The sound of their footsteps and the splash of the brackish water in the tunnel echoed hollowly. "Please tell me I didn't almost get dead for nothing," Faith gasped out.
Angel held up the satchel bouncing against his side. "I don't know. There were a lot of little bottles and boxes of powders. I took everything. Giles will have to look at them."
The news wasn't good. Faith ran in silence, mind whirling. Deep inside, she was cold. The change in the Mayor ate at her. She'd supported him. Hell, she'd loved him like a Father. Seeing his changed appearance and feeling the demon growing inside him…the world wavered, going grey. Faith staggered, dropping to a knee.
"Faith!" Angel spun, fingers digging into her shoulder. "Are you hurt?" Through the confusing waves of emotions exploding in her head, Faith was surprised. He sounded genuinely concerned.
Shaking her head increased the pain and the nausea. Faith held herself very still and muttered, "No. I don't…it's like someone's trying to take over my mind or something." Squeezing her eyes shut, she leaned her head on her upraised knee. Images, glimpses of other places and people flitted through her mind. She struggled to bring them into focus. It was like watching an movie in fast forward
Cold hands dragged her to her feet and down the tunnel. "Well, tell them to come back later. The Mayor's vamps aren't that far behind us," Angel snapped.
"Right." Forcing her eyes open, Faith pulled away from his grip, running with disjointed movements. The tunnel wavered and spun. Every once in a while, it disappeared, replaced by the kaleidoscope of other images.
They continued through the sewers, turning, doubling back, trying to lose their pursuers.
"This isn't working." Angel came to a stop. "We aren't losing them."
Faith agreed. She could feel the vampires behind them. "We don't have a lot of choices. It's more tunnels, or a trip back to the Mayor's with our new 'friends' back there. Going up is out. Too much sunshine for you."
"You could-" Angel offered.
"Nope. Not leaving you behind." Faith's refusal was immediate. She tried to find another alternative; the continued whirl of images in her mind made it hard to concentrate, though.
Angel wasn't impressed with her answer. "I think you were the one who pointed out this was bigger than you and me. This is about Willow. I'll stay, lead the vamps away. You get the bag to Giles."
Nearly growling, Faith shook her aching head. Pain exploded behind her eyes. The tunnel disappeared. This time, the vision snapped into view, crystal clear.
"I'm sorry ,Buffy. There isn't anything else we can do. The Council doesn't have any of the anti-toxin in storage." Dimly, Faith wondered why Wes was looking at her, but talking to Buffy. She jumped off the research table she was sitting on.
"I told you." Faith tried to clear her throat. The words didn't sound right. Too high pitched. Nothing happened except – she continued talking, "Look at her, Wes. Look at her." Swallowing against another surge of nausea, Faith turned her head. Willow huddled in Oz's arms, pale and sweating. She breathed in harsh pants. "We can't let this happen. I don't care what we have to do. I'm not letting my best friend die."
Cold resolve filled Faith's mind, despite the accompanying wave of confusion. Red, her best friend? Since when? What the fuck was going on?
"Buffy, honey, leave Mr. Price alone." Why was everyone calling her Buffy? She spun and glared at Joyce.
"I'm not giving up, Mom. The rest of you can sit on your hands, but I'm finding a cure."
The world flickered and changed again. Angel held her shaking body upright. "We go up, Big Guy. Don't ask how or why…I just know we gotta hurry. Red's dying."
"Remember the sun, Faith? I can't go up." Angel was impatient, eyes restlessly scanning the dim tunnel.
"Maybe, maybe not." Shoving him away, Faith prayed her legs would work. She felt weak and drained. However, the feel of their pursuers gaining ground pushed her on. "Where's the nearest exit?"
Angel hesitated a minute then took off. "This way." He led them down another offshoot. A ladder hugged one wall, leading to a manhole cover.
"OK, stay here for a second." Faith clambered up the ladder and shoved the heavy metal plate out of the way. Popping her head out, she peered around. Not a bad location. They were just outside of the downtown area. "Angel, come on up. There's cover not far away. Some shop has a thing out front you can hide under until we come up with a better plan."
Climbing out onto the sidewalk, Faith rocked on her heels as she waited for Angel. He jumped out of the access tunnel and sprinted down the sidewalk. Smoke curled up from his duster by the time he reached the brightly striped awning. Tossing the cover back onto the hole, Faith trotted over to join him.
