit was kinda cool but the other classes, ugh. "And on the weekends you will assist Anaya," the Watcher nodded towards the blonde stood beside Xander, "and I in the shop."
Fuck, she'd exchanged one prison for another. After a second she nodded, her face impassive. "Five by five." She glanced towards Xander. "Can you give me a lift to the motel Xand?" It'd be just like old times, maybe she could get her own room back.
"Actually," she turned back to G, "one of the mistakes we made," Faith blinked, G was admitting they made mistakes? "Was our isolation of you. You'll be staying with Xander and Anaya."
"Rent will be a hundred dollars a week," put in the blonde, her arm wrapped possessively around Xander's waist.
"Um, I can't actually afford that much," she said. Angel's wad wouldn't last that long - not with other shit to buy.
"Maybe you should start charging. Mix business with pleasure."
Faith felt her temper snap at Willow's snide comment. She was willing to take Red's comments over the bad shit she'd done, she deserved it, but sheltered Red had no fucking idea what she'd been through as a kid, how her childhood made her desperate to feel something, anything. She stepped towards the Wicca, a sneer on her face. "What is your problem Red?"
To her surprise the lesbian didn't back away or flinch at her approach, instead she stepped to meet her, pushing a protesting Tara aside. "You're my problem, you're a lousy murderer."
"Ah bullshit!" she shouted. "Yeah, I've done stuff I'm ashamed of. But you hated me before that. Always looking down your nose at me, sneering-."
"I.I'm sure Willow didn't -."
Willow interrupted Tara's attempt at conciliation. "So what if I did? You're nothing but a tramp!"
"Oh is that it?" Faith sneered. "You're just jealous that I had the nerve to go out and get what I wanted, jealous that I've had Xander and you didn't-."
"Oh no, keep me out of this," she heard Xander mutter.
"Jealous that I had a connection with B that you didn't. Well you might have changed sides but you're still the mouse you always were!"
"Am I?" the last thing Faith saw was Willow's eyes turn black and then she was lifted off the floor and flung into the shop's wall.
"Red's got a brand new bag." Impressed by Willow's power she started to rise only to stop when an invisible band of air enclosed her throat choking her. She could dimly hear the others shouting at Willow over the roaring in her ears but the band continued to tighten.
Suddenly the pain was gone. Her vision cleared to see Willow standing before her, a gloating look on her face. "I'm the one with the power now," the Wicca hissed. She tried to rise only to find her arms and legs were impossibly heavy, as if encased in stone. Her eyes burnt with tears of humiliation as Willow began to trace a finger down first her cheek, then her neck, and finally inside her denim shirt to roughly grope her left breast, she'd never felt this helpless, not since she was Called. "You do what I tell you now."
"Willow that's enough," suddenly Xander was between her and the Wicca pushing the red-head away from her. She gasped in relief as the feeling returned to her limbs but didn't move, unwilling to further antagonise the Witch. "You are so out of line!"
"Out of line!" Willow screamed, "she needs to know who's boss, what'll happen if she steps out of line again!"
"Xander is quite right," Faith turned to see G approaching Red, a worried expression on his face.
Faith looked from G to Red to Tar. "What the fuck?" she muttered. She supposed it was part of being a Slayer but she could now see auras surrounding the three mages. G's greyish one and Tar's shiny white one crackled with power, but Red's was pitch black and looked like it contained enough energy to power the whole state for the whole of the new century. "That much power can't be good." She realised G was speaking again.
"Yes Faith abused her abilities," the Watcher growled, dam that scary tone had to be 'Ripper'. "And what do you think you were doing just now? I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave here and home."
Willow's eyes widened. "You'd chose that skank over me?"
"It's not a matter of choosing Faith over you," the Watcher's tone was measured but Faith could see a dangerous glint in his eyes, "it's a matter of creating a safe environment for Dawn. Your continuing abuse of magic and worsening self-control combine to make you an unsuitable -."
"Fine!" Willow snapped before spinning round to face Tara. "Let's go home and get our things."
Tara shook her head. "N.no."
"What!" Willow's eyes bulged, Faith's hand edged towards her knife. "You'd betray me?"
"W..what you did was wrong," Tara's face was pale but resolute, girl had serious spine, Faith had to give her that. "You're using magic too much -."
