Huh?
By Norwalker
Huh?
Part I
Pairings: Primarily Buffy and Faith, but that doesn't preclude other stuff.
Summary: A story set post " Chosen ". Really rather defies summarization, but it's about the Chosen Two, Buffy and Faith. Do we ever really know someone else until we know ourselves?
Timeline/ Spoilers: Set post Season 7, so it will probably include references from the prior 7 seasons. Hope you've seen them by now( all out on DVD).
Legal stuff : You betcha. The characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I'm just borrowing them. Trust me, I'm not making anything on writing this.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Sex, drugs and rock and roll? Not good for you…ok, well except maybe the last. Everything is fair game, so if something offends you, sorry. I'm not perfect, and I'm not PC. If you don't like the idea of women being in love with each other, this is NOT the story for you. Also, not the story for you if you're birth date is after 1986. Oh, and if you're heavily religious? This story probably won't appeal to you either. Ooops.
To Pasha: For all the inspiration, ideas, help and everything, thanks just isn't enough. But Thanks.
-1-
She stands overlooking the giant sinkhole that only an hour or so before was the town of Sunnydale. It's over, and they've won. The First is defeated, sealed in the hellmouth for … well, at least for long after she'd be dead. It wasn't without a price. Anya, Spike… both dead. Some of the new slayers, injured badly, along with Robin Wood. But it was over now, the rules had changed. She was no longer THE chosen one. There was no longer just one…
"… the first is scrunched, " Willow grinning, looks at Buffy. " So, Buffy, what do you think we should do?"
" Yeah. You're not the one and only chosen one. Just gotta live like a person now. How's that feel?"
" Yeah Buffy, " Dawn interrupts, " What're we gonna do now?"
Buffy stands staring into the abyss in front of them, arms crossed over her chest. She smiles a Mona Lisa smile.
What? Do I look like the answer lady? How 'bout someone else figuring out what to do? Sheesh! Didn't someone just say I ' gotta live like a person now' ?
Buffy sighs, and turns around. She shrugs.
" I dunno, guys. For now, I'm guessing we should get outta here, find a place to get the injured girls some looking after, and somewhere to crash."
" Yeah, 'k Buff, " Willow says, looking a little concerned. She looks awfully pale.
Faith heads towards the bus, followed by the others, Buffy bringing up the rear.
Buffy stops for a second, closing her eyes. A sharp pain shoots through her, making her feel feverish and clammy at the same time. She opens her eyes, and notices the others are a farther ahead.
Gosh, I didn't know we'd gone so far from the bus. It looks like a mile away! Buffy starts trudging towards the bus, but it's slow going. The air feels heavy and moist, like she's walking through water. Geeze, it got hot all of a sudden. She wipes her brow, and then notices the others… they look so far away. Hey, wait for me, 'k guys? She thinks to herself as she pushes herself faster. But they keep getting farther and farther away.
She takes another few steps, then stops, panting. She feels like she's been walking for miles. God, it's so humid! She stops to rest, then notices something funny. Her brow furrows, and she looks at her watch. 2 p.m. That's weird!
" Hey guys!" She calls out, weakly. She feels all out of breath. " Isn't it kind of early to be getting dark?"
She looks around, and notices the world starting to spin.
Well, that can't be good!
It's the last thing she remembers before passing out.
-2-
" So, ummm… who's got money?" Faith asks, as they walk, " I mean, don't know of any 'free' motels around. Gotta get up some scratch to pay for it."
" Let's see…" Willow digs in her purse, " I got 10 bucks… how 'bout you , Dawn?"
" I got 30 dollars," Dawn said.
" 30 bucks? You been holding out on us, brat!" Faith makes as if she's going to grab the money from Dawn.
" Hey, I saved this! It's mine!" Dawn squeals, running away from Faith. Faith laughs.
" Chill out, Dawn, not gonna take your money."
" How much you got, Faith?" Willow asks, feeling Dawn hide behind her.
" Me? Oh yeah, I'm rolling in it. You know how much they pay in prison…" She digs in her jeans, and pulls out a few crumpled bills and some change. " I dunno, couple of bucks maybe."
" Hey, Buffy! How 'bout you? Got any…" Willow turns around, and stops cold.
Buffy's lying face down in the road.
" Oh, shit!" Faith takes off down the road towards the prone slayer.
" Buffy!" Willow follows her, her face anxious.
"What's going on?" Dawn, behind Willow, didn't see her sister. Now she does. " BUFFEEE!" She cries. She starts running back down the road.
Giles, already on the bus, hears the commotion. He comes to the door and sees the cluster of women down the road.
"What's going on?" He yells. Then he spots what they're looking at. " Oh, good lord!" He runs down to the group.
Faith is kneeling by Buffy. She's turned her over. The bottom of her blouse is covered in blood. She reaches out and touches Buffy's neck.
Willow is standing next to Dawn. Both have that wide eyed look of seeing something utterly horrible, but unable to scream.
" Is… is she…?" Giles, panting a little, runs up to the group. He looks at Faith. " Is she…?"
" She's alive. She's got a pulse, but it's kind of weak." Faith stands up. " Giles, help me carry her to the bus. " She turns to Willow and Dawn. " You two, go back and clear a space for her to lie down on the bus!" She turns to Giles, who's gone to Buffy's feet.
" Who made you boss?" Dawn asks, a little snippily.
" Brat, not a good time to argue. Go, DO!" Faith snaps at her. She turns and bends to lift Buffy's shoulders.
" But…" Willow begins.
" No Buts, Red. Get going!" Faith orders. She lifts Buffy by the shoulders, while Giles lifts her feet.
Willow and Dawn hesitate, not wanting to leave Buffy.
" MOVE IT!" Faith barks, " God, if you want to get her to a hospital in time, we don't got time to screw around. Get going!"
Chastised, the pair turn and run as Giles and Faith carry Buffy, unconscious, towards the bus.
-3-
Faith and Giles carry Buffy to the bus. She's half come around, and struggles a little against them.
Andrew, sitting next to Xander, turns as they enter the bus.
" The slayer… Buffy….she's …"
"What?"
The former potentials, the baby slayers, watch as Faith and Giles carry Buffy to the back of the bus.
" What's wrong with her?"
" What happened?"
" What'd you do, Faith? Hit her?"
" Is she going to be ok?"
" Oh god, look, she's bleeding!"
Xander stands up. He steps into the aisle, blocking the way.
" What's going on? What happened to her?" Xander has a slightly hostile expression on his face." Did you…?"
" Back off, would ya?" Faith says, as they try to make the back of the bus. Clearing some space, they put her with the other wounded girls. Willow comes around, kneeling by Buffy and pulling back on her shirt. She blanches when she sees the wound. For a second, she hesitates, then grabs a cloth and some water, and starts to wash the wound.
Xander comes up behind Faith, pulling her around to face him.
" So, did you like go evil again, and get some payback on Buffy?"
" What the hell are you talking about, Xander?" Faith says, obviously offended.
" Oh, I dunno. Just that Buffy was alright, and now she's not. So, who here is strong enough and fast enough to…"
" Xander, for Pete's sake! Faith had nothing to do with it. Buffy was lying on the road. She has a stab wound," Willow pipes up, while tending to Buffy's wound. She looks at him. " Well?"
