A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I had writer's block for some time on this particular fic for some time
Chapter 5 – Investigation
PreviouslyCatching up with her partner, Faith remained quiet but her mind was flooded with questions. But there was one question that stood out from the others: how did Buffy phone Giles if she couldn't talk?
There was something Buffy was keeping her, and Faith was determined to find out what it was.
((((((0))))))
Faith awoke groggily that next morning in her hotel room, her dreams full of dark places and loud voices and blood. Frowning slightly, she glanced at the clock and wondered why she was awake before noon. Flashes of last night's conversation with Buffy came to her, and she rose out of bed with a determined look on her face. She was going to find out what happened that night; the only question was how.
Faith immediately discarded asking any of the Scoobs – even if they knew they wouldn't tell her. And Giles has been completely whipped by the blonde Slayer (though Faith had to concede that he wasn't the only one). Joyce and Sam were out for obvious reasons, which ironically left the demons that were there that night.
Dressing, Faith headed to the one place she knew of that demons frequented while waiting for the sun to set and mealtime to begin.
It wasn't long before she reached her destination, already living on the 'wrong side of the tracks' of Sunnydale. Grimacing in disgust, Faith surveyed the faded sign of Willy's bar. The things I do for that blonde, Faith derided herself with a rueful shake of her head.
Confidently, Faith entered Willy's bar and scanned the eccentric clientele. Willy's was a rundown hole in the ground that serviced the various demons in town; fortunately for Willy, demons weren't too picky about their drinking environment. Spotting the new arrival, bodies shifted – trying to stay in the shadows – as the Slayer made her way to the bartender. The short, balding man smiled widely, even if it was fake.
"Slayer! Fancy seeing you here…can I get you something to drink?" Willy asked nervously – saying 'Slayer' louder than was necessary. At this, a few demons started to slowly make their way to the exists (others not even trying to pretend to be stealthy).
"Actually Willy, you can get me something I want…whoever set me and B up for that pit trap," Faith replied sweetly with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Sorry, Slayer, don't know what you're talking about," he sated, stuttering slightly.
Faith leaned over the bar counter and whispered, "Oh, I think you do. And make no mistake – I'm not nearly as easy-going as B is."
Willy gulped audibly and looked over Faith's shoulder. Turning, she followed his gaze until she came across a demon she recognized. Grinning evilly, she sauntered over to the terrifying demon as the rest of the bar's occupants fled. It tried to make a break for it as well, but found itself flying through the air and crashing into a table. Crouching down to the fallen demon's eyelevel, the Slayer said, "Let's have a little chat."
((((((0))))))
Faith walked through the quiet halls, the smell of antiseptics in the air causing her nose to twitch. The hospital was surprising empty of patients and doctors during the day – but that all changed when night fell. Fortunately for Faith, that made her mission much easier. Unable to stand hospitals (even if she wasn't there as a patient) Faith was glad when she finally found the door she was looking for. She took a quick look around before jimmying – breaking – the lock. Hurrying inside, she looked around the small office for what she was looking for. She spotted a filing cabinet bearing a label – PATIENT FILES.
Bingo.Pulling it open, she quickly leafed through the files until she found the two she was looking for.
SUMMERS, BUFFY
SPENCER, FAITH
Faith looked at her own file first – not finding anything surprising or didn't suspect. A small concussion – a laceration to her stomach resulting in severe blood loss. The Slayer paled slightly at how close she had come to dying, but was a little confused since she didn't remember her wound being that deep. In fact, she had thought the blow to her head from the fall would have been the most serious of her injuries. How long had she been bleeding for her to loose that much blood?
Then she checked Buffy's file and again wasn't surprised by the news there; severe wound to the throat thereby injuring the vocal chords – further irreparable damage inflicted after the initial cause of injury.
Wait a minute…further irreparable damage inflicted after the initial cause of injury? What the hell does that mean?
((((((0))))))
The demon cradled its now broken arm to its chest, as it huddled amongst the broken pieces of the table.
"After you and the other Slayer fell for the trap, we covered the hole up – hiding it good, too – and left. We didn't think you'd get out of there," the demon whimpered.
"Obviously you were wrong," Faith growled, grabbing the broken arm and squeezing, causing the demon to cry out in pain. "Which is very, very, bad for you. Why didn't you try and finish us off then and there?"
Gasping, trying to speak through the pain, the demon answered, "Slayers are dangerous when their injured, like wild animals. Why go down into a hole with a pissed-off slayer when she can't get out?"
"Obviously you've never heard of cell phones," Faith commented dryly. The demon forgot who he was talking to for a moment and snorted.
"How do you expect someone to talk with a cut throat?"
