A/N: I'm using the television version of Buffy meeting Merrick, rather than that of the movie.

Also, somewhat shocked at the amount of reviews I got for this, so yeah...cool, thanks

Seeing Red

Chapter 2

The day started like any other – of course, in prison everyday is like that rest. That's part of the reason prison is so painful. But there was something that was sending Faith on edge. She prowled the courtyard, trying to get rid of her nervous energy. Her entire soul was screaming at her to do something, but the dark Slayer had no idea what she was supposed to be doing.

Frustrated, she tried to do the Tai Chi that Angel loaned her a few books on; she found it helped when she was itching to slay but couldn't. But it wasn't helping today, and after a few moments she abandoned the effort. Noticing the odd looks she was receiving from the other inmates, Faith made her way back to her cell and flung herself on the bed.

Seconds afterwards, as if drugged, Faith found herself being pulled into sleep.

At first, Faith thought it was one of her memories as she felt the need for revenge and anger reverberate through her soul. But slowly she began to recognize the voice, even though she couldn't believe it. Faith couldn't see or feel anything beyond the hateful emotions, and she tried to cry out but couldn't.

But as quickly as it started it stopped and Faith was back in her cell. She looked around in confusion and then realized that she was still dreaming. It was the silence that tipped her off – it was never quiet in prison, no matter the time. She walked out of her cell cautiously and looked around. There was no one.

She walked through the empty prison and out to the entranceway. Again, she looked around and saw no one. Shrugging, she did the thing she had been dreaming about ever since she had gotten to prison, and walked out the front doors.

A bright light blinded her for a moment and she blinked at the scene before her. All around were teenagers laughing as they left their 'prison' and headed home. Faith turned around and read the words 'Hemery High School' on the building behind her. Frowning at the vaguely familiar words, she walked down the stairs.

She stopped when she recognized a familiar laugh. In astonishment, she turned to see a laughing Buffy sitting on the steps to her right, sucking on a lollypop. A man walked up to the laughing girl, and suddenly Faith knew why this was all familiar.

Because B had told her all about when she was Called.

Faith took a step towards the now frowning girl, when she suddenly found herself in a cemetery. The Slayer growled softly at the ever-changing realities, but her attention was soon caught by the familiar voice of her sister Slayer.

"Merrick! Don't die, please, I'll do better, I promise!"

Buffy was sobbing as she held the dead body of her Watcher. The vampire that killed him looked at her in disgust and then left, leaving only his laughter behind. Faith walked up and knelt by the crying girl, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She was surprised when the dream-Buffy responded by looking at the brunette.

"It's my fault. I didn't practice enough – I treated Slaying like it was game. I just wanted to have fun," Buffy said sadly. With a start, Faith understood her sister Slayer a lot more than she had before. She had never thought about Buffy's L.A. Watcher, assuming that he had remained behind when she moved. This is why Buffy was always so uptight about doing her duty – she felt she had failed once already, and it had cost her her Watcher.

Before Faith could reply, the figures before her turned to dust. Glancing around, she was not surprised to now find herself in a cave. A slightly noise behind her made her turn and she whistled as she saw Buffy enter the room.

Goddamn, B looks hot in that dress.

She watched Buffy try and stake the ugliest vampire Faith had ever seen, and with a sinking feeling in her stomach she recognized this memory as well. This was the first time that Buffy died.

The Master dropped Buffy disdainfully into the water and walked away. His footsteps echoed in the cavern, along with other voices.

"Giles, I'm only sixteen…I don't want to die."

Now the memories began flow faster and Faith clutched her head as she became overwhelmed by the various visions and sounds.

"Angel?"

Buffy holding a dying Jamaican girl.

"Giles, don't leave me alone!"

A swordfight. A vortex. A death.

"No friends, no family, no hope. What's left." "Me."

Faith breathing on a window, and drawing a heart with a stake through it as she grinned at her sister Slayer.

"Faith, you killed a man!" "You don't understand – I don't care!"

Angel walked away and disappearing in the aftermath.

Riley. Faith. Adam. Joyce. Glory. Spike. Dawn.

Death.

Suddenly, the visions stopped and Faith fell to the ground gasping, no longer caring where she was. Wearily, she raised her head and was surprised she wasn't anywhere. There was just light, and peace, and contentment. Faith looked around and then she understood; she had felt B die, and when they brought her back, but she hadn't known this.

Buffy had gone to heaven.

"This is where it should have ended."

Startled, Faith turned and was surprised to see a sad-looking Buffy sit beside her.

"They tore you out of heaven," Faith said in a disbelieving tone. Buffy nodded.

"They thought I had gone to hell; living after knowing peace – THAT was hell. But I had to live, for Dawn. I couldn't leave her alone."

Faith stared ahead; trying to see what Buffy was looking at. It was like watching a movie, except there was no screen. A man she assumed was Buffy's father telling her that he never loved her; Angel, or rather Angelus, telling Buffy that she had been a pretty good lay; Faith standing on the ledge of the balcony of her old apartment, falling; Giles boarding a plane and leaving without a second glance; a brief image of Spike…naked.

Faith wrinkled her brow in disgust at the sight of the vampire naked, and wondered why Buffy had a memory of that.

"They all left, but only Spike stayed – he was evil and perverted and painful and he was the only who stayed," Buffy said, tonelessly. "He's the only one who thought I was worth it."

Faith looked at Buffy with concern and answered, "You still got Dawn, B. She loves you."

Wherever they were began to darken and grew cold. A terrible idea began to form in Faith's mind, and she turned to Buffy.

"Something has happened to little D, hasn't it?"

Buffy didn't answer her but said instead, "In a dream like this, you told me how to defeat the Mayor. It's time I returned the favour."

The blonde Slayer stood and looked down at the shaken girl. A knife appeared in her hand momentarily, and Faith recognized it as the same blade that Buffy had used to try and kill her.

"Next time we meet, we'll be enemies."

Faith awoke with a gasp and struggled to breath. At the sound of her name, she turned and saw a annoyed guard at the entrance of her cell.

"Spencer! You've got a visitor."

Struggling to get her breathing under control, she followed the guard to the Visitor's Room – not surprised to find Angel and Cordelia waiting. She sat down heavily and reached for the phone.

'Save your breath, I know why you're here. When do I get out?"

"Soon. How did…"

"Did you contact Red or Giles?" Faith interrupted, not ready to recount her dream just yet. Angel shook his head and Cordelia took the phone.

"They know what's happening, and there's a chance that they'll be able to stop it."

Faith just laughed.

"Buffy's not going to stop until the person responsible for whatever has happened to little D is dead."

Cordelia hesitated for a moment and then replied, "We won't be able to get you there in time…which means Buffy will already be on her killing spree when we get there."

Faith shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

"What are a few more dead demons?"

Cordelia shook her head, and Faith could have sworn she saw tears in the Ice Queen's eyes.

"No, Faith. I don't know about after, but the person she's going after is human."

Faith stared in shock and realized what Buffy had meant.

In a dream like this, you told me how to defeat the Mayor. It's time I returned the favour.

Faith had helped Buffy kill the Mayor – now Buffy is going to help Faith kill her.

TBC