Xander is loathe to give up the idea Faith had something to do with this. " Oh. Sorry, " He says, not sounding all the sorry. He whispers sotto voce to Faith. " I'm watching you!" He goes to sit down.
" And I'm trembling, " Faith says to herself, nearly laughing. She starts towards the front of the bus.
" Buffy, the slayer of the vampires. Struck down young, in her prime…" Andrew starts off on one of his narrations.
" Would you shut up?" Xander punches his arm.
" OW!" Andrew rubs his arm, looking petulant. But he does shut up.
" If Buffy's down, who's in charge then?" One of the girls voices what everyone's thinking.
" Mr. Giles, of course," anther replies, without hesitation.
Everyone looks at Giles.
" Faith is in charge," he says quietly.
" Huh? Wait a minute, Giles, I'm so not in charge here. These are your girls…" Faith makes a big negatory gesture.
" I've got to drive the bus, Faith. I can't do that, and watch the girls at the same time," Giles takes off his glasses, cleaning them.
" We're not babies. We don't need watching!"
" Oh , cripey. We're screwed if she's back in charge."
" That's it. I'm getting off the bus now. I'll take my chances walking, " one of the slayers rises to leave.
" Sit down," Giles glares at her. She sits.
" I think you're outvoted, Giles, " Faith smirks, covering her hurt.
" This isn't a democracy. Faith is in charge. That's final. Now sit down and be quiet, so we can get underway."
" What about a vote? I mean, it's not like she's the only slayer here."
" I nominate Willow!"
" Willow's not a slayer!"
" No way. Uh-uh" Willow speaks up from the back of the bus. " No way I'm in charge. I've got too much to do taking care of the wounded. I respectfully say…forget it!" She thinks a second. " And you can't have Vi. She's helping me." She turns her to Vi. " Sweetie, do me a favor? Check on Robin up front. Make sure he's doing ok?""
Vi nods, and starts up front.
One of the potentials pops out of her seat.
" Kennedy, I nominate Kennedy!"
" Yeah, Kennedy. Let her have a shot at it."
The girls start to chant. " Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy!" Giles looking frustrated, meets Faith's eyes. Faith shrugs.
" Looks like the girls want Kennedy." Faith turns away, walking towards Robin, who's in front behind the driver's seat.
Kennedy stands up, and the girls cheer. She waves her hands as if to quiet them.
" I think Giles is right, " Kennedy says quietly, " Faith should be in charge." She sits down.
A groan goes up. Everybody is chattering at once. Faith, taken by surprise, looks at Kennedy, who is sitting there, looking at her calmly with a small smile on her face.
Why do I think this aint the end of it? Faith watches as the girls gradually settle down. Kennedy is surrounded by her 'admirers', who seem to be giving her a hard time. She just smiles and laughs and chats. Clever girl. Things are hinky right now, and she knows it. If she takes it up now, and fails, she's screwed. Now all she's gotta do is wait ' til I fall on my ass, which'll probably not be too long, and then take over. She's the hero, and I'm the dog. Whatta surprise. Gotta give her props; she's smart, if a sneaky evil bitch. Gotta watch her like a hawk. Crap, now I'm playing this fucking game!
Faith walks to the front of the bus, where Giles is settling into the driver's seat.
" Hey, Giles. Thanks, but no thanks. Not jonesing to be babysitter to a bunch of baby slayers. This is your gig; I'm sittin' this one out."
Giles leans on the wheel. He looks tired. He turns his head towards Faith.
" Faith, do you know what your biggest weakness is?" Giles asks mildly.
" Other than tequila shooters, you mean?" Faith teases.
" I'm serious Faith. You don't believe in yourself. You think you're not capable of leading, and you sabotage any opportunity you get." His look softens, " it's not like you're not qualified. You're smart, you're good on your feet and you can make the hard decisions. I've seen you do it."
" Yeah, and we know how well that turned out." Faith mutters.
" Stop! Anyone could make a mistake, you did the best with what you had. It's not your fault that Caleb set a trap."
" I got some girls killed. You tell them that, ok? Then we'll talk."
"It's hard to accept death, I know that. Especially when you care. You feel guilt, and you question yourself. That's good; it keeps you from becoming complacent. But you can't let it stop you from going forward, Faith." He observes her doubting expression. " how many times do you think Buffy's felt what you're feeling?"
" Dunno, Giles. Not psychic, remember?"
" All the time, Faith. Every time she's faced something new, there's been doubt in her heart. She doesn't admit it, but if you know her, you know that's true. That's the mark of a true leader, Faith. You don't overestimate your abilities, and you question, to a point, your actions. In the end, however, you've got to trust what you know. Trust yourself. You can do this Faith."
" Lots of the girls would disagree with you, Giles, " Faith says, looking back over the bus.
" It isn't a popularity contest, Faith. They don't need someone who can be their buddy; they need someone they can count on."
" Oh yeah, that's me. Ms. Dependable."
" You're not that girl anymore, Faith. The teenager with an attitude of " Get in, get some, get gone." I don't know if it's prison, or Angel, or just you, growing up. but you're different now, and you're capable… no, more than that, you're necessary. These girls, even if their lives aren't threatened right now, still are at odds with who they are, and what this new power of theirs means. They need someone who's been at it awhile to look up to. I'm afraid that's you, Faith."
" This is a huge mistake, Giles…" Faith is cut off by a commotion at the back of the bus.
Buffy, delirious, has woken up, pushing Dawn and Willow out of the way. She stands , her gaze unfocused, her body weaving a little.
" Buffy?" Dawn says, getting up and starting to go to Buffy. Buffy turns towards her.
" Dawn? Stay back!" She pushes Dawn down. " She's here, stay hidden. I won't… I won't let her get you!"
Willow moves towards her. " Buffy, you're ill. You've got to lie down!" She puts an arm on Buffy's arm. Buffy shakes her off violently.
"NO!" Buffy cries out, " I told you, Will. I love you, but if anyone, ANYONE, tries to hurt her, I'll kill them!"
The slayers bunch up as a group, staring at the tableau. They don't move to interfere.
" What's going on? What's she talking about?"
" Don't know… acting crazy… always thought she was a bit daft."
Buffy looks around. " Minions. God, there's so many of them. Get back, I'll keep them away."
A light goes on in Willow's head. She turns to Dawn, who's next to her.
" Glory, she thinks … she's back fighting Glory!" Willow and Dawn almost say simultaneously.
Faith tries to move to the back, but is blocked by the knot of slayers.
" Hey…" She tries to squeeze in, but no one moves. " Hey…move it! Let me through!"
Still getting no response, she shoves a couple of slayers to the side, and moves to the front. Buffy sees her break through, and her eyes go wide. She's sweating profusely, her eyes having a glazed cast.
" You… I'll kill you!" She yells at Faith. " You can't have her! "
" Buffy? What's going on?" Faith stops, seeing Buffy's confused. She turns to Willow, who's gotten back up. "What's going on? What the hell is she talking about?"
Willow gets to Buffy first, pulling on her arm. Dawn flanks her on the other side.