((((((0))))))
The hole…the loose dirt on the sides…covered…phoned Giles…cut throat…after the initial cause…covered…
That's when Faith finally knew what had happened that night – all the pieces falling together. Buffy had called for help until she had permanently lost her voice. Faith could just imagine what kind of pain that would have caused her, even if Buffy was a Slayer. And all that time, all Faith had done was lay there unconscious – slowly bleeding to death.
What kind of Slayer did that make her? She was the reason Buffy would never speak again.
Faith put the files back and slowly walked back to the hotel – uncaring if a demon attacked. After walking for an hour lost in through, Faith was surprised to find herself once again standing outside of Buffy's house.
Buffy's bedroom light was on and Faith could hear laughter. Of course, that mean it was Sam's – because of her Buffy would never laugh out loud again. Faith came to a decision then and there – she would never hurt Buffy again.
Even if that meant never seeing her again.
((((((0))))))
Despite having made up her mind that she was going to leave, Faith found herself unable to bring herself to actually leave. In fact, she found herself spending even more time with the blond Slayer – showing up for all the (in her opinion, pointless) Scoobie meetings. In the morning. Before noon. It didn't help matters when Buffy so obviously enjoyed their late-night Slaying sessions together. Last night – the last night – had been the hardest night in Faith's life.
Buffy watched the brunette take on the vampire, obviously playing around with the poor thing as it growled in frustration. The look of satisfaction on Faith's face when she finally dusted the vampire caused Buffy to giggle. The giggle turned into a shiver and the blonde cursed herself for not wearing something warmer. It took all of Faith's willpower not to let a giggle of her own escape at the amusing picture Buffy made – but as whipped as she was by the other Slayer she refused to go all mushy (at least, let Buffy know about it.)
But that didn't stop Faith was taking her favourite leather jacket off and wrapping it around the small shivering Slayer. Buffy smiled gratefully and the two continued on with their patrol. The night eventually ended and the two Slayers stood outside Buffy's door. Buffy clutched the jacket around herself a little tighter – enjoying the Faith's smell that clung to the jacket – before reluctantly began to pull it off.
"Nah, B, keep it for a bit," Faith said, hoping to sound nonchalant, figuring that it would give Buffy something to remember her by when she left. Buffy smiled that 'light-up-a-room' smile that Faith adored and gave the brunette a quick hug. Long after Buffy had shut the door and Faith had made her way back to her motel, Faith could still feel Buffy's warm body pressed against her own.
Faith looked around her room, trying to see if she had forgotten to pack anything. Glancing at the lock, she realized she had a few hours before her bus was scheduled to leave and figured she might as well pass the time asleep. If she didn't have time to think about, maybe she wouldn't find an excuse to stay yet another day.
((((((0))))))
"Hey Pip, nice jacket," Sam said as she walked into the Summers' kitchen – admiring the leather Jacket Buffy wore as she munched on a piece of toast.
Thanks, it's Faith's – she let me borrow it Buffy signed after she finished her breakfast and went to get a drink from the fridge. With her back turned, she didn't see Sam frown in thought.
Even though she'd only known the dark-haired girl for a few weeks, Sam knew how much Faith loved that leather jacket. At one point Sam had seen Faith literally growl at someone who had made the mistake of touching it. Now that Sam thought about it, there was a lot of peculiar behaviour she had noticed the other Slayer doing over the last week. Buffy's room now housed at least half of Faith's shirts and the younger girl had showed up for every Scoobie meeting this week – unusual behaviour for her.
As Sam started to add the behaviour together a disturbing pattern began to emerge in her mind. Training as she was to become a psychologist, Sam knew how to spot behavioural patterns and make judgements about the motivations of the people doing them. And right now, Sam didn't like the answer she was coming to. Faith was showing some of the textbook signs of pre-suicide. But what could have happened in the last week to cause Faith to start exhibiting such behaviour?
Buffy looked at her friend who appeared deep in thought. Waving her hand in front of Sam's face a few times to get her attention, she signed What's with the serious face?
"I was just thinking," Sam answered distantly, still distracted by her thoughts.
Those thoughts being? Buffy asked, grinning slightly.
Sam stared blankly at Buffy for a few moments before grinning and replying it was nothing. Buffy looked sceptical but let it drop, knowing better to try and get anything out of her now.
I have to get going to school. You coming with?
"Nah, I got to talk to your mom about something. I'll see you after school when you get home."
Still slightly disbelieving of the sudden camaraderie between her mom and Sam, Buffy just raised a bemused eyebrow and left. Making sure the girl was gone Sam climbed the stairs to where Joyce was putting away the laundry. Even though it was the middle of the workweek, Joyce was still on holiday despite the fact Buffy had returned to school.
Sam popped her head inside the room and knocked on the side of the wall to get the older woman's attention.
"Joyce, we've had a small change in plans."
"Oh?" Joyce asked, surprised.
"Call Giles – it's happening tonight."
TBC