The views on check-out chicks in this chapter in no way reflect my own. ;) Thanks to all those who reviewed, especially Caren H, gij, Whispers jenni, Sketchie, the littlest psycho, Hugo, and cheeruplittleemokid.

Creed

Chapter 12

Two days later, Buffy still hadn't found a reasonable job. Faith finally got sick of having the classifieds sprawled across tables and chairs, and decided to get out of the house. Sliding into a seat in the Bronze and ordering a straight scotch ten minutes later, a blue slip of paper taped to the wall caught her attention. The Bronze needed a bartender. It would be perfect for Buffy. She was already used to the late hours, and maybe the fun atmosphere would make her forget her troubles. She snatched the paper and hurried from the club, leaving the bartender baffled as he placed a glass of scotch before an empty seat.

"It'd be perfect!"

Buffy looked at her, and then the flyer, and then back at her. She grinned. "A bartender, huh?"

"Better than a skanky check-out chick."

"What's better than a ...uh, skanky check-out chick?" Giles asked, wondering into the kitchen. He had half moved into the Summer's house, and although he slept at home he was there from morning until night.

"I found the perfect job for B," Faith said, handing him the flyer. He looked over it, and nodded. Faith thought his eyes darkened a bit, but it was gone before she could be sure.

"Well, I suppose she would be used to the hours..."

It was settled. Buffy left immediately to see if she could score an interview and insisted on dragging Faith along with her. Only Faith made it seem like she was being dragged. In truth, she couldn't be happier to follow the blonde wherever she went. Sometimes she felt disgusted in herself for becoming Buffy's lapdog, but at times like these when the blonde wanted to be around her Faith swallowed her pride.

Buffy was ushered into the office and had barely spoken a word before she was offered the job, and accepted gratefully. At least her monetary worries were quenched for a while. If only all her worries were as easily fixed...

She had her first shift that night, and Faith was going with her. She told herself it was only for support, but she couldn't help but feel safer when the brunette Slayer was around. She donned tight jeans and a slinky red top, pulling her hair back in a messy braid. She blushed when Faith wolf whistled at her reflection in the mirror.

Buffy was actually looking forward to working. Being in a club and bar was going to be a lot more enjoyable than standing behind a cash register, and she knew without question that she and Faith would continue dancing after she finished her shift. Glancing at the clock, she saw that she only had ten minutes until her shift began, and hurrying down the stairs with Faith in tow she jumped into Giles' car. He watched them anxiously, and she didn't know if his worry was for them or the car.

The first hour of her new job was disastrous. She didn't know the names of all the alcohol, and struggled to find the correct bottle amongst the rows on the shelf. She was hopeless with money, and luckily one of her co workers showed her how to use to register so the amount of change came up instead of working it out in her head. Faith sat on the far side of the bar, offering her encouraging smiles and winks. Buffy was thankful that Faith didn't acknowledge her mistakes, and soon she began to get the hang of it.

All those years of working on her reflex and speed came into play, allowing her to juggle bottles and glasses, whipping them off the shelf and back again within seconds. Her boss nodded approvingly as the night wore on, and soon enough her shift ended. It was a little before three, and after collecting her pay she hit the dance floor with Faith. Her boss gave her a couple of drinks on the house for a successful first night and she ended up grinding against Faith like she did every time they went out.

Faith stiffened suddenly, and Buffy knew what it meant. Vampire. She nodded and stepped aside, given Faith permission to do what she had to do. Faith hesitated, her eyes flickering with something akin to reluctance, and then leapt into action. She weaved through the early morning dancers, following her senses. Buffy watched her go, but felt her eyes drawn to a large steel door that led into a back alley way. A tall man sat beside it, his skin deathly pale and his hair midnight black. He lifted a hand and pushed the greasy bangs behind his ear, shooting the girls chatting beside him a sultry grin. A prickly started down her neck.

Faith was suddenly by her side again, staring at her in wonderment.

"You felt him," she said simply, and Buffy nodded in response.

Faith's eyes lit up and she grabbed Buffy's hand, leading her toward to steel door. Faith leant back and whispered in her ear: "Play along," and nodding shortly in the vampire's direction. Buffy understood and swung her hips a little more as they walked past him. Her eyes flashed briefly toward him and the corner's of her lips curled upward in what she hoped look like an enticing smile.

Buffy pushed the door open and the two girls walked through, leaving it swinging behind in invitation. The night air was crisp and chilly, but Faith's arm slinked around Buffy's waist and warmed her. She played along, draping her arm across the brunette's shoulder. The vampire appeared before them, his eyes widening at their suggestive position.

"I had only planned one girl tonight, but I can make room for two," he said, moving toward them slyly. They waited until he was only a foot from them, and then Faith squeezed Buffy's hip tighter.