" Buffy, honey, that's not Glory. She's dead, Buffy, it's over."
" Yeah, Buffy, she's dead. She's been dead since you di…." Dawn trails off.
" Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?" Faith says growing more confused and angry by the minute.
" Glory, Faith. She thinks you're Glory. A Hell bitch Goddess she fought a couple of years back." Willow explains, while trying to restrain Buffy.
" Yeah, I was the key… what Glory wanted!" Dawn chimes in. " Not the key anymore."
" Huh?" Faith asks, everything as clear as a muddy pond.
Buffy breaks free of Willow.
" Willow, don't try to stop me. I've gotta fight her. Kill her. She'll kill Dawn!" Buffy moves to Faith, looking ready to fight. " You can't have her… I … I…" Buffy stops, confused. She looks carefully at Faith. She shakes her head, and looks closer.
" Faith?"
" Buffy, what's going on?" Faith looks at her, puzzled.
" Are you here to kill me? Did you bring the knife?" Buffy starts to weave on her feet. " You… you killed him, you bitch! You want to kill me now, too?" She takes a step towards Faith, stops, grabs a seat back and stands there. " God, you poisoned me too, didn't you? I'll… I'll kill… I gotta kill…" She takes another step, then pushes off, lunging at Faith. The momentum of Buffy crashing into her causes Faith to take a step back. The blond slayer is out cold, having gone unconscious during the lunge. Faith holds the limp girl in her arms.
" A little help here? Would be nice." Willow comes and helps Faith with Buffy. Together, they get her back on the seat, lying down. The other slayers stand around, in little groups, talking quietly. Willow puts a cold cloth on Buffy's head.
Faith turns back on the girls still standing around.
"What were you doing, just standing there? Were you all asleep?" She looks at the girls, her face angrily blotched. " She could've hurt somebody. Why didn't one of you try to restrain her?" There are some murmurs and mutterings, but no one answers. " You're slayers, for god's sake. Surely a couple of you could've restrained a feverish, sick girl!"
The sound of the engine starting up startles everyone.
" Well, I guess that means we're outta here, " she looks around at the bunch, disappointed. " Just sit down. Or something. Except …." She points at one of the slayers. " You… and…" she points at another. " You!" She waves at them. " Come here, please. The rest of you…" she shakes her head. " Just stay out of the way. "
The two picked slayers make their way towards Faith as the bus lurches forward.
" Ok, I want you both to stay back here, with Willow and Dawn. Keep an eye on Buffy. IF she starts to act out again, restrain her. Don't let her get up. Understood?" They nod. " Good, do whatever Red here asks of you."
God, I hope these morons are a little faster off the mark when fighting demons. What the hell were they thinking, anyway? Faith thinks to herself as she makes her way back up to the front. She plops down on the bus seat across from where Robin is lying. She keeps an eye on Vi, who's tending to Robin's wounds.
They ride along in silence for awhile, Faith mulling over what happened. She finally speaks up.
" Giles! Who the hell is Glory?" Faith asks, trying to understand what happened.
" Glory? Where did you hear that name?"
" Back there… in the commotion. B thought I was someone named Glory."
" Oh dear lord, " Giles says shaking his head.
"What? Who is she? What…?"
Giles briefly narrates the story of Glory to Faith. As the story goes on, Faith's face takes on a look of wonder. She looks back, staring particularly at Dawn.
" You mean Dawn… isn't real?"
" Oh, she's real enough. She's human. Just the memories… our memories of her… aren't real."
" That's totally… can't be. I remember her from when I first came to Sunnydale. She was such a brat, always getting into things, following me and Buffy around, asking me what it's like to be a slayer… all that stuff…" Faith can't buy into it.
" All made up, Faith, by the Monks of Dagon"
" So what happened?" Faith still isn't buying it 100 percent.
Giles continues, finishing the story with Buffy's death.
Faith's eyes go wide.
" She died?"
" You didn't know?" Giles sounds surprised.
" No! No one told me… that … that explains it…"
" Explains what?"
" When I was in prison, Angel came to visit me regularly… except for a couple of years ago. He stopped coming for awhile. Cordelia finally came by, and explained that Angel was away… on a retreat. But she never explained why. When he got back, I asked him about it, but he always changed the subject." Faith looks at the back of the bus, again. " Now I get it."
" I'm sorry , Faith, I really thought you knew…"
" I felt something around that time. Like … something was lost… but I didn't know what. Now …"
She looks back at the prone slayer. Her brow furrows.
" So, if she died… how is it she's here now?"
" Willow brought her back. Resurrected her…" Giles expression is grim.
" Willow? She…did that? How?"
" Dark arts, " Giles almost spits it out.
Faith looks at him.
" What… oh… is that… is that…?"
" I think that's what started Willow's journey to what happened last year."
" Her going all evil and nearly destroying the world?"
" You know about that?" Giles again sounds surprised.
" She told me… on the way to Sunnydale. But she never explained why." Faith pauses. " I mean, she told me about Tara, and her dying… but …"
" She's still recovering, Faith. I don't know if she'll ever be who she was. Not entirely."
" Giles, prison was crappy. I'm not going to say it was a picnic, " Faith looks at the back again, then back to Giles, " but it seems that in comparison, not sure I got the worst deal out of it."
" It's been pretty hard, the last few years." Giles agrees.
Faith shakes her head, at the chaos of it all. At least, in prison, all I had to worry about was who was gonna come at me to make their creds. This sounds totally loony.
She moves over to where Robin is laying.
" How's he doing?" She asks Vi quietly.
" Good enough that I plan to hold you to what we talked about, Faith" Robin opens one eye, staring at Faith.
" I'm going to check on Willow. See if she needs some help with the other girls," Vi says, sensing they want some alone time.
Faith smiles at her, and watches her go.
" So, there you are. How're you feeling?"
" As well as can be expected, having a sword take a slice out of me." Robin grimaces a smile. His expression goes serious. " How're you holding up?"
" I'm fine, " Faith shrugs, " not on the critical list like some of you."
" You know something, Faith?" Robin looks at her pointedly," you're really not a very good liar."
" Huh?"
" C'mon, Faith. What's bugging you?"
" Nothing!" Faith exclaims, but sees Robin's not buying it. " Nothing really. Just, Giles expects me to play babysitter to the bunch of girls, and I'm not so looking forward to it."
" Faith, you'll do fine. I know you will. You've proven you can lead, and Giles was right. You just need to believe in yourself. You've got the knack for it."
" You heard? Me and Giles?"
" Most of it. Kinda drifting in and out since we left…"
" You're kind of devious, you know that?" Faith smirks. " Just how I like 'em"
" You don't know the half of it, " Robin smiles enigmatically.
Somehow, I believe you. " Faith moves up, and gingerly lays her head on his shoulder. " Don't mean I won't nose around 'til I do."
" Somehow , I believe you." Robin repeats her words. Carefully, he manages to put an arm around her shoulders.
And for a moment, Faith feels a little less confused. She sighs. She raises her head slightly and calls out.
" So, Giles, where the hell are we going?"
-4-
Buffy feels like she's in a sauna. Her face and body feel hot. She opens her eyes, and everything around her is dark.
