Unresolved Issues

"I got out of the building just in time." Buffy finished the story leaving the room silent. The Scoobies were trapped deep in thought at what was just revealed.

"Why'd she do it?" The hush was broken and all of the occupants of the room looked to Faith, who asked the question, now looking toward Willow for her answer. The brunette had refused to look at Buffy since her story began.

"Um, we don't really know." Willow mumbled as she looked between the two eldest slayers. "She wasn't very talkative while she was attacking us."

"You said she seemed scared. When did being scared lead to a death sentence?" Faith spat out.

"It wasn't like that." Willow tried to remain calm when answering, for the room was tense enough.

"Oh I know how it is," Argued Faith, while getting up out of her chair in an aggressive manner. "I know how she can be when she has no control." The ex rogue pointed to her counterpart.

With the indication of their past thrown out there Buffy quickly sat up, ignoring the pain from her wound, and ripped out the IVs in her arm. In slow, but angry movements Buffy got out of the bed she was laying in and began to move toward Faith.

"Don't," Buffy started as she got in Faith's face, "Don't you dare try and make this about us. This wasn't some controlled situation that turned bad; this was about a girl whose basement was littered with dead bodies. Then she attacked us, and I tried to help her, but in the end I did what I had to do. We shouldn't have hid this from you guys, but I refuse to apologize for defending myself."

"Well here she is, Saint Buffy." Faith mocked as she got within inches of the blonde, continuing to shoot her mouth off. "You know I bet you tried to help her. Lemme guess, it was your way or no way at all. I know better than anyone where your helping puts people, comas or the grave." Faith was livid and started to walk to the door trying not to let her anger get anymore control.

"Fuck you." Buffy growled bringing Faith to a dead halt. "For the last time this isn't about us. If you have a problem with me, if you have some issues that you haven't gotten over yet then you should have said something, but leave that out of this. I didn't go looking for a fight I got thrown into one and I made the best decision I could. I offered her all the help I could before she turned her back on me." Faith turned away from the door and sauntered right back up to Buffy, smiling wickedly.

"Poor Buffy," she said as she leaned close to Buffy's face, about a breath away, continuing her assault, "Always the victim." A flash of anger went through the chosen one's eyes and the next thing everyone heard was the sharp snap of Buffy's fist smacking Faith to the floor. Quickly Willow grabbed Buffy and Kennedy restrained Faith. Giles instantly got in the middle of the two slayers.

"I think it would be best if we ended this meeting for tonight. Everyone needs to calm down." With those words said Faith pulled herself out of Kennedy's grasp and headed for the door.

"That's fine with me," Faith muttered, "I got things to do anyway."

"Faith," Buffy said as tears began to appear in her eyes, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go find the answers to my questions, maybe save a life." Faith turned to look at Buffy, a mix of sadness and disgust in her eyes, "Cause I always thought that's what we were supposed to do. Save people, not give up on them."

Silence was left in the wake of Faith's exit, wrapping everybody in an uncomfortable stillness. Seconds passed until Kennedy began to follow.

"I'm gonna go after her. Make sure she doesn't do anything she'll regret." As Kennedy's hand reached the handle, Willow couldn't help, but to call out...

"Ken, um, you haven't really said anything." Willow's sentence trailed off into nothingness, the ex potentials eyes locked on the redheads.

"Not now, later." With that Kennedy left and the room went silent once more. Not even Xander spoke a word when he hugged his friends goodbye. Then Giles left, expressionless, leaving Buffy alone, the room wracked with her sobs.

Nothing was said even after Kennedy managed to find Faith. The two girls walked the streets of Rome as if they were on a regular mission and no one better get in their way. In reality Kennedy was just trying to keep up with Faith and Faith was just following her instinct. The closer they got the more aware Kennedy became of what they were doing. Finally, they stooped right in front of a shutdown factory that looked as though it's lasted far beyond its years. The walls were all cracked along with most of the windows, but Faith knew this screamed 'home' for their girl.

"Found you," Faith said to herself softly, as soon as the weird vibe from the cemetery touched her body. Kennedy looked cautious as they entered the building, but Faith kept right on the trail like a bloodhound, going the direction of each tingle, her slayer senses washing over her like a homing device. Kennedy grabbed Faith's hand when they entered the room they believed the girl to be in. They could feel her all around them, though they walked in the direction of a faint voice.

"I'm sorry; I'm sorry, sorry, so sorry." The whispered apologizes grew louder and louder as the two got closer. Once they reached the darkest corner of the room they found a young girl, covered in dirt and torn clothing, rocking herself back and forth, begging someone, anyone for forgiveness.

"Desiree?" Faith asked gently while looking at the sad excuse for a slayer. Slowly the head of the broken girl turned and faced them, her eyes opened to look and she started to cry.

"Please don't kill me," She begged. "Please."