DISCLAIMER: Listen up and Listen good, because I'm only saying this once! OC stuff, not mine. Buffy stuff, not mine.
SUMMARY: the OC/BtVS. Faith was taken from her family when she was ten. Now the Watchers Council is gone she's free to go back, but it's not that easy when over ten years have past and nothing's the same as when you left.
RATING: PG-13 for language.
TIMELINE: Faith is aged 21 in this fic. That makes her 16 when she first arrived in Sunnydale (around the same age Buffy was when she was called). She was 10 when she was taken from her family, so they've been without her for about eleven years. Takes place after 'the Blaze of Glory' for the OC and goes AU (alternate universe) i.e. Trey will not show up. At least not for now, but I may change my mind later.
A/N: I wanted to get this up because I'm jetting off to Greece on holiday, so there won't be an update for at least a fortnight. See you in a couple of weeks!
Thanks to Allen Pitt for the plot bunnies he left a couple of chapters ago. One of them plays a big part in this chapter...
Distant Elephants by Kiara
13- HAPPILY
"Okay, I have an idea."
Everyone leaned forward in the circle they were sitting in at Seth's words. Only Ryan was the one to sigh slightly. Seth's plans never seem to end well. They usually ended with him being punched and Ryan was tired of getting punched. He was getting seriously worried about his face- there were only so many times a person can get hit before it starts to show.
"We're gonna play this like Camp Takaho."
"Camp what?" Dawn asked.
"Don't ask." Ryan muttered at the same time as Summer said. "Geek camp."
"It's all very 'capture the flag'. Very Atomic County, very-"
"Get on with it, Cohen." Summer ordered.
"Right. Well I've noticed that these vampires have been coming into our cell periodically to taunt, threaten and otherwise humiliate us."
"I think we've all noticed that. What's your point?" Ryan said.
"Dawn, can you hold the vampire that comes down here?"
"Without weapons? Not a chance." She answered flatly.
Seth frowned in the darkness and reworked his plan. "Okay, here's what we do…"
When he'd finished explaining his plan, it wasn't met with the approval he'd hoped.
"You're gonna get us all killed, Cohen." Summer didn't like it.
"She's right." Neither did Marissa.
"It'll never work." Ryan was dead set against it.
"Don't be so negative. But you're right. We will die." It didn't look like Dawn was thrilled with the prospect either.
"Does anyone have a better idea?"
Silence greeted him.
"So let's do it."
It was another twenty minutes before the door to the basement opened again and by then everyone's legs were aching from crouching in the same positions for so long. The vampire obviously wasn't expecting an attack as she just walked into the room casually. Only to be jumped at on two sides by mortals.
With a startled yell the vampire tumbled down the remainder of the stairs and onto the floor. Whoever had organised the teens kidnapping obviously hadn't been able to get the best minions in the world.
"Right," Seth hissed, "you two keep her here, and we'll get help."
Marissa, Summer and Seth slid out the door leaving Ryan and Dawn sitting on the vampire in the basement.
"I don't think Seth thought this plan through." Ryan commented as he was nearly thrown off the vamp.
Dawn steadied herself, placing her knee on her spine, before answering. "What? You mean the part where we get left alone in the basement with a vampire and no way to defend ourselves?"
"That would be it."
"So does Seth do this kind of thing a lot then?" Dawn said after a short pause.
Ryan gave her a look that she couldn't possibly see in the darkness.
"Ah. I see."
"Do you think this'll work?" Ryan asked, not really seeing how it possibly could.
This time it was Dawn's turn to give the look.
"Ah."
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Summer jumped back from the corner she'd just been turning quickly and made a desperate hand gesture to her friends.
Seth nodded in approval. Now she was getting it! He peered around the corner before turning to the two girls.
"Wait here, I've got an idea." Seth whispered, going up to the vampire who was now inspecting her nails. She didn't look tough at all and hopefully this wasn't one of those times when looks were deceiving.
"Excuse me." The vampire turned just in time to receive Seth's punch to her face. She sank to the floor without a sound.
"Hey, I did it right!" Seth said with a big grin as the girls hurried over.
"That's your big idea? I could have done that!" Marissa said.
Seth ignored her. "I really don't like doing that," he remarked.
Summer snorted. "What's wrong? Don't like to hit women?"
"I don't like to hit anybody. It hurts!" he shot back, massaging his hand.
"Not to mention it draws attention to ourselves." Marissa said, looking behind them fearfully.
Summer followed her gaze to where two bulky vampires were standing. "Oh crap."
Two seconds later, they found themselves locked in the dark basement once again.
"Nice going, Cohen." Summer griped, but Seth paid her no heed.
"Okay, time for Plan B…"
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Faith and Buffy returned to where Shannon, Vi, Angel and Xander were waiting for them. They'd walked all the way around the house Willow's locator spell had found to be holding Dawn looking for signs of unlife. It had not taken as long as it usually would- Faith was taking this rescue mission a lot more seriously than she had any other in the past. This time, she had something to loose.
