Animatus II: The Descent

Notes: Thanks for the reviews. Keep them coming!

Previously:

Tightening her finger around the trigger of the gun, Buffy inhaled deeply, and prepared to shoot. However, she hesitated. Something Riley had said before he had died lingered in the back of her mind. He had told her of new experiments being conducted at the Initiative on Sub-Level three. He had spoke of rumors of genetic testing with some kind of virus. Whatever she had been infected with through the zombie bite had been transmitted to her by the creature's saliva. "If it is a virus," Buffy reasoned, a new clarity dawning in her mind, "maybe there's an anti-virus."

Chapter One: You Can Never Go Back:

Faith glanced around the makeshift infirmary uneasily. She was sitting on one of the counters, her feet dangling a couple of inches from the floor. She never had liked hospitals. Her recent stay, when she had been in a coma, had done nothing to strength her favor of them. Harsh fluorescent lights shone down from above, causing everything in the room to appear dull and faded. The infirmary smelled cold and sterile. She was alone, waiting for a doctor to enter and administer the blood test to her that would determine whether she had been infected by the zombie causing virus. She knew that she was not, but the army was less trustful of her word than she had hoped. The room was silent. She could hear the sounds of people talking and laughing outside, the sounds of Jeeps kicking up dust, and the occasional pops of gunshots.

Inside of her mind, however, a storm was raging. She could hear Buffy's last words ringing over and over again. She desperately held onto the sound of her lover's voice, knowing that she would never hear it again. Already, it was starting to fade from her memory. Tears pricked at her eyes; hot, angry tears that threatened to burst out of her eyes like an explosion of sorrow. She blinked them away, however, refusing to give victory to the pain that had taken up residence in her heart. She inhaled deeply, but the simple act of drawing breath into her lungs caused her more pain than she could have imagined. The exhale that escaped from her was a bitter sob that wracked her body. Her shoulders shuddered and the tears that she had denied coursed down her cheeks in invisible lines.

Leaning forward so that her elbows were resting on her knees, she held her face in her hands and cried. Her world was crumbling around her. Buffy had been the sun; without the blonde Slayer, Faith felt like she was careening out of control, spiraling towards perpetual darkness. She wished that she had been bitten instead of her lover. Buffy had been an incredible person. She had not deserved such a fate. All Faith had ever wanted was to know that her partner was safe. She had failed to protect her; however, and she hated herself for it. Her tears squeezed between her fingers, running down her hands, and splashing to the floor like blood.

The door of the infirmary opened and a slant of golden sunlight crept into the room. "Hello," a friendly voice declared.

Faith sniffled, angrily wiped the tears from her face, and sat back. A woman stood in front of her, wearing a white lab coat, with her brown hair pulled back in a careless bun. "Hey," Faith muttered.

"I'm sorry," the woman said, noticing Faith's tears. "I can come back if you want?"

"No," Faith shook her head. "It's okay."

The woman nodded and closed the door. The sunlight was banished from the room and Faith desperately missed its presence. "I'm Dr. Rachel Lenz," Rachel said, extending her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Faith shook the woman's hand absently. When she had released her hand, Rachel walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a box of syringes. "Blood test, huh?" Faith asked, eyeing the needles warily.

Rachel smiled. "Unfortunately, yes," she replied. "But don't worry. It's not a big deal. We just need one vial."

"Okay," Faith nodded. Rachel walked over to Faith, needle in hand, and smiled at her warmly.

"You ready?" She asked.

"Yeah," Faith replied shakily. She hated needles. She supposed that her mother had something to do with that fear.

"Tell me about yourself," Rachel suggested as she prepared Faith's arm.

"I'm Faith," the dark haired Slayer replied. "Been running from zombies. Really not much more to tell."

"I'm sorry," Rachel stated. "That couldn't have been easy."

"No," Faith snorted. "It wasn't." Rachel pressed the needle into Faith's skin, but the younger girl did not notice. She was lost in her memory. She could hear the moaning of the zombies in her mind. She could see the blood trailing down Buffy's arm as she stood on the other side of the chain link fence. She could see the look of hopelessness and defeat in her lover's eyes.

"All done," Rachel announced. Faith looked down at her arm as the doctor placed a bandage over the small dot of blood rising out of her skin.

"That was quick," Faith commented.

"I said it was nothing to worry about," Rachel smiled.

"So how long does it take?" Faith asked, watching as Rachel placed the vial of blood in a labeled bag.

"The scientists will look at it and determine whether there's any infection in your blood. Your friends all passed their tests. I'm sure you're fine. It'll take less than an hour," Rachel explained.

"Okay," Faith nodded.

"Your friends are in barrack B. Do you know where that is?" Rachel asked.

Faith nodded. "I can find my way."

"Okay," Rachel smiled. "Thanks for your cooperation."

