Title: Come and Get Me
Disclaimer: This is purely for entertainment; none of the characters are mine.
Pairing: B/F
Rating: T

Chapter 3 – Sleepless Slayer

Yup. Just as I expected. My eyes glued to the ceiling and the faint sound of Giles's snores across in the second twin bed. It'd been four hours I'd counted since I got into bed, and told myself that I'd have to shut out all of these feelings and thoughts if I was gonna get at least two seconds of sleep.

But that wasn't gonna happen. I knew that from the moment I laid my head on this stupid pillow. Cold; uncomforting. Furthermore, nobody to snuggle up to. Each side of the bed I was in was cold; untouched. No Faith.

I just couldn't sleep.

But my eyes ached beyond possibility and my limbs felt weak; exhaustion was weighing me down like a ton. I fidgeted nervously hoping that I would find a comfortable position to settle down into.

But I was switched on.

On. And tried to will myself to switch off. But it's just didn't happen.

So the sheets got tangled as I turned over and over and round and huffed as my head plopped down on the pillow, in a different angle. I stared fixedly at the ugly cabinet across from my bed. Just by looking at it I can tell it was the cause of that weird stench in this room.

My own footsteps pissed me off as I listened to them and felt how they slapped against the tiled bathroom floor. I switched the light on and inwardly groaned at how it forced my eyes to sting. And within seconds I was clasping the ceramic sink with my indolent palms, and absorbing the reflection that told me a story of done. How was I supposed to survive, or even go on a day without Faith?

For so long I'd gotten used to the sweet scent of her and her presence and her breath on my neck, or her body pressed up against mine as we slept. I got used to needing her, wanting her and having her. And more than anything I'd gotten used to loving her.

But for what seemed like an eternity negative thoughts flooded me, and my eyes just would not stay shut.

Funny. I looked into the mirror and next thing my head was buzzing and all I could see was black. Then I blinked my eyes open and looked into the mirror. I needed the sleep. But I couldn't get it.

I drug myself back into the bedroom and pulled out a small photo case. The only photos we ever took together. The moonlight and streetlamp provided me with sufficient light as I propped myself up against the bedside, crossing my legs upon the floor.

As far as knew she'd taken out the ones of me in my bikini and folded them up and put them into her wallet. I wondered if she still had it on her, or if the guards took her as she was, from that bar…

I didn't have to force myself to stay awake looking through them. That nauseating and frustrating sense of insomnia forced me to look through each photo with time on my side and silence to reflect on the events of the image. My mind was heading back to Mexico, and that heavenly beach and golden granules of sand that were comfortably warm as I discovered from every step taken towards that endless ocean. She was poking her tongue out at me from inside the water, that naughty grin plastered across her face and her glistening form forever pleasing to my eyes.

And I clicked the button on the disposable, chuckling to myself. That day was no better than the others. In fact it was a normal day for us. They say that you only capture the good times in the five by sevens. But this was our entire time there. Happy. Carefree. Aside the times I felt paranoid for being followed, every moment was so perfect.

Soppy as it was.

I slipped that photograph of her poking out her tongue behind and looked at the next one. I didn't have a chance to think about it before tears were spilling over onto my cheeks and my body was shaking rhythmically at the force of me shoving air out of my lungs.

This wasn't fair. She was putting her life on the line because of my mistake. She was willing to sacrifice herself because she wanted to protect me.

Suddenly I was thinking about the 'what ifs' and the worst scenarios and tears were rolling down my chin and I was crumbling. I hated this. Not being able to help her was crippling, and as I mumbled incoherent words to myself, I knew that there was no way I'd be able to ever give up on her. I'd never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to her.

I was unable to sleep the remainder of the night, my mind unable to switch off and let me gather just a moment of rest. But I didn't want it anyway so it didn't matter. But I was exhausted. My body was telling me two contradictive commands but I was only compelled to do one. Sleep. Save Faith. Save Faith.

I'd been standing at the window, looking down at the morning city street below. So busy with people going about their business, making their way to their everyday normal lives. Maybe their lives weren't so complicated.

I glanced over my shoulder at my slumbering Watcher, knowing that in a couple of hours we'd have to go back to the Council and try to get Faith back. I counted down the seconds and I swear I'd never looked at a clock this much in my entire life. But as I looked out of the window once again, it occurred to me that she was missing from me.

Those tingles. Those warm fuzzies I got from being close to her. From sensing her, from being in her presence. If I couldn't feel it now, but I could feel it if she was close, then I could use it to find her. Yes, damn it. I didn't have to wait for Giles.

I'd always hated the idea of leaving a note on someone's nightstand, but I figured if I didn't he'd go AWOL. So it said something like, 'I know what I'm doing; wait for me,' and I hoped to whatever celestial beings would listen to me that this plan would work. I didn't wanna doubt it, but anything could happen. Call it magical slayer bond radar…what if something was jamming it? The Council's own magical protection, or my emotions…if this…ability...was attached to my emotions then would it work? All the sobbing and the moping and the hysterical-ness could screw it up.

I zipped up my leather jacket and took the hotel stairs two at a time, dropping in my key at the reception as fast as I could before rushing out and scanning the street for a familiar direction.