"If that's what you want, you can all go to hell!" her cheeks red with rage, the Wicca stormed out of the shop, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Are you okay Faith?"
She felt a warm glow at the concern she saw in Xander's face as he helped her to her feet. "Yeah five by five Xand." Maybe things might be alright after all.
"Anaya could you and Dawn take Tara into the backroom," Faith felt her stomach tighten at the desolate look on the Wicca's face, she'd help cause that with her big mouth. "Xander and I will brief Faith on her duties." Brief? Faith raised an eyebrow, she'd never known the Watcher be brief.
Ninety minutes later and the Watcher had finished. Faith stood and glanced out of the window. It was past nine and dark outside. Crouching by her bag she pulled out her stake, a stake Angel had given her - seemed appropriate. "It's five by five by you G I'll take a run through the vamp hot-spots."
After a second the Englishman nodded. "Very well, Xander will you accompany -."
"No," Faith shook her head, fuck she didn't want that, not what she'd got planned. "I wanna go stag."
"Faith," G let out a long-suffering sigh, god she remembered that sound. "When you patrol you will be accompanied. At least until you're back in the swing of things."
At least until you can trust me more like Faith translated before shaking her head. "I'm not patrolling, just getting the lie of the land, doing a recon." She played her ace card. "I can cover more territory quicker on my own."
After a second the Watcher glanced at his watch. "Very well, it's ten past nine, I want you back at ten thirty."
Faith nodded dutifully. "Five by five." Now she could take care of business.
Faith took a breath as she stepped off the coach. "Home, oh the warm fuzzy feelings," she muttered. Her heart stopped when she saw a figure leaning against a car in the parking lot. "Xan."
Gone was the scrawny youth whose cherry she'd popped two and a half years ago. In his place was a well-muscled man with an air of capability. Taking a second to calm herself she made her way through the bustling crowd, ignoring the voice inside her telling her to get the fuck out of Dodge. "Hi Xman."
The man stared wordlessly at her for a second before nodding curtly. "Do you want to give me that bag?" So no tearful reunion, Faith passed the bag over, watching as the man opened the back door and threw the bag onto the back seat before opening the passenger door. "Get in," the man started to walk away.
"Xander," the man turned back towards her, his face stiff. God this was so hard, she bit down on her bottom lips for a moment before continuing. "It's good to see you again," she paused, "I'm sor -."
"Save it," the man snapped, "I don't want to hear it. I'm only here because G-Man asked me. You want to prove how sorry you are, prove it by saving lives not by spouting cheap lines!"
Faith forced her temper under control before speaking, her voice low and controlled. "So why did you visit me all those times in hospital Alexander?" She'd looked on her visitor sheet before running out and had been surprised to see the man had visited once a week from September onwards. "Only way you could get near a babe was wait until she was unconscious is that it? Were you copping a feel Harris?"
"No," she was surprised when the man stepped into her personal space, forcing her to back off, "I figured you didn't deserve to be deserted, that you needed to know that someone cared. That you should have a second chance. And guess what, you screwed it up! You stole Buff's life, fucked her boyfriend, and tried to kill her mom! Then you run off and find god with Angel!"
"Is that it Xander?" Faith felt her temper snap, "is that what's got your prick in a knot? That I chose a real man's help over yours?"
Even as she said the words she regretting them. Seeing the embarrassment on the man's face she opened her mouth to apologise but the Scooby beat her to it. "You know Faith I never got it with you and Buff. I mean you I guess I can understand, you never were choosy," she almost flinched at the disdain in her hoped for friend's voice, "but Buffy? Must be part of the Slayer inside you that attracts you to vampires. Maybe Kendra would have gone the same way if she lived, but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have ended working for a demon. Do you want a lift or not?" The car journey was completed in near silence broken only when Xander snapped at her for trying to change the radio station. Her eyes widened as they pulled up outside a shop. "The Magic Box?" she turned to Xander, "how come we didn't go to B's crib?"
"This is G-Man's magic shop," Faith noticed Xander's face hadn't lost any of its tightness. "We use this as our operations base and Buffy's training gym. G-Man figured it was less confrontational if we met here."
Made sense. "Five by five." She slid out of the car and started towards the door only to stop when the man grabbed her arm. She turned and looked into the man's cold eyes.