"Your planning skills haven't gotten any better, Faith. I'm trapped here," Angel snapped. He huddled against the side of the building, peering uneasily at the sunlight.
Faith shrugged. "Didn't hear you offering anything better." For a second, they squared off. Then the vision of Willow flashed through Faith's mind again, and she stepped away. "Look, we don't have time for a good fight. Save it for another time." Spinning, she scanned the street.
"Leave me here, Faith. I'll wait until it gets dark, and then head back to the Mansion." He gave her a brave smile, and Faith rolled her eyes at his continuing need to play the martyr.
A cab pulled up to the curb, disembarking a load of shoppers. Holding her breath, Faith shoved a hand in her back pocket. The money was still there. "Wait!" she called out as the yellow car started to pull off. It stopped and she ran to the window. "My friend over there," she pointed back at Angel, "he ain't feeling well. Can you give us a lift?"
The driver nodded. Faith hurried back to Angel. "Wrap your coat over your head. We're taking a ride."
"Faith, there are windows in a taxi. Windows let in sunlight. Sunlight makes me a pile of dust." Angel hunched further into his jacket. "I still think you should-"
"Look at the windows, Fang. See the dirt?" Faith rolled her eyes. "Even the sun can't get through that crap. Pull your coat up, run like hell, and get in the car. Red's waiting for us to save her." Not waiting to see if he followed directions, Faith slid into the cab's backseat. Angel dove in seconds later. "Sunnydale High School library. Hurry," she told the startled driver.
Buffy had given up trying to hide in Giles' office hours ago. She sat with the rest of the gang, staring in fascinated horror at Willow. Pale, sweaty, moaning Willow. Buffy couldn't stop watching Oz gently stroke Willow's hair.
"I still say it's the only way, guys," she said softly, taking a second to glance around the room. Six bodies huddled in a sloppy circle around Willow. Six pairs of eyes watched for some tiny sign she was getting better.
"It's dangerous, and it involves civilians." Wes sounded like a broken record. Buffy had lost count of the times he'd said the same thing.
Xander must have thought so, too. The normal joking absent from his tone, he snapped, "We got that the first ten times you said that. Buffy's right. We don't have a better plan."
If the situation wasn't so dire, Buffy would have appreciated the support. As it was, she was too numb to care. The conversation about Graduation continued around her. Buffy barely heard any of it. Her mind buzzed, almost literally. Exhaustion, fear, grief…
The library doors slammed open. Faith and Angel rushed in.
"Giles, check these." Angel thrust a bulging satchel at a stunned Giles. "They're from the Mayor's office. One of them may be the cure for Willow."
Giles stared at the bag, not moving.
"Yo, G, get moving." Faith grabbed him, shoving him none too gently toward the doors. "Red's not looking so good, and I bet B won't be real happy with you if things go bad 'cause you were too slow."
Buffy's numb state started to lift. Faith was back. Faith was back and she had the cure. Jumping off the table, she ran across the room, hurtling the last few feet. "Thank you," she bubbled, hugging Faith tightly.
It took a minute to realize Faith wasn't returning the embrace.
"Faith?" Buffy asked, stiffening. What was wrong? "Are you hurt? Did something happen while you were getting the antidote?"
"I'm five by five, B." Shit. That wasn't good. The phrase sent Buffy into panic mode.
Looking into blank brown eyes, Buffy tried again. "I'm sorry about this morning. I…I just freaked. I know it wasn't your fault, Faith."
It wasn't working. Faith didn't look convinced. Her expression cool, she shrugged out of Buffy's arms. "Sure, B. I understand. Red's always been your best girl. Glad me and Angel could help."
Stunned, Buffy watched as Faith sauntered across the room and perched on a chair near her mother. "Angel? What happened?" She must have missed something. Why was Faith acting so weird?
"Is she the reason you want me to leave?" There was no anger in the quiet voice, just resignation. Angel glanced at Buffy, head tilted. "She doesn't look very happy with your choice."
"No," Buffy mumbled, "she doesn't." The euphoria faded. Buffy stared at Faith, wondering why God or the PtB or whoever hated her. She'd been so happy less than twenty four hours ago. Now…It was all slipping away, and Buffy knew she'd caused the rift. Wrapping her arms over her stomach, she tried to ease the ache. It didn't help. Sudden nausea swelled. She had to leave. Sprinting, Buffy headed for the bathroom in the hall.