Authors note: People get drunk in this chapter and I know it might not be realistic considering their ages in the show, but I don't care. This chapter also kind of deviates a little but who gives a toss. I also apologise for the swearing, I think I'm gonna change the rating of the story but I don't really understand what the different ratings mean. And Imbolg is a real sabbat for those of you who don't know, it's on the 2nd of February, I didn't want to put a specific date cause, I'm a rebel lol. Thanks again for the reviews they made my day! Anyway on with the show!
Disclaimer: I own nothing Joss owns everything.
Chapter 18
GILES HOUSE
Giles was woken by the shrill ringing of the phone. Groaning he reached out his hand and fumbled for the receiver. "Hello." he mumbled tiredly.
"Rupert?" Giles sighed angrily when he realised it was Wesley.
"I thought I told you not to bother me." he said in frustration.
"Well I think a rogue slayer is rather urgent don't you think!" he snapped back in reply.
If Giles wasn't awake before, he was now, he sat up in bed. "Dear Lord. What happened.?" he asked.
"Kennedy…….she wouldn't tell me where she'd been or what she'd been doing. She said something about someone that would be able to cure her and that she was going to stay with them. Then she packed her bag and left, she said that we didn't stand a chance and that when the time comes she'd rather be playing for the winning team." Wesley explained.
"You don't think that she…." Giles said unwilling to finish the sentence.
"Yes, I do. She's joined forces with the Daywalkers Rupert! What the bloody hell are we going to do now!"
WILLOW'S HOUSE
Faith had dropped Buffy off at Willows, saying that she had something to do and that she would meet up with her at the library. Buffy was currently sitting on Willow's bed, giving her a summary of what they had found out from the vampire. "So it said that the ceremony was on Inbulge." Buffy stated matter of factly.
Willow looked at her in confusion "Inbulge?"
"Yeah, Inbulge. Haven't you heard of it?" Buffy asked looking slightly disappointed as Willow shook her head.
"Nope, why, should I? Is it some kind of medical condition?" she asked.
"No, well, I don't think so, I just thought that you might have heard of it being a Wicca and all, I mean it's one of your sabbaty things right."
Realisation flashed across Willow's face "Oh you mean Imbolg. Yeah I've heard of it, it's an important time in the witches calendar because of it's associations with death and rebirth." she replied. "I suppose in a way this vessel…..person, will be reborn, but with funky new powers."
Buffy looked at her seriously "Which is all we need right now. This situation just keeps going from bad to worse." she sighed. "When is this Sabbat?." she asked. Willow reached for a book on her bedside table and quickly flicked through it.
"The end of winter and the beginning of spring." she read.
"Vague much, if it's supposed to be important isn't their a set date?" Buffy asked.
"Well it's a reflective time so it really depends on the Wicca. Maybe Giles will be able to give us something more specific." she replied closing her book.
Buffy ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Hopefully."
"Where did Faith say she was going?" Willow asked curiously.
Buffy smiled "She didn't say but she said it's something that'll help us against the Daywalker's."
Willow opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by the phone ringing. "Back in a minute." she said running downstairs to answer it. Buffy watched her go before laying back on the bed, her thoughts turning to Faith. I wonder what she's got up her sleeve. she thought smiling.
WESLEY'S APARTMENT
Wesley was still sitting in a state of shock, he couldn't believe that he had failed the council like this. He knew that they'd have to be informed, as much as it would pain him to do so. He was broken from his thoughts by someone knocking on the door, half hoping that it was Kennedy he ran to open it. He was disappointed to see a girl he didn't recognise standing there.
"Hello, what can I do for you?"
"Are you Wesley?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yes, do I know you?" he looked at her warily, he couldn't remember seeing her before.
"Not really, I'm Faith." seeing his puzzled look she sighed. "I'm the Garou everyone's been talking about."
He looked at her, startled. This was the Garou! He had never expected her to look so…so….normal. "Oh…..um….yes…what do you want?" he asked failing to keep the surprise hidden from his voice.
"I heard you had a Shilarquin and I was kinda wondering if you would give it to me, or at least let me borrow it." she asked.
Wesley thought for a minute. She obviously wasn't posing a threat and Giles had said that she was on their side. Holding the door open he gestured inside the apartment. "Come in."
WILLOW'S HOUSE
Willow ran up the stairs panting "Buffy that was Giles on the phone, Kennedy's gone rogue. He thinks she's working with the Daywalker's. He's calling a meeting at the library."
Buffy sat up in shock. "Why didn't I see this coming." she groaned. "Well this is great, just great, we have a rogue slayer, whose decided to shack up with several thousand vamps, and a random vessely person who we have no hope of finding."