Where the hell am I?
As her eyes adjust to the darkness, she realizes where she is. Back in the cave below the school. She stands up, and groans. Her whole body feels like it's been run through the spin cycle about 5 times. She walks slowly to the edge of the grotto, down where the Turok-han were. She looks down. It's empty.
This is nuts! I can't be here. I got outta here. This doesn't even exist anymore. It's just one big hole in the …
" So, slayer, I'm guessing you think you won, " A voice behind her startles her, and Buffy whirls around, to be confronted by Caleb.
" What the…?" She puts her hand out, and it goes through him.
" Whoops. Yeah, it's not me… well, at least, not corporeal me. You sliced and diced me real good back there in the temple. Gotta give you your props," Caleb smiles.
" Wait a minute, this can't be happening," Buffy says, confused. " You're gone, I…"
" Defeated me? Hmmm…well, that is interesting, slayer, but not entirely accurate…" The first, as Caleb, smiles. " Oh, I give you kudos for slapping me down a little. Nice trick, that jewel. Where'd you get that anyway? Oh yeah, Angel came by and dropped it off. Got to thank him personally for that one… and the punch in the jaw. Pissed me off, I gotta say. Nearly had you then, didn't I?"
" Til you split, " Buffy mocks, " but anyway, since you're not ' you', drop the act. I know you're the First. Thing is, I don't know how…"
" What? I'm here, talking to you?" Caleb shakes his head, " and after all the little chats we had. Didn't you listen? Can't kill me, Buffy, nor make me go away. I'm the first Evil. I've always been and will always be. Sure, right now, it's a bit tough moving around, seeing I'm rather sealed behind the hellmouth and all…" the First morphs into Spike, " but you can't keep a good man down, can you, luv?"
Buffy, startled by the transformation, moves a bit away. " Well, you're hardly a man."
" Yes, as you were so fond of reminding me, pet. And here, I go and get a soul for you… and still, I'm a thing…"
" You're not Spike, any more than you're Caleb. So how 'bout we cut the crap?" Buffy mutters something to herself.
" Didn't quite catch that, Buffy. Would you mind saying it again?" Spike-First says.
" I said, I loved Spike."
" No you don't, but thanks for saying it"
As he stands there, Spike starts to catch fire, his body slowly being engulfed in flames. " Oh, well, look at this then. I guess I'm really carrying a torch for you, pet." He grins as the fire and light consumes him.
" I had feelings for him! I did!" Buffy cries out, rushing to the spot where Spike stood. But whatever was there, is gone. She stands there, looking puzzled.
" Feelings, nothing more than feelings… " Another voice comes from behind her. She turns , and Angel is behind her, singing. " … trying to forget my feelings of love…" He stops, and stands before her, looking grim. " Guess I never did, though, did I? Forget… but you seemed ready to."
" Angel?" Buffy's voice is low and soft, " What? I told you, I'm just not ready…"
An exasperated expression comes to his face, " Oh yeah. The famous ' cookie dough ' speech. Nice one, Buff, real nice." He turns away, throwing up his hands, " I mean, really, Buffy. Do you really believe that load you fed me?"
" Angel, it was the truth…" Buffy stops, almost slapping herself, " What the hell am I doing? You're the First, or some echo of it… why'm I sitting here talking about my love life, or lack of it, to you?"
" Because I'm such a good listener?" Angel morphs into Joyce Summers, " Who listens better than a mom? Of course, any second I'm going to hear, ' but mom, you just don't get it, do you?' "
" YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!" Buffy yells, covering her ears. " Not listening… la, la, la, la, la! "
" Well, you never did listen to me when I was alive, Buffy, " Joyce Summers says calmly, " I guess now shouldn't be any different, " she shrugs, " though, it might actually help you if you did."
" That's just not true… I listened…" Buffy says, to Joyce's doubtful expression, " I did!"
" Of course you did, honey, " Joyce says, " when I agreed with you… or when it didn't really matter. But on the important stuff? No, sorry, you didn't."
" This is nuts. I'm debating with a loser about what I did or didn't do. That's right, LOSER. I kicked your incorporeal ass, and now you're trying to confuse me, but it won't work, get it?"
Joyce leans back, looking at Buffy with a sad expression.
" You're not getting it, are you dear?"
" Getting what?"
" Buffy, pinch yourself."
" Huh?"
" Pinch yourself, Buffy." Joyce repeats.
" Not making much sense, are you?"
" For once, Buffy, don't argue, just do it."
Buffy shrugs, and pinches herself. Her brow furrows. She does it again.
"That's weird, I don't feel anything!"
" Not all that weird, honey, when you realize you're dreaming, " Joyce shakes her head.
" Dreaming? What in… why would I dream about this place?" Buffy gestures around at the dim cavern.
" Beats me!"
Joyce snaps her fingers, and the setting changes to a palatial mansion.
" When we could be here" She snaps them again, and the they're in meadow, in full sunshine, " or here," she snaps again, and they're on a snowy mountain top, " or here" she snaps her fingers again, and they're floating on a white, fluffy cloud, " or here…" She snaps again, and they're on a tropical island beach near sunset" … or here." The scene fades, and they're back in the cave. " Instead, you choose here."
" Ok, this is bogus. None of this is making any sense, " Buffy turns and starts to walk away. " Frankly, I don't see …"
" Well, there you go, Summers. That was always your problem. You didn't want to see what was right in front of your face…" Billy Fordham appears in front of Buffy, blocking her way. " So, instead, you turned your back on it, hoping it'd go away."
" I never turned my back on you… seems, instead, you turned away from me, as I recall…"
" Really? So, why did it take Angel and Willow to figure out things were kind of wonky with me? I mean, you did know me a lot better, right Summers? Wasn't it odd I just ' showed up' in Sunnydale. That I conveniently knew you were the ' Slayer'. Not like Slayer lore is particularly public knowledge. Oh, and …why wasn't I in any classes? Strange…" he gives her a sidelong glance, "… but not so when you think about it. You wanted to see what you wanted to see… and ignored what you didn't want to know."
" I see. So, I'm the screw up because I trusted you as being… oh, my oldest friend… and not seeing that you turned evil, were going to betray me to Spike, and get me killed, all so you could become a vampire. Key phrase? Betrayed me, Billy, stabbed me in the back… get it?"
The scene suddenly shifts, and Buffy's on a rooftop. In Sunnydale. She's a little disoriented, and somewhat shocked to feel a cold wind blowing on her. She starts to shiver. She looks around. Something's awfully familiar here…
" Is that what you thought, B? I betrayed you? Stabbed you in the back? Is that why you did this?"
Buffy whirls around, and finds herself near the edge of the roof. Standing on the rise above her is Faith. She's clutching her gut, the place where Buffy put the knife so many years before. She sees blood oozing through Faith's fingers.
"What? How? This doesn't make sense… you're not dead…" Buffy stares at the bloom of blood on Faith's blouse.
" Nope, I'm not, am I?" Faith looks down at her, " but not for you're not doing your damnedest to make me dead!"
" But the First can't…"
" B, get real. This isn't the First. That was just at the top of your mind, is all. This is your head, your images, your thoughts."