"There's an area around the back where the windows are boarded up. That's our best bet." Buffy said in a low voice. Faith was already loading up her crossbow. "We'll spilt into two teams and go in the side windows and head towards the back from both sides. Keep it quiet, we don't know if they're expecting us."
"Right." "Okay." "Let's go."
"Faith, you take Xander and Vi and approach from the left. Keep a look out for the hostages, but don't go looking for them." Buffy said, aiming her words at Faith. "We need to get rid of the vampires first, okay?"
"Fine." Faith said, already heading round to the other side of the house.
"She's getting scarily good at the drill sergeant thing." Xander remarked quietly as they approached the house.
Vi nodded in agreement, but Faith just marched on, a determined look in her eye.
Around the other side of the house, Buffy, Angel and Shannon had already let themselves in through one of the side doors and were creeping down the hallway.
Buffy felt Angel stiffen beside her and, knowing he must have heard something, put her hand out stopping Shannon from moving. She pulled her back into a side room as two vampires emerged from a room at the end of the hall talking in low voices. She raised her eyebrows in a silent question and Shannon nodded in response. As the vampires just past them, they leapt out and staked them instantly.
Before the dust hit the ground, the two slayers heard shouts from down the hall, alerting them that Faith's group had found the main group of vampires. They broke into a run and entered the room.
There were only about eight vampires in all, and Faith was cutting through them with a deadly efficiency. Add two more slayers and a vampire to the mix and it was nearly over before it all began.
One of the vampires stood back, saw they had no chance and ran for it, trying to get to the basement before the slayers realised he was gone.
As Shannon and Buffy each slayed a vampire, the odds were stacked even more highly in their favour. It wouldn't even last the minute.
As they finished up with the vampires, another two stepped out from the next room. The first vampire cleared her throat loudly and tossed her blond hair over her shoulder. When Buffy saw who it was she groaned loudly. Xander and Angel quickly followed suit causing Faith, Shannon and Vi to look at them in confusion.
"We meet again slayer….slayers. It is I, Harmony."
"We know who you are, Harmony. I went to school with you for four whole years." Xander said with exaggerated slowness.
"I was talking to the slayer, dork!" She retorted as bother Xander and Faith glared at her for the comment. "Where was I? Oh yeah, it is I, Harmony. I have come to wreak doom and stuff!"
"Something sure reeks here." Shannon muttered, but Harmony's enhanced vamp hearing allowed her to overhear.
"That would be Tommy." She hissed, jerking her thumb back to the vampire behind her. "It's so hard to get good minions these days and-"
"Harmony, your point please?" Buffy interrupted.
"Right." She looked around the room, spotting Angel for the first time she waved enthusiastically. "Hey boss!"
"Harmony." He greeted tensely.
"Thanks for the great reference. I thought you might have brought up the betrayal thing, but it's good to know you appreciated all of my hard work."
"Harmony!" Buffy barked, once again bringing things back to the matter at hand. "You've kidnapped my sister. Again. I've killed your… minions, again, and now I'm arguing with you, again. Where's my sister?"
"You won't win this time, slayer!"
Vi rose her hand and stepped forward. "We just killed all your minions."
"Oh yeah? Well I totally have a back up plan." She turned to the remaining vampire by her side. "Tommy, get them. He's my loyalist, strongest minion, you know. He's totally gonna kick your-"
Xander had raised his crossbow and fired, shooting Harmony's 'loyalist, strongest minion' through the heart as he lurched forward. He immediately exploded into dust.
Harmony coughed as she inhaled what was once her follower. "Hey!"
"We don't have time for this. Harmony, where's Dawn?" Buffy demanded, finding the fact that it was only Harmony behind this charade oddly comforting.
Faith, not knowing Harmony, had no such reassurances. "Where's my brother?" She grabbed the vampire's long blond hair in her fist. "Tell me!"
"No way! An evil villainess never re-"
Faith yanked harder on her hair.
"Hey! Okay, okay- there's no need to get violent." Harmony looked around the dusty room and laughed nervously. "They're in the basement, don't stake me."
Faith threw her down on the floor and sprinted along the hall, opening every door until she found what she was looking for. Buffy looked torn between making sure her sister was okay and taking care of Harmony.
"Don't worry, I've got it." Angel said grimly and Buffy ran off after Faith.
He looked down at the now nervous Harmony and rolled his eyes. "You're an even worse villain than you were an employee."
She looked down right offended. "Hey! I brought you blood and coffee and answered your phones!"
"You tried to kill me!"
"And I feel really bad about it." She crooned. "So, can we, like, forget this ever happened?"
She saw the look on Angel's face and looked hopefully to the two slayers behind him. It wasn't a particularly reassuring sight. She sighed.
"I knew you were going to say that." Pause. "I'm willing to negotiate?"
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They heard the door open and shut. In the dim light, the five teenagers could make out a vampire walking towards them.
"Well the slayers are here." He said as he sauntered forward.
