The Quickening

Previously:

"This is what being a slayer is all about," Giles 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.

Chapter Nine:

Faith kicked open the door of the warehouse. It was dark inside, but her eyes instantly adjusted. "Ah, Faith," Kakistos' rumbled out of the shadows. "I was wondering when you would show up." Faith gripped the handle of her ax tighter. She could feel the fear starting to creep up her limbs, turning her blood cold.

"It's not just Faith this time, big boy," Buffy said, stepping up next to her. "You messed with the wrong people."

"The other slayer," Kakistos commented, walking out to face them. "I heard that you died. Shouldn't be too hard to kill you again, I imagine."

"Why don't you find out," Buffy said. Then she turned and whispered to Faith, "Find Xander."

Faith nodded. Buffy approached Kakistos. Looking around the room, Faith's eyes eventually rested on Xander. He was chained to a pipe in the corner. Faith could see blood running down his face, but his eyes were open. "Over here!" Xander yelled through the cloth Kakistos had bound his mouth with. Faith sprinted over to him and knelt down beside him.

"You okay?" She asked as she ripped the gag off his mouth.

"Never better," Xander joked. "I kinda like getting kidnapped by ugly ass vampires."

"Don't we all," Faith replied and smiled. "I can't get these chains," she said as she pulled on the chains, trying to break Xander free. "Hold still." Faith stood and lifted the ax.

"Wait a second," Xander said, his eyes wide. "I'm not so sure I like this plan."

"Would you rather stay here?" Faith asked. Xander shook his head. "Okay, close your eyes if you don't want to watch." Xander instantly closed his eyes and Faith smirked. Lifting the ax over her head, she swung it down with all of her might. It clanged against the chains, the sound reverberating through the warehouse.

Across the room, Kakistos heard the ax hitting the chains and turned to look at Faith. Growling, he swung his arm out, connecting with the side of Buffy's face. Then he began walking toward Faith. Buffy landed against the opposite wall, stars exploding in front of her eyes. "I almost have it," Faith said, lifting the ax again. She was about to swing it when something lifted her off the ground. Faith dropped the ax and struggled against the cloven hands that gripped her around the waist, squeezing the breath out of her lungs.

"No!" Faith growled out, struggling to breath. Xander opened his eyes and looked down at the chains binding his hands. They were cracked, almost broken. Standing, Xander strained against the chains. He could feel them breaking. Blood ran down his wrists from where the metal cut into his skin, but he kept pulling. Finally, the chains broke and Xander fell forward. He caught himself just before he hit the ground. Looking up, he noticed the ax lying a few feet away.

Rushing over to it, he lifted it up. Buffy had charged Kakistos again, but he had knocked her out of the way. Across the room, Giles held a loaded crossbow in his hands, but he couldn't get a shot. Kakistos made sure to keep Faith between himself and the weapon. While Oz, Cordelia, and Willow had come along for the ride, they couldn't do much against a vampire as strong as Kakistos. Xander remembered other vampires being in the warehouse, but he didn't notice them now. He assumed they fled when Buffy and Faith burst in.

Lifting the ax in his hands, Xander looked down at it. He had played tee ball when he was younger and despite his general lack of talent, he could swing fairly well. "Here goes nothing," he said. Then he ran forward, lifting the ax as he went, and swung with all of his might at Kakistos' head. The ax connected with the back of the vampire's neck and sliced through it. Faith could feel Kakistos' arms suddenly go limp as her eyes started to roll into the back of her head. Then she was falling. She landed on the concrete floor of the warehouse and started coughing. Her lungs strained and burned as she breathed.

"Hey, I did it," Xander said happily when Kakistos burst into dust. Dropping the ax, he moved over to Faith and helped her to her feet. "You okay?" He asked. Faith nodded.

"Five by five," she said, her voice raspy. "Let's get outta here, huh?" Xander smiled and nodded.

"Nice job," Buffy commented as the group left the warehouse. "I didn't know you had it in ya," she said, playfully smacking Xander on the arm.

"What can I say? I'm just full of surprises," he responded.

"How's your head?" Cordelia asked, moving over to him. Reaching up, she wiped some blood away from his eyebrow.

"I'll live," he said softly. Cordelia smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"Well, cheerleading let out early," she said and looked away. Silence fell between the group as they walked back to the library. Once they were there, they put the weapons away and said their goodbyes. It was agreed that Buffy would escort the others home just in case any of Kakistos' minions felt the need to avenge his death. Faith quietly slipped out of the library without anyone noticing and began to walk home to the motel. She hadn't gotten too far from the high school when she heard someone running up behind her. Turning, she saw Xander.

"Hey," he said, out of breath.

"Hey," Faith responded. "Shouldn't you be heading home with Buffy and the others?"

"Yeah," Xander replied. "I just wanted to say thanks."

"For what? Almost getting you killed? Yeah, you're welcome," Faith sarcastically replied and continued walking.

"You saved me," Xander replied, following her.

"No, you saved me. If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have gotten kidnapped in the first place," Faith responded angrily.

"Oh, I get it. I can't save you because you're the slayer, right? And a slayer isn't allowed to need other people," Xander said in annoyance.

"Damn straight," Faith said, turning to face him. "I don't need anyone. Not you, not Buffy, not Giles, no one. The only person I need is me. The sooner you get that through your head, the better off you'll be," Faith said, her voice rising in anger.

"That's bullshit and you know it," Xander replied. "I get that you've only had yourself. I get that no one has cared enough to look out for you. I understand that. You and me, we aren't all that different, Faith. If it hadn't been for Willow and the others, I would be exactly like you. But you have people that care about you now, so the sooner you get that through your head, the better off you'll be," Xander yelled back.

Faith stared at him for a moment. She hadn't expected him to have the courage to yell back at her. She could see something in his eyes as she looked at him, something she had never seen before. Stepping closer to him, she reached up and rested her fingertips against the cut on his head. "Does that hurt?" She asked when he pulled back slightly.

"No," he said. "Not anymore." Faith nodded. Then she leaned forward and captured his lips with her own. She held the kiss for a couple of seconds, smiling when she felt Xander kiss her back. Then she pulled away and stepped back.

"What was that for?" Xander asked, a goofy grin plastered on his face.

"Well, you did save my life tonight," Faith replied. "I guess I owe you one." Smiling, she turned and started walking down the street. "See you tomorrow, X," she called back. Xander smiled and touched his lips.

"Definitely," he softly replied, his words getting lost in the breeze.

"You ready?" Buffy called as she and the others came walking out of the high school. Xander threw one last look back at Faith and turned to his friends. "Yeah, let's go."

A pair of eyes watched the group walk away, laughing and talking. Trick stepped out into the light as they faded into darkness. "Well, isn't that interesting," he said to himself.

"What are we gonna do now?" Another vampire asked, stepping out behind him.

"We're gonna pay a visit to City Hall," Trick said, turning to face him. "I hear this administration is particularly friendly to our kind of people. Besides, I have an idea I think the mayor will find quite intriguing."