" But why here… at this time?" Buffy's voice is almost a whisper.
" Dunno, B ?" Faith shrugs, " I mean, not my fave time or place, but you brought it here… so, why?"
" I… I…" Buffy stares at her wound, seeming not able to turn away. She reaches out, as Faith drops her hand, touching the blouse. She pulls back her fingers, which have Faith's blood on them. She looks up at Faith. " I'm sorry."
" You're sorry? What? It was an accident? You didn't mean to stab me with the knife?" Faith climbs down off the edge, and sits on it, looking at Buffy. " Wasn't that why you were there? To kill me? Because I was the evil bitch that shot your boyfriend with the poison, and the only cure was like… my blood? As I recall you telling me that evening."
" Yes."
" But you're sorry? Not getting it, B. I mean, you were just doing what you had to do. Nothing personal, right?" Faith's tone is mocking.
" Of course it was personal. Major personal…."
" Why? I mean, sure, I turned evil… or at least, that's how YOU see it, I think. Never mind you were gonna rat me out with the cops about you know who…"
The scene shifts again, and their in the alley, next to the dumpster where Alan Finch died. He's lying there, in a pool of blood.
" Never mind that you were as guilty as I was, B. You threw him there… didn't you? How was I supposed to know he wasn't a vamp? How could I tell in the heat of the moment? But that didn't matter to you, did it, B? I mean, it was always, ' YOU killed a man, Faith. YOU gotta face the music, Faith. YOU'RE the screw up, Faith. YOU betrayed us, Faith." Faith chuckles, " funny how ' we ' never entered into it, wasn't it? Nope, it was YOU… or it was ' I want to help you Faith. Trust ME, Faith. Stop acting like that, Faith. Be more like ME, Faith."
" That's a lie, and … unfair to boot! I DID want to help you, I would've stuck by you, if you gave me the chance…"
" Until it came to going to prison. Then I would've been in jail for the rest of my life, and you maybe would've come see me once in awhile. Yup, I liked that option real fine."
" You might not have gone to prison at all. It was an accident, Faith. Something would've been worked out…"
" Mmm-hmmm, " Faith seems to stare through her. " So, Buffy, when exactly are you going to stop lying?"
" I.am.not.lying!" Buffy enunciates each syllable carefully.
" At least, stop lying to yourself, " Faith rejoins. " Face it, Buffy. You wanted me gone from Day one. I wasn't like Kendra, willing to play second fiddle to you. I wanted my own , and you didn't like that. You didn't like that I got along good with your friends, your mom or your watcher. It bugged you. You were jealous. You thought I was gonna take it all from you, leaving you with squat. Isn't that so?"
" You got it so wrong! "
" Really? Funny, seemed to me you were scared I was gonna take your life from you. You hated me from day one, and wanted me oh so gone."
" I didn't hate you. I didn't! That's just a lie. Sure, at first I was wary of you. And yeah, I had some jealousy issues… at the very beginning. But I never wanted you gone. I never wanted what happened."
" Yeah. So isn't it strange, then? That Alan Finch happens to be in that alley that night? In the very alley you tell me we have to be, to defeat this Balthazar dude. By the packing warehouse. How do I know it wasn't like a set up? You lured him there, with some excuse, then threw him in the mix, so to speak, before I could…"
"No, how can you say that? That's so wrong! I didn't know he was there. I didn't… why're you doing this? It's …wrong. I didn't… wouldn't do that… you gotta believe me!"
" Sure, sure, B. I believe you. like, I believe you weren't going in to tell Giles on me, right? Blowing off school? Kinda lame-o, Buffy." She leans into Buffy. " Admit it Buffy. The truth now. You hated me, and you wanted me gone."
" No, you're wrong. I didn't hate you. I didn't want you gone!"
" Please, Buffy. I'm tired. It's way past now, you can be honest now. You set me up, because you hated me!"
" I didn't hate you!"
" Yes, you did. You hated me!" Faith moves in closer
" NO, I didn't hate you!"
" You hated me!" and closer
" NO, I DIDN'T . I LOVED YOU!"
Buffy's eyes go wide. She clamps her hands over her mouth, vainly hoping to stop the words that already escaped. She backs away, mortified.
Faith doesn't give her an inch. She keeps in Buffy's face, not letting her escape.
" Izzat a fact?" Faith says, " strange way to show it." She looks down at the blood on her blouse.
Buffy takes this opportunity to break away, turn away, and find some way to hide away, again. She's startled when she hears Faith chuckle.
" What's so funny?" She cries, turning around. Faith is standing there, smirking at her.
" You're funny, B. You've always been funny, ya know?" Faith's expression changes, goes cold and grim. " Too bad, though. You're a lousy liar."
" What? What do you mean? I'm not lying!"
Faith stands distant, everything about her distant. " Really? You love me? That's gotta be the biggest joke I've ever heard. Think about it, B. Think about everything you've done to me. How you treated me, how you made me suffer… Yeah, Buffy, suffer. I tried my damnedest to be what was expected of me, but it wasn't enough, was it? Never was. You treated me like the brat, I was an annoyance to you. The idiot sister you got stuck with, because your mom told you to take me with. It always gets back to ' Why can't you be more like Buffy', when you couldn't give a little, and be more like me. For a brief second there, it looked like you might FINALLY be coming around. Finally letting me in, defrosting that ice cube you call a heart. But hell no, that couldn't happen, could it?"
As she stands there, Faith changes, and Buffy is confronted with an image of herself. " When it got bad, you just had to let her swing, didn't you? You make all the nice noises how you'd stick by her, etc. and crappola forever, but really, even I don't buy that, and Hey, I'm you!" Alt Buffy moves closer in on her twin. " So, when it got rough, when the shit came down, you let her twist in the wind, didn't you, Buffy? And when she rebelled, after being treated like crap by you, you got all offended, didn't you Buffy. Turned everybody against her, didn't YOU Buffy? She was the bitch, the villain of the piece, right? And the poor sap? She bought it. She acted just as you wanted her to act, did the outrageous things she did, because you made her crazy. Yeah, YOU Buffy." Her alter ego looks at her with contempt.
" That's not true!" Buffy tries to defend herself, " I didn't mean…"
" What? You didn't mean it? You didn't mean to go there that night, to kill her? What, what did you think was gonna happen? Hugs and kisses, tea and cookies?" Alt Buffy laughs at her, at the idea of it. As she does, she changes back into Faith.
" Faith?" Buffy asks, feeling confused. Her anger is rising, however. " You bitch! You killed him. You want to kill me now too, don't you?" Something's wrong here, terribly wrong. This isn't right. Nothing's right. What's happening to me?
For a moment, everything goes black.
Buffy wakes up, and sees Glory standing a little away from her. She jumps to her feet, scared. She looks around and sees Willow and Dawn.
" Buffy?" Dawn says, getting up and starting to go to Buffy. Buffy turns towards her.
" Dawn? Stay back!" She pushes Dawn down. " She's here, stay hidden. I won't… I won't let her get you!"
Willow moves towards her. " Buffy, you're ill. You've got to lie down!" She puts an arm on Buffy's arm. Buffy shakes her off violently.