Faith flashed her an uneasily smile and jumped off of the counter on which she had been sitting. She opened the door of the infirmary and stepped out into the sunlight. The sun was hovering on the horizon, waiting for the moment when it would descend into the underworld, only to rise again the next day. As Faith watched the sunlight, a strange feeling washed over her. Though she was standing alone, she felt as if someone was with her. She could no longer feel the connection that she had shared with Buffy. The gentle humming that always had lingered in the back of her mind was gone. But still, she felt something; an invisible presence rested in her mind, calling her to do something, but Faith did not know what.

Sighing, she shook her head and walked forward. The barracks where the army had placed them was a block away from the infirmary. The army had established a rather large compound just beyond the second fence that separated the zombies from the rest of the world. Faith felt like she was walking through a miniature city. Everywhere, people hurried back and forth. Faith wondered what they were doing. She supposed that they were trying to find a way to destroy the zombies without destroying the town of Sunnydale itself, or, perhaps, they were working on a way to kill the virus. The sun finally fell below the horizon. The feeling that had been tugging at the back of her mind vanished and she felt numb.

She knew that Buffy would want her to continue living her life, but Faith did not know how to do that without the blonde Slayer. Buffy had been her foundation. Without her, Faith was not certain that she could continue. She finally reached the barracks and pulled open the door. "Hey," she said as Giles glanced up at her and smiled warmly.

"Faith," he stated. "How did your test go?"

"I guess we'll find out," Faith shrugged noncommittally. She glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the survivors of the attack. Willow and Tara were resting on one of the bunks. Tara was lying next to the red haired witch with her head placed gently on her chest. Her eyes were closed and Faith could see a small, contented smile on her lips. Faith found herself smiling, happy that Willow and Tara, at least, were together. Willow looked to be asleep as well, but Faith knew differently. She could tell by the heavy rise and fall of the older girl's chest that she was awake, though her eyes were closed. She did not see Jay anywhere in the room, but the rest of the survivors seemed to be asleep as well.

Giles was sitting at a table with a mug of tea sitting in front of him. "How are you, Faith?" He asked interestedly.

Faith shifted her gaze back to the Watcher and sighed. Moving over to the chair across from him, she sat down heavily. "I've been better," she admitted.

"I know it doesn't seem like it now," Giles said softly, "but you will find a way to move on."

"Maybe I don't want to move on," she muttered in reply.

"We'll all miss her," Giles said, clearing his throat.

Faith looked up and saw that the older man's eyes were glimmering with unshed tears. "I know," Faith nodded.

"We haven't always been friends, Faith," Giles stated. "But we're going to need to stick together if we're going to get through this."

"What're you saying, Giles?" Faith asked.

"I want to be your Watcher," Giles said seriously.

Faith felt tears stinging her eyes again and she looked down at the table. "I can't be Buffy," she said lowly.

"I know that," Giles replied, smiling warmly at her. "I don't want you to be."

"Okay," Faith nodded.

"Okay?" Giles asked.

"You can be my Watcher," Faith said.

Giles smiled. "It's my honor."

"So what's your plan?" Faith asked, leaning back in her chair.

"I telephoned Angel while you were at the infirmary. Apparently, he's been trying to get into Sunnydale for quite some time, but he could never get past the soldiers. He wanted to know if anyone was still alive. I told him about Buffy. He was devastated, of course," Giles explained, "but he agreed that we should go to Los Angeles with him. He has a private detective agency established there where he helps those in need. I think he could use our assistance."

"Sounds good," Faith nodded in approval.

"Once we're released, he's going to pick us up just outside of the compound's entrance," Giles stated. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I'm going to take a walk. Clear my head."

Giles rose to his feet, flashed her a brief, but kind smile, and exited the barracks. Faith watched him leave before turning back to the silent room. "Faith?" She heard a soft voice ask. Lifting her eyes, she saw Willow looking at her.

"Yeah, Red?" She answered. Willow slowly disentangled herself from Tara, carefully so as not to wake her lover, and slid off of the bed. Stretching quickly, she walked over to the seat that Giles had been occupying moments before, and sat.

"I heard what Giles said," she began.

"You don't have to come with us," Faith interrupted. "I know that you don't particularly like me."

"That's not true," Willow cut in. "I didn't like you at first, that is true. But you kinda grew on me."

"Thanks," Faith smirked.

"I don't mean it as an insult," Willow rolled her eyes. "Look, if Buffy saw something in you, than there must be something there worth seeing." Pain flashed through Willow's eyes as she spoke of her best friend, and Faith had to look away. "I want to go with you. I want to help you. There may not be much left of the Scooby Gang, now, but Giles was right. We have to stick together."

"Thanks," Faith muttered gratefully. "I think I'll need all of the help that I can get."