"Not tonight, buddy. We're off the menu," she replied. His smile faltered as confusion set in, and Faith shoved Buffy to the side, landing a forceful punch to the vamp's face. His head snapped back and he stumbled slightly. Faith quickly followed with a bruising kick to his midsection. Buffy clenched her fists, itching to kick the vamp's ass with Faith. It had been so long and she was feeling the restless urge she had always felt before slaying. Did this mean anything?

Faith made short work of him, but stopped before staking him. She turned around and grinned at Buffy, puffing slightly.

"Faith?" Buffy said, watching her nervously.

"He's all yours now, B," she replied, standing aside as the vampire rose to his feet. Buffy stared at her in horror, stepping back as the vampire glanced at Faith, and then at Buffy. He realized that he wasn't going to beat Faith and saw the blonde as the vulnerable link. He snarled and leapt towards her. A shrill shriek escaped her lips, and she dodged out of his way. He changed direction at the last moment and grabbed her wrist. Buffy felt something pull at the back of her mind and followed her instincts. She punched him square in the nose and his other fist flew up reflexively, striking her across the cheek. She flew backward and crashed into the wire fence, but she didn't care. She had sensed a vampire. She had listened to her instincts and hit a vampire. It was coming back to her.

"Buffy!"

She glanced up at her name and saw and the gang standing at the mouth of the alley. Faith noticed them to and quickly staked the vampire. Over to Buffy, she offered her hand and pulled the blonde to her feet.

"Giles? What's the gang doing here?" she asked.

"Your shift ended hours ago," Dawn said. "I didn't know where you were. I was scared..."

Giles watched as the girl he considered to be his daughter wiped at the trickle of blood on her lips. An intense fear struck him as he realized that she could get herself killed by holding onto the hope of getting her Slayer abilities back again. He knew it would hurt, but if he didn't make her understand that she was normal now she'd go out and die. And he couldn't allow that to happen.

"What in God's name did you think you were doing?" he barked, stalking forward.

"I was..."

"Slaying?" he yelled, and noticing her wince, softened his voice. "Buffy, you're not the Slayer anymore. You can't do what you used to."

"But I felt it," she insisted. "I felt it..."

He shook his head. "Your body doesn't understand that it can't do certain things anymore, so it's sending out signals that remind you of what you used to feel. I thought that this may happen, but I need you to understand it. What your feeling are just... leftovers."

Buffy swallowed hard, the harsh reality hurting more than she possibly thought it could.

Willow stepped forward, her face a mask of white anger. "What did you think you were doing, Faith?"

Faith gaped in confusion. "What?"

"You could have had her killed!" Xander cried, walking up behind Willow. "You just stood back and left her to defend for herself."

"I didn't," she replied calmly. "Giles is wrong. I felt her, too. She's getting her powers back..."

"No, Faith," Giles said, shaking his head. "She's not."

Buffy stood still as they continued to argue. Was this it then? She had thought she was feeling better only a moment ago, but maybe it was only leftovers. Maybe it really was over. Her life as a Slayer...gone. She glanced up and met her Watcher's eyes, and saw that he regretted telling her this. He wanted to believe that the Slayer hadn't completely abandoned her. He only wanted her to be happy, and he had realized that by harbouring useless hopes she could never be happy. Buffy felt the last shred of hope dissipate, and finally understood what Giles was saying. She would never be truly happy if she kept holding onto her past. She needed to let it go, to come to terms that that part of her life was over.

She was pulled back into the present when Faith grabbed her arm.

"B, you felt it!" she persisted. "I did too. You are still the Slayer! If only you gave it a chance..."

Buffy pulled away from the brunette Slayer's grip. "It's over, Faith," she whispered, hating the way Faith's eyes widened in disbelief. "I came to you for help, but I can't be helped. I was stupid. It's over."

"B, it's not!" she said, begging Buffy to listen to her. But Buffy was sick of false hopes. She was sick of waiting. She was tired of living in limbo. She needed to start living again, living as a whole person. And that meant letting go of the past. Letting go of the Slayer.

At that moment, Buffy had never hated the girl in front of her more. She hated Faith for giving her hope. She hated Faith for being what she was no longer. She hated Faith for taking what had belonged to her. And she hated Faith because she had made Buffy like her.

"I think you need to go," Buffy said softly, dropping her eyes to the ground.

Faith watched her for a moment, the words dying on her lips. Stupidly, she had actually believed that her... feelings would be returned. Faith knew what happened when she let herself care. She got burned. And she hated getting burned.

Her face became a blank mask, and a predatory smile spread across her lips. She slowly moved towards Buffy. "Fine. I'll go patrolling and do some real slaying. Look what you've come to, B. How pathetic. I always knew I was destined for great things. I was always gonna be better than you. I am better than you, Buffy." She leaned in close, and whispered in Buffy's ear. "Does it burn?"

Then she laughed and slid away, burying her pain as the darkness engulfed her.

To Be Continued...