Disclaimer: I don't own BTVS

Also, If you are a big Riley fan, you will not like this. I'm not saying he dies, but I think he is really stupid and boring and that shows in the way I right his character.

Chapter 12: Things get . . . Messy

Bathed in moonlight, Faith breathed in deeply, relishing the taste of oxygen in her lungs. The hospital air had been stale; even in a coma she had tasted the heavy death caught in the molecules. Stuck in her hospital bed, unable to act, Faith had watched helplessly has her beloved Mayor had been killed. Somehow, visions had clung to her sleep; visions that she knew were true. She knew that Red and Buffy had been turned, but that if she joined forces with Angel, Cordelia, and two men that she did not know, they would be able to right the big cosmic uh-oh that had occurred. She walked swiftly, eager to begin action. Her legs and arms were twitching for a little bump and grind- she wanted to get into a nasty tangle with some sort of cemetery fiend. The kind of bump and grind that ended in a nice knife to the neck- B would be glad to see that, after a couple months of r&r, she was ready to resume the good fight.

The night it all went down with that human had thrown Faith through a loop. She had wanted to stand up and take responsibility, but deep inside she was so full of resentment. She had been brought to Sunnydale to fight with a Slayer who had everything and all these obstacles kept presenting themselves. She just wanted to hang out with Buffy, Willow, Angel, Oz, and, well, even Xander. She wanted friendship, but it kept getting knocked out of her grasp. Basically, no matter what happened life kicked her ass.

Looking down, Faith became acutely aware that she was walking the streets in a hospital gown. She needed some clothes and Buffy's house was close. Joyce had always been so understanding, so caring. If only Faith could explain what had happened, maybe she could enlist Joyce's help . . . and maybe borrow a pair of Buffy's jeans.

Riley Finn didn't know what to do. He was always ready to act as long as there was some procedure available, but he didn't know any rules for tracking down a potential girlfriend. He had talked to Professor Walsh about Buffy, but she didn't care. To her, a civilian who was always late for Into Psych wasn't worth a whole lot of time.

Willow hadn't been around, either. Usually Willow and Buffy were easy to track down, but lately they were never in their dorm room or at any parties. The fact that they were both missing made it all the more suspicious. Two best friends disappear at the same time? Riley was stumped.

There was something very peculiar going on. . .

Angel was beginning to get frantic. He had no real ideas how to save Buffy and he knew that time would only make things more difficult. He hadn't been able to locate another Orb of Thesula and, besides, the Slayer couldn't walk around, killing vampires with a curse haunting her. Buffy had suffered enough in life, he couldn't make her live each day of eternity without the prospect of joy. Cordelia wasn't helping matters, either. She had never been fond of Buffy, he knew that, but she was acting like a brat. Ever since her run in with Willow, all she wanted to do was get stake happy. There had to be someone who could think of something.

"Angel, there is one thing that we haven't though of," Doyle stated.

"What?"

"It's really the most simple answer in the world!"

"What?"

"The PTB."

"You want me to go to the powers and tell them to return Buffy to her mortal state?"

"Why not? She's a totally kick ass Slyer, racked up a lot of field time and all. I'm sure they'd be glad to. What else are they going to do? Faith is still alive, so there's no replacement for her. Buffy has been replaced already, they don't replace them twice. Unless they want to rely on a psycho in a coma, they have no choice! Otherwise, there's no Slayer."

"That's not a bad idea. We should get back to L.A."

Cordy watched the two men as they grew more and more animated. The Powers that Be had always given her an ookie feeling. They controlled everything, knew everything, but didn't seem to care enough to try to make the good guys have smoother lives. In her opinion, the whole "higher power" thing was really arrogant. After all, if Cordelia Chase didn't get to push people around, why should some glowing things up in the sky?

Walking into the crypt hand in hand, Spike and Buffy both nearly fainted when they ran smack dab into the watcher. Willow was standing next to him smiling, her arm around his shoulders. She laughed at the identical expressions they were wearing and stepped nearer to them.

"Well, well, Spike. I'm certainly glad you were serious about me being your kindred spirit. I'm glad to see that wasn't just a line you feed to all your . . . what did you call them? Oh yeah, 'undead groupie sluts.'"

Spike looked at his feet. He had promised willow his love and devotion and, although he was as cold and blood-sucking a beast as ever roamed the earth, deep down he was still a nice guy to the ladies. "Look, Red, it isn't that I didn't mean that. It was your sodding idea to turn Buffy and God help me I love her."

Buffy smiled. "What can we do? We love each other." She reached out and help Spike's hand, their fingers entwining as their hearts. "Will, I'm a vamp. I don't care about your feelings. I want to be friends, and if you want we can all sleep together. I'm sure that would be a lot of fun. What do you want from me? You thought I'd love you? Do you really think your strong enough for me?

Fury welled up inside her. She couldn't believe her ears. Buffy was offering to have sex with her, to share the man that shouldn't even be hers, and calling her weak all in one breath? That bitch really needed to be knocked down a few pegs! Grabbing a stake that was laying on the table, Willow lunged for Buffy.

Grabbing willow's arms, Buffy pushed her against the cold, crypt wall.

"What do you think, Will? You think you're going to stake me? Quit being such a freaking victim and grow a pair!"

Buffy's face vamped, the ridged bumps taking over her normally smooth skin. She grabbed Willow's hair and kissed her fiercely. The kiss was one of claiming, power, and territory and Willow knew it. She could either struggle or give in to the power struggle. As the kiss broke, Willow glanced at Drusilla, still talking to her doll in a corner. At least there was one vampire around that she could master. Drusilla was a beautiful little thing, too. Much more exotic than little Miss Vamp Next Door.

"Okay, Buffy. You're right. From now on, I have nothing to prove. I'm just witchy, vampy Willow, out to eat until my tummy's content! Mean, dark, scary, and a lover of animals! Ooh! If I get a cat, will you guys promise not to eat her?"

Drusilla watched the whole seen quietly, waiting. Miss Edith got no tea, Miss
Edith got no cookies. Miss Edith told stories, though. Whispering in her ear, Miss Edith would speak of the days to come, the death to come.

"Only three in this cave will still be alive when this ends," Miss Edith whispered. "If you don't believe me, look at the stars. It's written in the stars."

Drusilla stood up quickly. Everyone but willow had forgotten she was even there, but now, every eye in the room watched her. She laughed like a person gone mad and began to spin. Spinning faster and faster, a faint humming could be heard only under the whooshing of her dress.