"Oh God!" Willow exclaimed.
"What!" Buffy shouted jumping off the bed and looking round for signs of danger.
"I just had a thought." Willow said looking at Buffy fearfully. "What if Kennedy's the vessel."
They both looked at each other in realisation. "Shit!" Buffy exclaimed. "Why didn't I think of it before, she's already been infected by a Garou, and now she's practically offering herself to the Drachna."
"Not to mention she's a slayer, just think how powerful she'll be when the ceremony is completed." Willow added. The shit had just hit the fan.
LIBRARY
Everyone was crowded round the table, they'd all been filled in on what was happening and the full scale of what they where facing began to sink in. Giles had concluded that they only had two weeks left to prepare for the upcoming battle.
"I'm beginning to think Kennedy had the right idea." Cordelia said. They all glared at her. "What! I'm just saying. I mean there's only eight of us against, what, thousands of them. The chances of us winning are a bit unlikely don't ya think." They all looked away from her not wanting to admit that she was right. It was at this moment that Faith and Wesley burst through the library doors. Faith was laughing at Wesley who was doing a pretty good John Wayne impression. "Hey guys." Faith said "Gave Wes a ride over here on my bike." she said pointing at an uncomfortable looking Wesley. "He's feeling the effects ain't ya Wes."
"I won't be able to sit down for a week." he groaned rubbing his backside. "I thought I was going to die, the way you shot over that embankment."
Faith shook her head at him and walked over to Buffy. "Hey B." she said placing a quick kiss on her lips before sitting next to her, Buffy put her hand over Faith's and linked their fingers. "What's with the sour faces?" Faith asked looking round the table at them.
"Kennedy's joined forces with the Daywalker's." Buffy said quietly. "And she's the vessel."
"Geez, the shit's hit the fan huh." Faith exclaimed. They all nodded their heads morosely. "Well….. I've got something to tell you that might cheer you guys up. I got in touch with my clan back in Boston and they're willing to come and help us with this vamp problem that we got going on." They all looked at her in shock as she sat their grinning at them.
"Are you sure they're okay with it?" Buffy asked. "I mean this isn't their fight."
"I'm sure B, besides my people have fought Olmeck before, and the fact that he's messing with me and my friends makes it their fight." she said reassuringly.
"So how many fighters does that give us?" Giles asked curiously.
"Well theirs about five hundred Garou in my clan, give or take." Faith said nonchalantly. "There are smaller Garou clans living all over the place which is where I needed Wes's help." she said gesturing towards him. They all looked at Wesley as he explained what Faith meant.
"We have set up a speaker system in the desert outside Sunnydale, it is playing a recording that we made of the Shilarquin music. Any Garou within a thousand kilometre radius will hear it and come running." he said matter of factly.
Everyone sat in stunned silence looking between Faith and Wesley in astonishment.
"That's……that's……why that's…….bloody amazing!" Giles laughed, smiling at the pair of them.
"Told ya I'd get us more ammo B." Faith said grinning at Buffy.
"Wow, so things are looking up then." Xander stated. "Well I for one think that this calls for a little bronze time don't ya think?" They all looked at Giles silently asking permission.
"I thinks it's a brilliant idea. You all deserve a break." they all took that as there cue to leave and began filing out of the library. "Faith" he called after her.
She turned to face him "Yup?"
"Thank you."
"Hey your welcome G-man, you where all willing to help us so it's only right that we help you." she replied. He nodded thoughtfully and watched as she and Buffy left arm in arm.
"Well it looks like the scales are tipping in our favour for once." Wesley commented from beside him.
"Yes, it finally looks like we might have a chance." he said turning to face him. "You do know that we will have to inform the council about Kennedy." he said seriously.
Wesley nodded "Yes I know." he replied sadly.
BRONZE
Buffy and Willow where watching Faith and the rest of the Scoobies who where strutting their stuff on the dance floor. Willow looked at Buffy and couldn't help but notice the dreamy look on her face every time she looked over at Faith. "So Buffy." she started breaking her out of her daze. "How are you and Faith?" she asked smiling.
"It's amazing Wills." she replied glancing over at her girlfriend. "I've never felt this way about some one before." she said simply
"I'm happy for you Buffy, we all are." Willow glanced over Buffy's shoulder. "Uh oh here comes your number one fan." she whispered.
Turning round Buffy saw Scott fast approaching. "Can't I catch a break for once." she groaned.
"Hey Buffy." he said throwing her a charming grin, or so he thought.
"Hey Scott." she replied plastering a fake smile on her face.