"Told ya!" Seth turned to Summer triumphantly.
"So we don't really need you alive anymore." The vampire continued.
"Dumbass." Summer breathed to her boyfriend, but pushed herself further back into his arms nonetheless.
Ryan pushed Marissa behind him. If any of them were going to die, they'd have to get through him first.
Dawn started getting to her feet. "Okay Dawn, you've had the training. You can take one lousy vampire."
The vampire grinned in the darkness, relishing a chance to build up his appetite. He easily dodged her first punch, and the second. Dawn feinted with a right hook, and brought her leg up to kick the vampire in the shins. Her minor victory was short lived as with a sweep of his hand, the vampire knocked her into the wall. Her head ricocheted off the stone and she dropped to the floor.
"Dawn!"
"Or maybe I can't." Dawn muttered, pushing herself up onto her knees and trying to push back the darkness that threatened to envelope her.
The vampire slowly walked forward, rummaging in his pocket.
"I want you to see the face that kills you."
He pulled out a little box, and stuck a match against it. The room was alit in a ghostly glow.
Seth started forward. "Hey, aren't we supposed to have a last word? A last request? Last kiss…anything?"
"Seth…" Ryan intoned warningly.
The vampire, who had turned to look at Seth the moment he started speaking, gave him a strange look. "You can have a last breath."
"Dude, have you ever watched a movie? You always get a last-"
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
The vampire screamed as the match burnt down and burned him, the small flame making contact with his sleeve. It wasn't much but the cheap fabric immediately caught fire. A fact which Summer had to mention, despite the situation.
"That'll teach him to buy rayon." She breathed, she voice shaking badly.
The door was kicked open and two familiar faces ran down the steps as the vampire started screaming, trying to pat out the flames before he turned into ash. He didn't manage it.
"Dawn!" Buffy immediately ran over to her almost-unconscious sister.
Dawn sighed in relief. "What took you so long?" She murmured before allowing herself to drop into painless sleep.
"Is she okay?" Faith called over from where she'd been frantically checking on the others.
"Just knocked out. Did she hit her head?" Buffy asked the others.
"Yeah. The…vampire knocked her into the wall." Ryan said, struggling over the word vampire slightly.
"She's been spending too much time with Giles." Buffy muttered.
Faith snorted with laughter. "What's say we get out of here and get you two home before Mom has a heart attack?"
"Sounds good to me." Buffy said, lifting Dawn into her arms and starting to make her way up the stairs. She groaned. "If she keeps insisting on getting knocked out, then this girl is going on a diet!"
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"Thank goodness." Kirsten came running out and pulled Seth close, her other arm searching for Ryan and pulling him into the three-way hug.
Sandy noticed Buffy still carrying Dawn. "Is she okay?"
"She'll be fine. She's starting to come around I think. Besides she only does it so she doesn't have to walk home. Do you have a first aid kit?"
"I'll get it." Ryan offered, disentangling himself from Kirsten.
He didn't get very far. As he walked past Sandy, he found himself being hugged again and couldn't help but smile at the love and attention.
"Don't worry us like that again." He said, giving his adopted son a pat on the back.
"I'll try." Ryan said with a smile before going to get the first aid kit.
As Seth went over to his father, Kirsten approached her daughter who was standing with the two younger slayers. As she went over, the two girls smiled and left them alone.
"Thank you for bringing them home. If anything had happened… I don't think I could lose one of you again."
"Don't mention it." Faith said embarrassed. "That's my job, right?"
"Some people don't get thanked enough for doing their jobs." Kirsten said. They stood there for a moment in an awkward silence. "So are those girls okay?"
"Shannon and Vi? They're five-by-… They're fine. They're tough kids, good slayers. They're still learning so we try and give them a quick, what's the word, debrief after fights. B usually does it, but she's looking after Dawn."
"Is she okay?"
"I'm sure she'll be fine. She got caught up in the fight a bit and got knocked out, it happens sometimes." Faith said, trying to gloss over the fact that the teens had been locked in a room on their own with a vampire.
"Oh. No one was seriously hurt though?"
She grinned. "Only the bad guys!"
"Are you okay?" Kirsten finally asked the question she'd been wanting too since they had returned.
Faith nodded. "Not even bruised."
"Will you stay here tonight?" Kirsten blurted out. She back tracked, seeing the uncertain look on Faith's face. "It's just that, with all that happened I'd feel better knowing that you were safe."
"Sure." Faith said after considering it for a second. "That would be nice."
Sandy joined them. "I take it by the fact that your mother hasn't rushed you to hospital, that you're not injured." He said, checking her over for tell tale signs of injury.
"No, I'm fine. Really."
"Thank God." He muttered, dropping a kiss onto her forehead.
Kirsten and Sandy hugged her. They stayed like that for a little longer than normal, if there was anyone still there then they may have got some odd looks, but anyone who knew them would see that they were just happy to be together again. A family.
Who weren't going to get broken up again.
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Next Update: sometime after I return from holiday in 2 weeks time.
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