The Quickening

Previously:

Faith had never been much of a team player and rules hadn't held much sway for her. But when she looked at Buffy and her friends, she felt a pang of jealousy spark in her heart. She wanted what they had and if she could get it by doing things Buffy's way some of the time, she'd make a few concessions. "Alright," she said, walking after her. "We'll do things your way this time around."

Chapter Eight:

Faith pulled against the chains holding her to the wall. The room was dark and dank, but she could make out the figures of Kakistos and Kate through the haze that had settled on her mind. She could feel a trickle of blood running down the side of her face. She wanted to reach up and wipe it away, but she couldn't. A scream ripped through the warehouse. "Leave her alone!" Faith yelled. Her throat was raw from yelling and she strained against the chains again.

"I know you're excited, but I'll get to you soon enough," Kakistos's voice rumbled out.

"If you touch her again…" Faith warned. Kakistos appeared in front of her. Faith suppressed an involuntary shudder. The side of his face where his eye had been was ripped open and oozing.

"You'll what?" Kakistos asked, leaning in. She could feel his hot breath on her cheek. It smelled rotten. "Stake me? You're chained to the wall, little girl. You can't do anything. Face it…you're helpless."

Faith shot up in bed, sweat pouring off her body. Closing her eyes, she wiped her face. She felt like she couldn't breathe and icy fear clutched her heart. She knew in just a few hours, she would have to face Kakistos, the vampire that had taken away one of the few people she had loved in her life. The last time she had seen him, she had frozen in fear, unable to fight him, unable to save her Watcher. She feared she would have the same reaction when she and the others went to save Xander. She already blamed herself for Kate's death; she didn't want to have to blame herself for anyone else's.

Looking out of the grimy, motel room window, she sighed. The late afternoon sun slanted in through the cracked blinds, lighting up the foot of the bed. The rest of the room lay in shadows. She had left the high school shortly after she and Buffy reported to Giles what they found out from Willy. She left under the pretence that she had places to be, but really, but just wanted to be alone. Although the others bought her excuse, she knew Giles could see right through her. He knew she was afraid, but he also knew that she needed to work out her fear on her own.

Rising to her feet, Faith grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom to shower and change. Once she was done, she shoved a stake in her waistband, slung her jacket around her shoulders, and grabbed her keys. The sun was starting to go down. She knew she had overslept. She was supposed to meet the others in the library when school let out. It was nearing five o'clock, however. Opening her motel room door, she closed it behind her and locked it. A cold breeze was blowing and she buttoned up her jacket.

But the breeze wasn't the only thing that chilled her. Every step closer to the high school reminded her of what she had to do that night, what she had to face. Finally, the school loomed in front of her. The streetlights popped on. Faith walked up to the front door and slipped inside. She smiled, knowing that Giles had left the door unlocked for her. It amazed her that the high school didn't have a security patrol. Her old school in Boston had security guards patrolling the halls and metal detectors at the door. But then, Sunnydale wasn't as overtly violent as South Boston had been, despite its high death rate for a small town.

"Hey," Faith said as she wandered into the library.

"You're late," Buffy said moodily. "We should have left by now."

"Chill, the sun hasn't even set yet," Faith said.

"Have you looked out of the window?" Willow asked. "It's dark out."

"We'll be fine," Giles said sternly. "We shouldn't be too eager anyway."

"Shouldn't be too eager? This bastard has Xander," Buffy reiterated.

"Buffy, why don't you and the others get ready? We'll be leaving soon," Giles said. Then he turned to face Faith. "Can I speak to you in my office, please?"

Faith had a sinking feeling in her stomach as she followed Giles into his office. She knew this was it. All of his kindness and compassion before had been a fluke. He must have figured out that the others would be better without her around. He was probably going to tell her to pack her things and leave as soon as Kakistos was gone and Xander had been saved. "What's up, boss?" Faith asked jokingly to belie her anxiety.

Giles turned and took off his glasses. He quickly cleaned them and put them back on. With every second that ticked by, Faith felt like she was going to jump out of her skin. "Are you alright?" Giles suddenly asked. Faith could practically hear the sincerity dripping in his voice.

"What?" Faith asked in surprise.

"Are you alright?" Giles repeated. "I know you and Kakistos have a rather traumatic past. I'm sure this night is going to be incredibly stressful. I just want to make sure you're up to it."

"I'm sorry," Faith said, still slightly shocked. "I thought you were gonna blow me off. You just wanna see if I'm okay?" Giles smiled softly.

"That's all," he replied. While he knew that Faith had trust issues, he didn't think they were as deeply rooted as they obviously were.

"I'm five by five," Faith replied.

"What exactly does that mean?" Giles asked. "You Americans and all your bloody slang. I swear half of it doesn't make any sense." Faith laughed. "It's not funny," Giles stressed. "I have no idea what any of you are saying most of the time."

"I'll break it down for ya then, G. I'm fine," Faith said, smiling.

"Okay. Good," Giles replied. "Then I suggest we get on our way. We don't have much time to spare."

"I agree," Faith said as Giles led her back out of the office. "We ready?" Faith asked.

"Been ready long before you even got here," Buffy mumbled.

"Let's go then," Giles said, choosing to ignore her. Faith chose to do the same. The group began the walk to the warehouse. Buffy was carrying a bag of weapons. She was walking ahead with the others. Giles walked behind them and Faith strayed behind him. Her feet grew heavier as they got closer to the warehouse. Giles looked back at her.

"Still five by five?" He asked.

"You know it," Faith stated.

"Good. But just in case you're not…everything is going to be okay," Giles said. Faith looked up at him, her eyes shining gratefully. Kate had been the last person to try to comfort her. Though she usually rejected comfort from anyone because it seemed to her like pity, she was grateful that he cared enough to try.

"I know," Faith said.

"We're here," Buffy announced. Faith stopped walking and looked up at the warehouse. Her breath caught in her throat. Giles gently put his hand on her shoulder.

"This is what being a slayer is all about," he whispered. "Facing your fears and overcoming them. But you're not alone this time. We can help you."

"Let's get this done," Faith said with conviction. Then she grabbed an ax out of Buffy's weapons bag and strode forward to face her greatest enemy.