Willow nodded and rose to her feet. Moving over to Faith, she knelt down in front of the dark haired Slayer, and pulled her into a tight embrace before the younger girl even knew what was happening. Though Faith was stiff at first, she quickly melted into the other girl's arms. "Everything's going to be okay," Willow whispered into her ear. "You're not alone."

"I know," Faith nodded.

"Don't shut us out like you did before," Willow murmured.

Faith smiled. "I won't," she promised.

"Good," Willow stated, pulling away embarrassedly, and rising to her feet. "I'm just…," she said, pointing back to Tara.

"Go ahead," Faith nodded. "I'll be alright."

"You sure?" Willow asked uncertainly.

"I'm sure," Faith nodded. Willow smiled and walked back over to the bed, lying down next to her partner again. Faith watched as the red haired witch slowly succumbed to sleep. Sighing, Faith stood and walked over to one of the windows. The sky was starting to turn a deep shade of blue. Night was falling. Her mind drifted back to Sunnydale and the nightly chorus of moaning that had filled the air when the zombies awoke to stalk the streets. She could almost hear it.

Moving over to a vacant bed, she laid down and closed her eyes. At first, sleep eluded her, tempting her, but moving away at the last moment, smiling and laughing. Then darkness began to creep into her mind until everything was gone but a complete sense of nothingness. The darkness swirled around her, blanketing her in its warmth. She felt at peace for a moment, like everything was the way that it was supposed to be. Then the darkness began to fade and something else crept into her mind, tugging at the corners of her unconsciousness. Images formed and she found herself standing in Buffy's bedroom at her old house on Revello Drive.

"What the hell," she muttered, glancing around the room. Sunlight was peering in through the window, warm and inviting. She saw a picture sitting on Buffy's nightstand of the blonde Slayer, Willow, and Xander. They had their arms around each other. They looked so happy. Faith's heart constricted, seeing the image of her lover. The bed in front of her was neatly made, but the room felt empty, like no one had been in it for quite some time. Dust lingered in the air. Faith could see it floating in the sunlight. The room smelled old. Suddenly, she was aware of someone else entering the room. Looking behind her, she saw Buffy standing in the doorway. The blonde Slayer smiled at her, but her eyes shifted past Faith, and to the bed in front of which Faith was standing.

"We just made that bed," Buffy muttered confusedly. Faith turned back and saw that the covers of the bed had been pulled back, rumpled and neglected.

"Buffy?" Faith asked, turning back to her lover.

"I know," Buffy said, shifting her eyes back to Faith, "I'm not really here, right?"

"I don't know," Faith shrugged. "Maybe I'm not really here."

"You hate me don't you?" Buffy asked, moving forward into the room. Faith could smell the vanilla aroma of her lover's shampoo.

"I couldn't hate you, B," Faith said earnestly. "I didn't before, I don't now."

"Maybe you should hate me," Buffy continued absently. "I left you."

"Buffy," Faith began, reaching out with a shaky hand. Her fingers grazed the other girl's arm. Buffy turned and smiled back at her.

"I'm sorry," Buffy replied.

"For what?" Faith asked, drawing the girl closer. Resting her hands on Buffy's waist, she touched her forehead to the older girl's.

"Everything turned out so wrong," Buffy said, her eyes filling with tears.

"It's not your fault," Faith stated.

"It's not yours either," Buffy smiled. "I know that you blame yourself."

"You just know everything, don't you?" Faith joked. Buffy smiled and tilted her head up, capturing Faith's lips with her own. Faith moaned into the kiss, relishing the feel of her lover's soft lips grazing her own.

Buffy pulled away and smiled sadly. "I think I have to go."

"No," Faith shook her head. "Just stay with me."

"I can't," Buffy stepped away, out of Faith's reach, and Faith felt cold again.

"Why not?" Faith asked, blinking away tears.

"You have somewhere to be," Buffy stated.

"Los Angeles?" Faith asked confusedly.

"No," Buffy shook her head as she started to fade from Faith's mind. "You have to descend."

"Buffy!" Faith called as the blonde Slayer vanished. "Buffy!"

"Whoa," Jay said, stepping back as Faith bolted up in her bed. "I'm not Buffy. Sorry to disappoint you."

Faith looked over at him confusedly for several long moments before her vision cleared. "Jay," she said disappointedly.

"Like I said, sorry to disappoint," Jay smirked.

"What's up?" Faith asked, rising to her feet.

"I got some news," Jay said, smiling widely.

"What's that?" Faith asked, not entirely sure that she looked the expression on his face.

"The army is assembling a team to go into the Initiative to try to find a cure for the virus," Jay explained. "They think the scientists made one before everything went to hell. And guess what? They're asking for volunteers."

"Volunteers?" Faith asked.

"Yeah," Jay nodded. "How would you like to go back to Sunnydale?"