"I was uh…..wondering if you wanted to…..you know…..go out…sometime." he stuttered.
Buffy smiled at him. "I'm sorry Scott but I'm already taken." she said looking over his shoulder.
"You are?" he asked in surprise.
"Yeah she is." Faith replied from behind him making him jump. She moved round Scott and sat next to Buffy on the couch, pulling her onto her lap and wrapping her arms round Buffy's waist, her eyes flashed yellow in warning.
Admitting defeat Scott backed off. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't know." Faith waved at him as he walked away dejectedly.
"Hey baby." Faith slurred, kissing Buffy on the lips.
Buffy pulled back and looked down into Faith's eyes. "Have you been drinking?"
"Nope." she stated adamantly, swaying slightly. "I jus won a bet, thas all." she slurred.
"What was this bet?" Buffy asked in amusement.
"That I could do ten shots in thirty seconds, an I did, so Oz owes me twenty bucks." she slurred proudly.
Willow had been listening in amusement until she heard Oz's name being mentioned. "Wait Oz has been drinking?"
Faith turned to look at her noticing her for the first time. "Hello."
Buffy giggled. "What am I going to do with you?"
Faith was quiet for a minute, and Buffy could swear that she could hear her brain ticking. "Love me?" she replied seriously. Buffy placed a kiss on Faith's forehead.
"Always." she said gently, running her hand through Faith's hair.
"Thas good cause I lost my receipt so your stuck with me." she said laying her head back on the couch.
"Faith have you seen Oz?" Willow asked.
Faith looked bleary eyed at her. "He's talking to a Veruca." she slurred.
They both looked at her in confusion.
"Someone's going to have a hangover in the morning." Buffy stated.
"Nope I won't cause I ain't gonna sleep an ya don't get a hangover if ya don't sleep." she stated
"Okay baby you keep telling yourself that." Buffy said, laughing when Faith yawned.
Oz and Xander chose that moment to appear. "Hey girls." Xander said grinning, propping Oz up with one arm. "Willow I think this belongs to you." he said sitting him next to Willow on the couch.
"Where's Cordelia?" Buffy asked.
"Touching up her make up. Think we're about done for the night, we're gonna head home, are you lot coming with?" he asked.
Buffy looked down at Faith who was nearly passed out on the couch. Looking over at Oz she could see that he was in a similar state. "I think we'll come with." she said getting off Faith's lap. Faith protested and reached an arm out for Buffy. "No baby, it's time to go home, come on." she said pulling a grumpy Faith to her feet.
"Okay but I ain't sleepin." she said throwing an arm round Buffy's shoulder to balance herself. They both waited whilst Xander helped Oz to his feet, once he was steady he handed him over to Willow who pulled Oz's arm round her shoulder. They all headed over to the door where Cordy was waiting and began the slow journey home.
BUFFY'S HOUSE
"Willow your staying at mine and that's final." Buffy stated adamantly digging around in her bag for her key. "My moms away for the weekend on business so you and Oz can take my room and Faith and I will take my mom's."
"If your sure Buffy,"
"I told you it's fine. There's no way you'd be able to get Oz to your house in the state he's in." They both looked at Oz who was starting to fall asleep against Willow's shoulder.
"Yeah your right." she said, kissing Oz on the temple.
Buffy opened the door and let Willow and Oz stagger in while she turned to look for Faith, who she found sitting on the front lawn. "Faith, c'mon honey, time to come in." she said, watching as Faith slowly climbed to her feet, she watched in amusement as Faith staggered over to her, one hand held behind her back. "What have you got there?" Buffy asked curiously.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hand." Faith said grinning. Buffy looked at her warily. "Trust me B." she pouted. Buffy closed her eyes and held out her hand. She felt something being placed in her palm. "Okay open your eyes." Faith slurred excitedly. Buffy looked down at her hands and saw that she held a small ring box. She looked up at Faith, who was smiling in anticipation, she opened the box and gasped. Inside was a white gold band with intricately carved symbols all round it. "It's a Soul band." Faith said, carefully taking it out of the box. She placed it Buffy's finger. "Garou's give it to their mates to show that they belong to each other." she explained, tracing the ring with her thumb. Buffy placed her fingers under Faith's chin and lifted her head so that she could look into her eyes.
"Faith. It's beautiful." she said softly, pulling Faith into a gentle kiss. When they broke apart Buffy rested her forehead against Faith's "I love you."
"I love you too B." Buffy laughed gently when Faith let out a yawn. "C'mon you bed time." she said wrapping an arm round Faith's waist and leading her towards the house. Neither of them noticed Kennedy watching from the shadows.
Tbc.