"NO!" Buffy cries out, " I told you, Will. I love you, but if anyone, ANYONE, tries to hurt her, I'll kill them!"
" Hello, Buffy. My, all the fam's here. How sweet."
Buffy whirls back around on Glory, facing her.
" You… I'll kill you!" She yells at Glory. " You can't have her! "
" Buffy, honey, that's not Glory. She's dead, Buffy, it's over."
" Yeah, Buffy, she's dead. She's been dead since you di…." Dawn trails off.
Buffy stops, looking intently at Glory. " Faith?"
Glory has morphed into Faith.
" Buffy? What's going on?"
" Are you here to kill me? Did you bring the knife?" Buffy feels strangely weak. " You… you killed him, you bitch! You want to kill me now, too?" She takes a step towards Faith and stops. What's wrong with me?. " God, you poisoned me too, didn't you? I'll… I'll kill… I gotta kill…" Buffy falls to her knees, grabbing her gut. The pain is like fire. " What did you do to me?"
Everything goes black.
Buffy wakes up. Everything around is black. In shadow. All she can see is right around her, because she's lying in a pool of light.
" Well, it's about time you woke up!" Glory, squatting by Buffy, slaps her. " Tell ya, you gotta have a hard head. Been slapping you for god, at least minutes. Geeze, think I like sitting here watching you sleep?"
Buffy, startled, tries to move away. She finds she's chained to the floor.
"What the hell?" She struggles against her bonds.
" Oh, get real. Think I need you chained up? It's just your mind, interpreting again. You mortals are so fragile, you can't deal with the truth. You're bound to your bed in the hospital, moron. You just in this dream of yours, think of them as chains."
"What? Why?"
" Because, you've been like… loony? Geeze I thought I was crazy, but you… you've been attacking everybody. They had to bind you up, or they couldn't treat you. Me, if they'd asked me, I say, let you die." Glory shrugs. " You've got septicemia, moron. It's making you delusional, oh and YAY, killing you. But they might actually pull it off and save you. Too bad."
"What do you want? Why're you here?" Buffy, realizing it's useless, stops struggling.
"Want? You know what I wanted. My key. But you and your idiot gang of flesh bags pretty much screwed that one up, didn't you? Oh well, anyway, that's not why I'm here. It's still about Faith. Another human. God, you humans, you're priceless." Glory thinks about that a second. " No, wait, make that worthless. All these stupid emotions. Who wants them? Who needs them? God, their pointless. But hey, I guess this isn't about me, dammit. It's about her. Faith. How you made her suffer, all those years. Now, that's a piece of work. I could almost respect you for that!"
" Suffer? I didn't make her…"
" Oh, please. Get real. You screwed with her mind so badly, you made her the bad guy. For years, she worried about what she 'did' to you. God, she's almost as stupid as you are!" Glory leans over, smiling at Buffy. " All that guilt you made her feel. God, I know how that feels. Ben did that to me. What a waste!" Glory laughs. " But she sat there, in prison, repenting her wrongs. Sure, she killed some people. She's no innocent. But you!" Glory pats Buffy on the shoulder. " God, what you did to her, no wonder she went all wonky. How you treated her. You're a prime bitch, you know that? and hey, don't get frowny, I mean that as a compliment!"
Buffy squeezes her eyes shut, turning her head away.
" Aw, now don't be like that." Glory reaches over, and forces her head back, squeezing her face with her fingers. " I mean it, stop it. It's rude. I'm talking here!"
Buffy's eyes pop open. She glares at Glory.
" Better. Well, anyway, we girls know, it wasn't her, don't we? It was YOU, Buffy. You lie to yourself, telling yourself that she wanted to take over your job, take over your life. But we know better, don't we? Yeah we do. All she wanted was to be part of it, to fit in. To be your friend. God, how she tried to be your friend, and you… what did you do? Blew her off, made sure she knew you didn't want her around. Why was that, Buffy? You were jealous. Oh, no, not because of the competition thing. You could deal with that. Kendra didn't do that to you. No, you were jealous, because soon as you saw her, soon as she blew into your life like a force of nature, she made you realize something. Something you couldn't deal with. That you wanted her more than ANYTHING in this world. That she was the one for you. Yup. That's it. When she tried to be a friend, when she didn't see what you felt, didn't want what you felt, when she didn't immediately want you like you wanted her. Well, there it is . You turned on her. You couldn't deal with it, and you made sure her life in Sunnydale? Would be one long misery. You always managed to make things when they went off, to seem to be her fault. You kept your friends from really getting to know her, isolated her. And you… god, you just made sure in very subtle ways to make her know that she wasn't welcome. Not saying she's innocent in this. She helped, by falling right in with what you did. Mrs. Post was right. Faith was an idiot. For trusting you, anyway." Glory shakes her head in admiration. " I swear, I've gotta like what you did. It's sweet, really sweet, you know? Sure you don't want to be a hell goddess? You seem to have a knack for it."
Buffy lies there, eyes closed. Tears are streaming down her cheeks.
" Truth hurts, don't it kiddo?" Glory says, mocking her. " Facing how badly you messed it up. Her life, your life. You messed it up really badly, didn't you? Now, aren't you sorry the witch brought you back? I know I'm sorry. She messed up the one good thing that happened in that whole Sunnydale fiasco."
" Leave her alone!" A voice comes out of the darkness.
" Oh, oh. Looks like someone's comin' to your defense. Want me to crush her like a grape?" Glory stands up.
" Get lost, loser. She killed you and your ' meat sack' of a twin long ago. GO!"
Glory fades, and in her place, Faith is standing over Buffy. She kneels down.
" Hey"
Buffy turns away, ashamed. She cries harder, her body wracking with sobs. She struggles against her bonds, trying to get away.
" Stop it, Buffy! Stop struggling. You're pretty sick, you know. That gut shot hit some stuff… we're not sure you're gonna make it."
Buffy goes limp. " Maybe that's for the best. Better for you, for everyone."
" Now, that's just insane-o talk, Buffy, " Faith says, reaching out and touching her on the arm. " You're sounding like her, now. Glory. You know she hates you, and your mind, where we are? Is using her to punish you. What she said? Not right. Oh, sure, what happened between us? You're at fault… and so am I. We both fucked it up, B. Pretty good, I'd say. But even if… well, even if something could've happened … it wouldn't have been right. Not then. We weren't ready, Buffy. We were kids. Things were way too out of control, nothing but bad would've come of it. Ok, bad came of it anyway, but it would've been worse. In bed, we would've torn each other apart, and out? Even more so. It would've been a helluva ride, but in the end? Crash and burn."
" So it's hopeless, then?" Buffy's voice sound hopeless.
" Look, B. Not gonna lie to you. We're way different. Oil and water. Never easy to mix, trust me, I've tried. But doesn't mean we can't at least start as friends, I mean, really friends this time, you know."
" Not hopeless?" A note of hope in her voice.
" No, not hopeless. I've never stopped reachin' out to you, B. But thing is, you gotta start reachin' back. My arm's getting damned tired, and hey, why should I have to do all the work? You've got to remember. No promises. You can't expect anything but friendship right now. If anything else is gonna happen, it'll happen. Don't try to force it. Got it?"
