Creed

Chapter 3

Buffy paced nervously in the small, oppressed room, unable to remain still. This would be the first time she would come face to face with the brunette Slayer since she had last come to L.A. after hearing of the girl's attempt on Angel's life. They hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms, and Buffy wasn't sure how the other girl would react.

She wondered why she wasn't angry at Faith anymore. The betrayal had hurt so much more than she had let on, and every time her friends had mentioned the brunette- usually followed by an obscene insult- it felt like she had slipped the knife into her own stomach. She couldn't explain it. Faith had turned against her, breaking the trust between the two Slayers. She had aided Buffy's enemies, attempted murder of her boyfriend and stole her body and life, but Buffy couldn't bring herself to hate the girl. Buffy knew how easy it was to succumb to the darkness, and Faith had slipped because Buffy hadn't understood her. If only…

Shaking herself from her musings, Buffy rested against the white, sterile wall and dropped her head. How Faith could stay sane in this confinement was beyond her. She had only been within the high walls and impending gates for a few minutes, and she was nearly overcome with claustrophobia. She raised her head when she heard the jingling of keys and the telltale click of a door being unlocked. She slid into the seat behind the thick glass and watched pensively as the door swung open. A bored-looking guard walked into the room and Buffy drew in a sharp breath when the dark-haired Slayer followed him. Donning an orange jumpsuit and bound with handcuffs, Faith strolled nonchalantly into the small room.

As their eyes met, Buffy felt the familiar rush of adrenaline she had always felt around the other Slayer. She savoured the rich sensation thrashing through her blood, knowing that as soon as she left the other girl's presence, it would disappear.

Faith glanced wearily at her visitor, wondering idly if the Council had finally come to call another Slayer. But when her eyes met with a set of familiar green eyes that were imprinted in the back of her mind, all previous thoughts fled and were replaced by one word. Buffy.

She was here. Only a few feet away and separated by nothing but a pane of glass that she could break with one swift kick. She was right in front of her. Buffy, she was here...but she wasn't. Faith nearly gasped at the realization. There was something wrong about her, something missing from the fiery, determined Slayer she had once known. It was as if she was…dead.

"B," she murmured, desperately trying to cover how shaken she was.

"Faith," Buffy replied, noticing the tremors that racked the brunette's body. She hadn't thought the girl would be shaken to see her. Hell, she hadn't even thought Faith would care. But obviously she had once more misjudged her.

The guard shut the door behind him, but neither girl noticed. Their gaze hadn't wavered since they first laid eyes on each other. The intensity of the stare would have caused anyone to look away uncomfortably, but the two did not even flinch.

Faith opted for the indifferent approach, and picked up the blue phone. She waited for Buffy to do the same, and neutralizing her voice, said, "How'd you get here? Last I knew you were s failing the driver's test."

"Angel drove me," she answered, surprised when she didn't get the usual rise from the brunette, who only shrugged in reply.

"So what brings you all the way to cast-off central?"

"You," Buffy answered shortly.

"No shit, B," she snorted. "But something must be wrong in your perfect little life if you've resorted to visiting me."

She shrugged, "A lot has happened."

Faith stared at the blonde. "Getting you down?"

"Not so much down as out," she said. "Apparently, I'm not a Slayer anymore."

Faith felt her blood run cold. That was what she had felt a few days ago. She had awoken from a forgotten dream in a cold sweat, her instinct screaming that something was wrong. She hadn't been able to sleep again that night, too agitated to lie still, and had spent a good half of the night pacing in her cell.

Buffy waited apprehensively for Faith's reaction. She thought she saw something flicker through the brunette's eyes, but it was gone a moment later and she wasn't sure if she had imagined it.

"That's gotta burn, huh?" Faith murmured slowly.

Buffy nodded and glanced about the room, looking anywhere but at the girl opposite her. Saying it aloud had made it suddenly real, as though she had only thought it to be a dream the past few days. But now, when the words had come out of her mouth, everything was real. She was no longer the Slayer. Choking back a sudden urge to retch, Buffy gazed at her folded hands resting on her lap. She could feel Faith's eyes boring into her but she didn't return the look. The silence became stifling and Buffy spoke without thinking.

"Giles and the others want me to have a normal life," she said, "You know, husband, kids, and a white picket fence. And I wanted to have one. Always have." Her voice softened to a whisper. "I-I don't know where to start," she confessed. "It's like now I'm...I'm in the real world. I can get a job, care for Dawn and maybe go back to school. They want me to live in the day, instead of the night. God...what do I do?"

"B," Faith said abruptly, causing her to start.

"Yeah?"

"You'll never do that," she said frankly, as though it was the obvious thing to say.

Buffy stared at the girl opposite her, "What do you mean? Never do what?"

Faith rolled her eyes and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "Never live in the day. You belong in the night, like I do. You've been the Slayer for what, five, six years?"

"Faith," she exclaimed, "I'm not the Slayer, not anymore anyway."

"God damn it, Buffy," Faith snapped, slamming her fist onto the bench in front of her. "You think them taking away your strength takes away who you are? The Slayer is a freakin' part of you. Nothing and no one can take it. What about your training? You still have the moves, still got the crafty plans and quick thinking."

Buffy clutched the phone to her ear. "It's not the same, Faith. I'm not the same. I can't see at night, I can't sense evil, and I can't even lift my weapons!"

"How do you think your little friends have managed over the years?" she replied coldly.

"I don-I don't know," she said quietly. The room fell silent, both occupants contemplating the current situation.

"Look B..."

"Look Faith..."

The both spoke simultaneously, a sly grin forming on the brunette's lips while the blonde blushed. Faith waved her hand, indicating to Buffy that she should speak first, but as she opened her mouth the door was flung pen and the guard returned.

"Time's up," he declared gruffly.

"Wait a minute, mate," Faith muttered before leaning close to the glass. "You glad it's over?"

Buffy stared straight into her eyes and said the first thing that came to her mind. "No,"

"Then it's not," Faith replied firmly, and before Buffy could reply Faith was escorted from the room, leaving her alone and staring at an empty chair.

Buffy scrunched her blonde hair with the rough towel, attempting to dry the saturated locks. Once she was satisfied that it wouldn't leave a trail of water on the carpet, she left the bathroom of the small motel room and changed into a pair of jeans and plan white top. She dropped onto her bed and pressed the remote, turning the television on. Mindlessly flipping through the channels, she glanced out the window at the moonlit night. When the aching sensation filled her stomach, she dropped her head into the soft mattress. She didn't want to think about the creatures that would be hunting, knowing only too well that she couldn't do anything to help their unsuspecting victims.

A knock sounded on her door and her head shot up in surprise. Who would be knocking on her door in the middle of the night? Curiously, but suspiciously, she stepped up to the door and opened it. A heavy figure fell unconsciously into her arms and Buffy glanced down in shock.

"My God… Faith."

To Be Continued…