"Bear this in mind Faith," she swallowed at the Scooby's tone, "you decide to turn bad, kill me first. Because if you don't, Angel, the Council, the army, and the devil himself won't stop me from killing you if you hurt anybody in there."
If was an effort to brush off the icy finger that crawled up her spine at her companion's words. "Damn it Xan I'm here to help," her voice trailed off as the man stepped past her and shoved the door open. Sighing she followed the man into the shop. "Just give it time he said," she murmured, somehow she figured she was going to spend a lot of time phoning L.A. Once inside she was met by several pairs of hostile, and one pair of kind, eyes. "Can you feel the love in the room?" she muttered.
A honey-blonde dressed in new-age gear stepped towards her, holding out a hand and smiling nervously. "H.hello I'm T..tara pleased to meet you."
Faith smiled, there was just something about this girl that relaxed her. "Hi Tar, we met last time. Good to see you again."
Suddenly Red was beside Tara, her posture hostile and her eyes containing the sneering contempt that always made her bristle. "She's with me, keep away," the Wicca hissed.
Quelling the urge to punch the red-head's nose through to her brain, Faith turned to Dawn. "Hi Pip," she forced herself to meet the teen's gaze, "sorry about your ma and sis they-," her words trailed off as Pip burst into tears and ran into a room at the back. That went well. Finally she turned towards G and waved uncertainly. "G, looking good."
"Faith," the Watcher's stern mask didn't slip an inch. "It's" the normally loquacious Watcher struggled for words, "you're looking well."
Faith decided to cut out the bullshit, just stick to the business. If she tried to open her heart she'd only get hurt - she'd learnt that with her mom and the Scoobies last time whatever Fang said. "So what's the sitch training and demon wise?"
"I still say we don't need her," Willow snapped, "we've still got Spike."
Spike? Faith kept her face expressionless but inwardly she was fuming. They couldn't be so dumb as to work with a soulless vampire could they? Ignoring Willow she turned back to G. "So what my sched?"
"I'll expect you here at eight in the morning until eleven to train. At six you'll return here and practice your unarmed combat skills. As I'm advancing in years Xander," the Watcher needed to the young man, "has agreed to spar with you under my supervision." Great, more time with Bitter & Angry. "I understand you completed your high school diploma in prison?"
Faith smiled proudly and nodded. "Yeah, GPA 3.3."
The buzz she always felt at the mention of her accomplishment disappeared as she picked up the red-headed Wicca's muttered comment. "Bet she slept with her tutors to get her grades."
G either didn't hear or care about what Willow said. "I've taken the liberty of signing you up for Ancient History and Mythology classes at college in the hope they help you with the academic side of Slaying. Xander also told me about your interest in bikes, so you've been signed up for Auto Shop," well the last bit was kinda cool but the other classes, ugh. "And on the weekends you will assist Anaya," the Watcher nodded towards the blonde stood beside Xander, "and I in the shop."
Fuck, she'd exchanged one prison for another. After a second she nodded, her face impassive. "Five by five." She glanced towards Xander. "Can you give me a lift to the motel Xand?" It'd be just like old times, maybe she could get her own room back.
"Actually," she turned back to G, "one of the mistakes we made," Faith blinked, G was admitting they made mistakes? "Was our isolation of you. You'll be staying with Xander and Anaya."
"Rent will be a hundred dollars a week," put in the blonde, her arm wrapped possessively around Xander's waist.
"Um, I can't actually afford that much," she said. Angel's wad wouldn't last that long - not with other shit to buy.
"Maybe you should start charging. Mix business with pleasure."
Faith felt her temper snap at Willow's snide comment. She was willing to take Red's comments over the bad shit she'd done, she deserved it, but sheltered Red had no fucking idea what she'd been through as a kid, how her childhood made her desperate to feel something, anything. She stepped towards the Wicca, a sneer on her face. "What is your problem Red?"
To her surprise the lesbian didn't back away or flinch at her approach, instead she stepped to meet her, pushing a protesting Tara aside. "You're my problem, you're a lousy murderer."
"Ah bullshit!" she shouted. "Yeah, I've done stuff I'm ashamed of. But you hated me before that. Always looking down your nose at me, sneering-."
"I.I'm sure Willow didn't -."