" Got it, " Buffy nods. " But…"
Faith gives her a look.
" Got it." Buffy sighs.
" Ok, well, now the final thing. It's time to wake up, you know? I mean, if you die, all this? Kinda pointless. So, sorry 'bout this…" Faith thinks about it a second. " No, wait. After all the times you hit me in the face? Not sorry!"
Faith slaps her, hard, across the face.
" WAKE UP!"
-5-
Buffy's eyes fly open. She immediately regrets it, because the lights are bright and a little on the harsh side, after her sleep. She squeezes them shut, then opens them slowly.
She's staring into the overhanging face of ….
Willow.
" Hey, there you are!" Willow says, softly. She reaches out and touches Buffy's face. " Welcome back, sweetie!"
Buffy tries to reach back, but her arm won't move. What the hell? I'm paralyzed? Oh shit! Oh god oh no!
"What…?" Buffy squeaks out, panicked. She tries to struggle against the restraints holding her.
" Buffy, Buffy. It's ok. They just had to restrain you…for your own safety, " Willow sighs, " Yours and the staffs. You kept fighting against something. 3 nurses refuse to even attend to you, now."
" Sorry," Buffy looks contrite." Are they ok?"
" They'll live," Willow smiles. " We were a little worried about you, though."
" So… ummm… can you?" She wiggles her fingers, indicating her restraints. " Maybe let me out of this now?"
" Sorry, Buffy," Another voice comes out of the air. Rupert Giles leans over the bed. " Not until a doctor approves it. They're still a little upset with you trashing the ER."
"WHAT? Giles, you're kidding, right?"
" No, I'm afraid not. When they wheeled you in on the gurney, you were unrestrained. You'd been so quiet, we thought it'd be ok. But as soon as you got in, you hopped off the gurney, and started fighting. Took a few slayers to get you back down. They won't let you out of restraints until they're sure you've…well, in your right mind." Giles looks a bit sheepish." Sorry."
" Oh, god." Buffy blushes. " What else did I do?"
" Well, for one thing, B. I really wish you'd find some other place to hit me, " Faith leans over. Even with concealer, Buffy can see the bruise on Faith's face. " ' Course, once you hit me, I knew you were gonna be ok. Buffy punches Faith in face, and the Universe is in align." She chuckles.
" Shit!" Buffy curses, closing her eyes. Her blush deepens.
" Buffy, language," Faith teases her. " Not in front of Red. She's got delicate ears."
" Hey! Not like I haven't heard it before!" Red flushes. " I mean, I swear too. I'm not little girl you've got to protect from the 'adult' language, you know. I mean, I'm in the big bad club, too, Faith! I can swear with the best of them. I can swear you under the table. Boy, if you think I can't swear, mister…" she stops when she realizes both Buffy and Faith are laughing.
" And, there she goes!" Faith hoots.
" Better watch it, Faith. One thing I've learned in my years with Will?" Buffy smiles, even though she feels like a dozen diesel trucks have run over her, repeatedly. " Don't piss off the witch!"
" Hey!" Willow glares at Buffy, and then glares at Faith. " HEY!"
" Chill, Red." Faith pokes her, gently. " Just kidding!"
"Sorry, Will. Forgive me?" Buffy looks at her with puppy eyes. She wiggles her fingers. Willow tries to keep looking stern, but a half grin breaks on her face.
" I guess," Willow says, sounding reluctant. She laces her fingers with Buffy's. She grins." I guess you're feeling better, huh, if you can make fun of me?"
" Just playing with you, Will." Buffy smiles at her, eyes half shut.
" Anyway, Red. You're just so adorable when you get all indignant and pouty," Faith reaches over and pinches Willow's butt.
" HEY! HANDS! WATCH THE HANDS!" Willow shouts, to another chorus of laughs. She shakes her head, disgusted.
" I'm outta here, before Faith thinks up anymore torture for me. She's so good at that" Throwing the barb back at Faith." I'll be back later, when she's crawled back under her rock." She leans over, gives Buffy a kiss on the head, and then hurriedly leaves.
" I better see if she's ok." Giles gets up, and shoots Faith a look." Sometimes, some people can overplay their hand." He leaves.
" Well, good one. Guess I kinda pissed them off, huh?" Faith looks at Buffy, expecting a glare. Instead, she finds her smiling. " What?"
" Don't sweat it, Faith. Sometimes they can be a little… full of themselves," Buffy chuckles.
Faith looks at her like she's insane.
" I guess you still must be feverish, or somethin. You're so not acting normal. By now I was expecting the " don't mess with my friends" lecture, " Faith teases her.
" Yeah, well…" Buffy deadpans." I think while they were fixing me up? They removed that cork wedged up my ass."
" BUFFEE!" Faith eyes almost goggle out of her head. Then her eyes narrow. " Who are you? And where the hell did you put B?"
Buffy grins briefly.
" Who am I?" Buffy sighs, feeling suddenly worse. " That's a good question." She turns her head to Faith, her expression serious. " I guess I'm gonna have some time to think about that. But one thing I know now. I'm somebody who wants to try to start over. With you, that is. I wanna try and… is there any way we can start again? Try to be friends?"
" We're friends, B. Sorta. Well, when we're not trying to pound each other in the ground, anyway."
" Yeah, I guess. But I want more. I want to be real friends. Friends who can trust each other?"
" I dunno, B, " Faith sighs, and stands up. " We… well, let's face it, B. We're too different…like oil …"
" … and water. Yeah, I know, not really good in the mix-y part."
Faith shoots a look at Buffy. How the hell did she know what I was gonna say? " Maybe, Buffy, we just weren't supposed to be friends… like I said before, we weren't supposed to be slayers…not at the same time… maybe…"
" Oh crap, please stop it!" Buffy cries out. " Look, Faith, I know… I know I haven't really been a friend to you, like ever. I've …I've done lots of things that I regret, would take back if I could. I'm not feeling really proud of myself, ok? I've screwed up big time, and I don't know how to fix it. I'm begging here, Faith. Don't make me go on my knees. First of all, restraints," She pulls against them, then lies back. " And secondly, I'd probably fall over, anyway. Please, what can I do to convince you?"
Faith can't believe what she's hearing. More, she can't believe what she's seeing. Buffy's near tears, she can see them starting to leak from her eyes.
" You really want this, don't you?" Faith replies, her tone still wary.
Buffy closes her eyes, and nods. " Yesss…" she breathes softly.
I'm gonna regret this. I'm gonna get home, and kick myself in the ass for this. Like, it'd be the first time?
" Well, I guess… I suppose we could try it out, " Faith says, her tone reflecting her reluctance. " No promises. First time you piss me off, I'm kicking that bony ass of yours."
" Deal," Buffy breathes, not realizing she was holding her breath. She grins.
" We don't have to like, hug, do we?" Faith looks horrified at the thought.
" Oh yeah, so gonna hug you like this!" Buffy pulls at the restraints to demonstrate.
" Right, right." Faith stands there, relieved. Oh, what the fuck!
She walks over, and leans over, kissing Buffy on the forehead.
" Thanks," Buffy smiles softly.
