Chapter 3

(PRISON)

Faith sat in the library of the prison she had called home for almost two years. She'd done a lot wrong and was working hard to pay penance for it. The thought still lingered in her head though, that if the initial mistake had been handled better she may not have gone off the deep end. She had garnered a high school diploma while in the big house and grown quite fond of reading poetry and other literary works. Of course, she was allowed to work out often and took every opportunity to do so just in case she ever found her way on the outside. She knew she couldn't keep up a proper regiment of slayer training but did the best she could.

Nights were worse for the slayer, filled with dreams of the past, emotions that could never be buried but kept back in the depths of her mind as much as possible. Thoughts of her life would run through her mind like one of those slide shows one views in a classroom. She only hoped someday her soul could rest, that she could feel she paid the cost of her actions and that just maybe at least one person would believe she was truly sorry.

She pushed herself up from the table looking around at the other prisoners mingling around and walked out of the library. She knew her wishes for penance would never come true; that blood would forever stain her soul and surely, nobody would forgive her. "Faith," a burley guard yelled. "In there, you have to speak to the warden."

She entered the office wondering what she would be blamed for this time. "Yo big guy, what they got on me this time?" She had a mock tone in her voice as she looked at him. The warden had been nice enough to her, out of fear she supposed. She instilled that fear her first few weeks here to the entire prison and since then she'd been left entirely alone.

"Pack your belongings, pick up the rest of your things and follow the instructions to the letter." This was all he said handing her a small envelope and dismissing her. "You've done your time Faith."

As Faith left the prison she couldn't help but wonder what was up, why had she been released etc. She opened the envelope, which had a bus ticket to Sunnydale. "Fuck me!" She stamped her boot down on the sidewalk feeling that old rage rise inside her.

There were also three one-hundred dollar bills inside with a small note.

Faith,

If you do not follow these instructions I will see to it you are captured again. There is a pressing matter here in Sunnydale and you slayer are my last hope. This cash should get you whatever personal items you might still have as I'm told you didn't have much going in. You are to take care of that, get here and go to Oaklawn Apartments; number 23B is where you are to report. Do not contact anyone in Sunnydale before you go to this apartment and I swear Faith, if you harm the occupant in any way I will kill you myself.

Rupert Giles

'Damn what's up, this must be big but why me?''

(TARA'S PLACE)

The sun had set as Tara walked quickly towards her new apartment, which Giles had helped her get settled in. It was across the street from Anya's, which made her feel more at ease but didn't stop the aching in her heart. She fought the urge night after night to go to Willow and make it right but knew she couldn't because there was no trust with the fact that Willow had not stopped the magic at all added to it.

Willow had phoned earlier in the evening asking Tara to go out for Coffee and she decided to give it a try. When she got there however, Willow was magically perking the place up big time. She tried to speak to her about it but Buffy jumped to Willow's defense much too quickly. This affirmed Tara's belief trouble was soon on its way and she hoped Giles had come up with a battle plan because obviously her love was not enough to stop Willow.

This thought brought a tear to her eyes as she rounded the corner heading for her new home. It was then that the vampire lunged, grabbing her round the waste but she barely hung on to her small bag of groceries. He suddenly let go and when she turned around there was a pile of dust on the ground and a gorgeous woman dressed in very revealing leather stood before her. "F-F-F-F Faith," Tara said nervously.

Faith looked the blonde-haired woman over wondering how she knew who she was. 'This is great I fucked up already.' "That's me," Faith said as she now remembered seeing Tara in the Bronze when she stole saint Buffy's body.

Tara began backing away quickly knowing this wasn't good but Faith followed her to the door of the apartment. Utter panic spread across Tara's face. "You must be the occupant of 23B that G ordered me not to hurt. Relax blondie, he sent for me. That's right, me the psycho-slayer is his last hope." Faith handed her the note in way of proof and Tara reluctantly opened the door and let the slayer in.

"I'll phone Giles and let him know you are here." Tara said, her old stutter returning. How she hated that and thought she was rid of it but something about Faith made it return as if it had never left.

"Sure thing, Tara is it?" Faith questioned looking in an empty bedroom assuming it was hers. She had collected a lot more personal items than she'd left the jail with; lucky for her that most of her leather digs were still in style and hid away at the apartment the mayor had got for her. She, being wise to her attire, made a pit stop at first.

The two women settled on the sofa after having burgers for dinner. Giles had told Tara he can't get away till morning so she assured him she was doing all right with Faith alone. "So T where's your girlfriend?"

Faith noticed a pained look on her face as soon as the words left her mouth. "W-W-W- Willow is one of the reasons you are here, she's gone dark and we think Buffy is with her." Tara finally managed to spit out.

Faith searched Tara's hurt blue eyes for answers and realized the witch wasn't lying. 'Faith the big bad now gets to stop B the big bad, how ironic.' "I'm sorry T, looks like she hurt you pretty bad."

The sympathy in Faith's voice took Tara by surprise as she hung her head feeling another bout of tears coming knowing she couldn't stop them. She got yet another surprise when Faith moved over to her pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry Tara," she said in a soft comforting voice wondering why she was bothering to take the time to comfort this girl, she knew the big house hadn't made her that soft.

Tara allowed herself to relax in Faith's arms as she sobbed uncontrollably until she drifted to sleep and for the first time since the break up, she slept good.