Willow interrupted Tara's attempt at conciliation. "So what if I did? You're nothing but a tramp!"
"Oh is that it?" Faith sneered. "You're just jealous that I had the nerve to go out and get what I wanted, jealous that I've had Xander and you didn't-."
"Oh no, keep me out of this," she heard Xander mutter.
"Jealous that I had a connection with B that you didn't. Well you might have changed sides but you're still the mouse you always were!"
"Am I?" the last thing Faith saw was Willow's eyes turn black and then she was lifted off the floor and flung into the shop's wall.
"Red's got a brand new bag." Impressed by Willow's power she started to rise only to stop when an invisible band of air enclosed her throat choking her. She could dimly hear the others shouting at Willow over the roaring in her ears but the band continued to tighten.
Suddenly the pain was gone. Her vision cleared to see Willow standing before her, a gloating look on her face. "I'm the one with the power now," the Wicca hissed. She tried to rise only to find her arms and legs were impossibly heavy, as if encased in stone. Her eyes burnt with tears of humiliation as Willow began to trace a finger down first her cheek, then her neck, and finally inside her denim shirt to roughly grope her left breast, she'd never felt this helpless, not since she was Called. "You do what I tell you now."
"Willow that's enough," suddenly Xander was between her and the Wicca pushing the red-head away from her. She gasped in relief as the feeling returned to her limbs but didn't move, unwilling to further antagonise the Witch. "You are so out of line!"
"Out of line!" Willow screamed, "she needs to know who's boss, what'll happen if she steps out of line again!"
"Xander is quite right," Faith turned to see G approaching Red, a worried expression on his face.
Faith looked from G to Red to Tar. "What the fuck?" she muttered. She supposed it was part of being a Slayer but she could now see auras surrounding the three mages. G's greyish one and Tar's shiny white one crackled with power, but Red's was pitch black and looked like it contained enough energy to power the whole state for the whole of the new century. "That much power can't be good." She realised G was speaking again.
"Yes Faith abused her abilities," the Watcher growled, dam that scary tone had to be 'Ripper'. "And what do you think you were doing just now? I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave here and home."
Willow's eyes widened. "You'd chose that skank over me?"
"It's not a matter of choosing Faith over you," the Watcher's tone was measured but Faith could see a dangerous glint in his eyes, "it's a matter of creating a safe environment for Dawn. Your continuing abuse of magic and worsening self-control combine to make you an unsuitable -."
"Fine!" Willow snapped before spinning round to face Tara. "Let's go home and get our things."
Tara shook her head. "N.no."
"What!" Willow's eyes bulged, Faith's hand edged towards her knife. "You'd betray me?"
"W..what you did was wrong," Tara's face was pale but resolute, girl had serious spine, Faith had to give her that. "You're using magic too much -."
"If that's what you want, you can all go to hell!" her cheeks red with rage, the Wicca stormed out of the shop, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Are you okay Faith?"
She felt a warm glow at the concern she saw in Xander's face as he helped her to her feet. "Yeah five by five Xand." Maybe things might be alright after all.
"Anaya could you and Dawn take Tara into the backroom," Faith felt her stomach tighten at the desolate look on the Wicca's face, she'd help cause that with her big mouth. "Xander and I will brief Faith on her duties." Brief? Faith raised an eyebrow, she'd never known the Watcher be brief.
Ninety minutes later and the Watcher had finished. Faith stood and glanced out of the window. It was past nine and dark outside. Crouching by her bag she pulled out her stake, a stake Angel had given her - seemed appropriate. "It's five by five by you G I'll take a run through the vamp hot-spots."
After a second the Englishman nodded. "Very well, Xander will you accompany -."
"No," Faith shook her head, fuck she didn't want that, not what she'd got planned. "I wanna go stag."
"Faith," G let out a long-suffering sigh, god she remembered that sound. "When you patrol you will be accompanied. At least until you're back in the swing of things."
At least until you can trust me more like Faith translated before shaking her head. "I'm not patrolling, just getting the lie of the land, doing a recon." She played her ace card. "I can cover more territory quicker on my own."
After a second the Watcher glanced at his watch. "Very well, it's ten past nine, I want you back at ten thirty."
Faith nodded dutifully. "Five by five." Now she could take care of business.