" Don't get mushy on me, B. It doesn't mean crap!" Faith growls, playfully. " Remember, no promises."
" Right, got it. No promises."
" Excuse me, ladies. I don't mean to interrupt this love fest, but …" Robin wood comes into the hospital room. " Had to see how my favorite student counselor/ cum slayer was doing ." He grins, and walks to the bedside.
Faith goes over to him, and slips an arm around his waist. He puts his arm around her shoulders.
" Hi, baby." Faith looks up at him, " We've been making nice." They exchange a brief kiss.
" So I see. Didn't think I'd live to see the day you two would be all chummy cozy" Robin grins.
" It's no big, trust me," Faith rolls her eyes to cover any embarrassment she's feeling.
" Hey, look at you!" Buffy says, a little weakly from her bed, " All up and about. You were pretty hurt, last I remember."
" Yeah, but it was a clean cut. Not like you. You're liver got nicked. It was kinda touch and go there for awhile. So, how're you feeling, anyway?"
" I so want the number to that truck that hit me, " Buffy deadpans. " gonna put the driver in the ground, I'm thinking."
Robin and Faith laugh.
" Yeah, well, B. I think you better worry 'bout getting well first. You're still not out of the woods yet. You're gonna be here a few more days, at least."
" Crap!"
" Now, now. Don't worry. I'll come by and visit you. Make your life totally miserable," Faith grins.
" Promise?" Buffy grins back.
" Yeah, sure, why not?" Faith says, noncommittally. " I mean, we've got a couple of weeks yet, don't we? Before you've got to be in New York?"
"Whoa, wait. What? You're leaving? When did this all happen?" Buffy looks confused, and upset.
" Well, you've been in here quite a while, Buffy." Faith says, " Robin got a job in New York. I figured, I go with. You know, east coast girl here… kinda jonesing for the whole thing."
"Wait a minute, what the heck?" Buffy looks around. " How long have I been in here?"
Robin exchanges a look with Faith.
" You didn't tell her?" Robin asks, surprised.
" Well, she just woke up. Didn't really have much time, you know."
" Tell me what? TELL ME WHAT?"
They both look uncomfortable.
" How long have I been in here?"
" Two months, Buffy. You've been in and out of a coma for the last two months."
Buffy feels like she's been hit in the stomach with a 20 pound sledgehammer.
" Two months… I've been… two months." She whispers.
" 'Fraid so, B, " Faith says, commiserating. " I know how it can feel…" She adds, lamely.
Buffy looks at the both of them all couple-y. Two months. They've been together nearly 2 months. Shit. Well, you did say, no promises. You didn't mention, not a fucking chance in hell.
Buffy puts on her game face. " Well, guess that's two months of my life not gonna get back, huh?" She shrugs. " So, look at the two of you. All couple-y and … couple-y. So, when did this happen?" Buffy smiles.
" Well, kinda before we fought the first… then when Robin got out of the hospital… well, you know, B." Faith winks at her. Buffy smiles. " Anyway, we kind of… well, decided we'd give it a go. You know, the living together thing. And, since Robin's going back east, and I was gonna head there anyway…"
" Hey, this is great," Buffy says, maybe a shade too quickly, " I mean, really, this is … great. I'm like really happy… for both of you. You know? I mean… this is great…" Buffy fades off. She recovers quickly, " Hey, I'd hug you both, but…" She shrugs, indicating the restraints.
Robin and Faith come to the opposite sides of her bed, each taking one of her hands. She squeezes both.
" Hey, you be good to her, hear?" Buffy says to Robin.
" Do I dare not?" Robin teases. Faith blushes a little.
" True. Hey, Faith, " She turns to Faith, " no fair breaking any bones if he pisses you off, got it?"
" Got it, B, " Faith grins.
They stand there for a minute, in silence, Buffy grinning at each of them in turn. Finally, Robin senses that Buffy has more to say… just not in front of him.
" Umm… think I'll get something from the machine. Feeling a little dry" He says. He turns to Faith. " I'll wait for you outside."
" Yeah, sure, ok, "Faith, a little puzzled, says, " I'll be right out."
Robin smiles once at Buffy, then turns and leaves.
It's quiet in the room after Robin leaves, as both slayers find it hard to start the conversation.
" Well, guess I best be going too. You look wiped. I'll see you tomorrow, B." Faith starts to leave, but Buffy holds tight to her hand. Faith looks at her , puzzled.
" So, ummm… does he do it for you, Faith?" Buffy asks, hesitantly. Not really sure she wants to hear the answer.
" Yeah. I mean, he's sweet and all… and boy, can he last…" Faith smirks.
" So, uhhh … you're happy then?" Buffy asks.
Faith cocks her head, and smiles. " Yeah, I guess I'm happy, B."
" That's wonderful!" Buffy exclaims, again, a shade too quickly. Faith looks at her a little puzzled.
" You ok, B?" Faith asks.
" Yeah, just tired I guess. "
" Well, guess I better go then. I'll catch you later, ok?"
" Sure… wait, Faith!"
" What?"
" We're friends, right?"
" Yeah, sure, B." Faith looks at her suspiciously.
" Well, I just gotta know…" Buffy trails off, a little embarrassed.
" What?"
" About Robin…" Buffy stalls for a second. " Well, we didn't get all… wriggly like you did. So, I'm just wondering…well…I mean…"
A light goes on in Faith's head.
" You wanna know… how big?"
" Yeah," Buffy turns red, blushing.
So cute… but still a little cork left up in there, huh, B?
Faith leans over and whispers into Buffy's ear. Buffy's eyes go wide.
" You're shitting me, right?"
" No shit B"
" … and he like, lasts a long time?"
" Oh yeah," Faith gets a happy little grin on her face.
" Wow… I mean…wow…" Buffy seems amazed. Then she smirks. " don't suppose you'd consider a threesome?"
" BUFFEE!" Faith blushes this time, but is grinning ear from ear. " Get your own stud!"
" Right… right…" Buffy winks at her. " Still… " She cocks her head a little.
" Just who ARE you anyway?" Faith laughs. " I gotta go. Man, you must be feeling better… or maybe, you're brain's fried. Dunno." Faith turns to leave.
" Hey…HEY!"
" What?"
" Don't I get a kiss?"
"What the heck has gotten into you, Buffy?" Faith shrugs. She comes over, and leans over to kiss Buffy's cheek. At the last moment, Buffy turns her face, so their lips graze instead. Faith backs up, a little surprised.
"Sorry. Sorry. Turned my cheek to get a kiss and …oooops," Buffy shrugs.
" Yeah, ok, Buffy, " Faith seems a little at a loss. " I'll catch you later, 'K?"
" Sure. I'm bushed," Buffy sighs, snuggling down. " Later Faith."
Faith turns and leaves, with a puzzled expression.
As soon as Faith leaves, Buffy's face falls. Her whole body slumps.
Two months? I been here two fucking months? And they've been together that whole time? Getting all hot and sweaty? Damn! What did she say? They're leaving in two weeks? Not good, not good! Not enough time. Well, certainly not if I'm stuck in this place. God.
No promises, right? No promises!
Damn!
To Be Continued.