The taxi driver from the night before had taken us about two and half blocks down from the Council. Over-convenient some might say. I didn't care. Good thing I'd kept track of my surroundings in that cab, cos now I was relying on my own knowledge to get me back to that same building.

But I could feel them. Call it kinetic energy; buzzing, waves, whatever…I could feel it, right in the centre of my stomach, eliciting further with every step I took in the direction I'd learned. Yes. I felt a slight smile as I told myself that this might actually work.

And as I began to approach the building, the tingles in full swing, all I could focus on was getting her out of there. But the back entrance was guarded with two men twice my size and in black coats and leather gloves. I almost felt like they would've told me that my name wasn't on the guest list if I approached them.

I hid in next door's alcove, and peered back over my shoulder at the important looking car proceeding to enter through the back entrance. I saw the driver roll down the window and utter a few words to one of the bodyguards, then drive on. So this is how the Council live…Limousines, early morning champagne, no doubt, a chauffeur and bodyguards. And all because they run the lives of slayers and whatever else of Greater Good happens to swing their way. How come we don't get this fancy London luxury…?

I shook my head to rid myself of my distracting thoughts and turned my head away from them. How was I supposed to get in there unnoticed?

I was so lucky there was a garden square out of sight of the guards that I could climb the fence of. No problem. I brushed myself off, and checked that no one had seen me, and hurried over to the door. Crap. Why didn't it occur to me that it would have a security lock?

I was no good at picking locks…I didn't wanna create a scene…but it seemed I didn't have to; instead I was hiding round at the side of the building, from two important suits exiting from the back entrance.

'I've never come across a slayer so untrained, so unruly…' The grey suit said.

'Yes, but it seems her track record is that of bad luck; two Watchers dead and her calling accidental... You can make that hearing today at two, can't you?' the black suit spoke, the accent so parallel to Giles that I felt my eyes widening at how perfect each word was.

'Yes, of course…' The grey suit looked down into their briefcase and stopped walking, uttering an annoyed "tut" as they did. 'I forgot the case files. Wait for me in the car,' the grey suit said and the black suit glanced back over their shoulder, and for a moment I thought maybe I'd been seen, and held my breath, but sighed it out when they continued in the direction of their car.

I quickly decided to follow the grey suit, hoping to slip in the door right behind them, and managed to wedge my foot in between the door to stop it from closing after seeing the grey suit disappear into the building. I waited a couple of seconds, listening to the suit's heels clicking on the floor as they disappeared down the hallway, and then pulled back the door when I could no longer hear them.

So, the tingles. I figured the more intense they got, the closer I'd be to her. So I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to think where in the building she might be. After all, she had to be hear somewhere, I could sense it.

I started walking forward, quickly observing my surroundings as I went. Countless pictures and award certificates on what seemed like this endless hallway. After what seemed like a minute of walking, I reached a junction in the hallway; it split into three more passages, with surprise; more certificates on the walls, and pictures, portraits. But I didn't have a chance to step down any of them; I was spotted.

'Hey!' There came a baritone voice from behind me; the bodyguard; shoot…

'What were you thinking, jeopardising your situation like that? You could've destroyed our chance for appeal; I hope to god no one recognised you…'

So as much as I was pleased to be in one piece and not in some…Council-ly jail thingy…I didn't miss being lectured by Giles. He paced in front of me, the hotel room floor absorbing each of his steps with a quiet thud.

'I know, but I had to go to her!'

'But that isn't the way! Kidnapping her back will only get you into trouble, and you most certainly can't afford to do that…'

'Giles…I know, and I'm sorry. But I got some information,' I explained to him, trying to get him to stay calm by telling him calmly myself. 'I overheard two people talking about her hearing.'

He stopped pacing and squinted at me with a curious look in his eye. 'Go on.'

'Apparently it's today at two o'clock. Maybe we can go to it and then tell them that she didn't kill anybody.'

Giles contemplated my words for a moment; I could see it on his face as he looked towards the floor, rubbing over his chin with his fingers.

'Maybe we can tell them the truth,' I continued, gently.

But it seemed I had perhaps said something wrong because now he was sitting on the bed beside me, panic rising in his tone of voice. 'What do you mean by the truth?'

I thought about this. I knew what he meant.

'That she didn't kill anybody…'

And as if the panic was over, he released a breath, but in a hurried breath he proceeded to speak. 'Listen, Buffy, you mustn't tell them that you did it, do you understand?'

Back up. Was he scared I might expose myself? 'I…okay…'

With a resolute determination he rose from the bed and crossed the room to his small overnight bag, and I sat in silence as I ran over what he'd just said to me. He didn't want me to expose myself…he was worried that I might…

'Why don't you want me to confess it, Giles?' I asked quietly.

Silence. I knew this was a nerve. And that perhaps I was right. He didn't want me to confess it…maybe because he…didn't want to lose me…

'Buffy; you have a lot of explaining to do, but the only explaining you will do is to me.' He peered over his shoulder and I did the same. 'I don't intend to lose Faith. But I also don't intend to lose you, you must understand that.'

I nodded simply, letting him know I understood this, and broke my gaze from him, looking instead to the palms of my hands.

'Don't worry, Giles. I don't intend to lose either of us, too,' I uttered beneath my breath, raising my gaze to look out of the window.

TBC