Buffy waited until Faith looked up, dazed eyes meeting hers. "I think the link goes both ways, and that's how you were able to see where I was." Ignoring the nerves twisting her stomach at what she was about to do, Buffy continued, "If you extend your Slayer senses, there's a wall, or a barrier. I think you can go through it."
Watching Faith carefully, she saw her frown, the brown eyes go blank. Braced for an internal invasion, Buffy extended her own senses. Maybe if she could feel Faith's entrance, lead her through the barrier, it wouldn't be so bad. As she searched for Faith, Buffy lost awareness of the outside world. A dense mist seeped in, gradually enveloping them. Oddly enough, Buffy wasn't alarmed…just curious.
She noticed a familiar scent in the air, and shook her head at the realization she was surrounded by the smell of leather and musk. Faith's smell. The mist settled on her like a caress, and she swore Faith's hand had just grazed her shoulder. Despite a lingering unease at allowing Faith so deep inside her mind, Buffy relaxed enough to smile. Faith's gentle touch warmed her and chased away the chill from the strange fog.
Turning, she saw Faith scant inches away, hands on her hips, "Where the fuck are we, B?"
Buffy peered around. It was hard to see through the clinging grey mist. Concentrating, she was just able to make out vague shapes looming in the distance. Shrugging, Buffy turned back to Faith, whose image rippled as though she was surrounded by intense heat. "Um, I think we're in my head." She grimaced at Faith's snort. "It could be yours. I don't know. When I pushed through the barrier between us earlier, I didn't get the MTV Unplugged version."
Lightening flashed in the background as Faith took an angry step toward Buffy. "What do you mean, when you pushed through the barrier? I thought this mind reading thing was an accident. You've been mucking in my head on purpose?"
Skin tingling at the sudden electricity in the air, Buffy retreated a step. She tried to excuse her unauthorized look into Faith's mind. "You were freaking out over the Mayor, and I just…I wanted…" The words trailed off. They were here – wherever here was, to clear the air. It was decision time. Stomach cramping with nerves, Buffy met Faith's angry eyes and nodded slowly. "Yes," she admitted quietly.
Faith spun away, one fist lashing out into the mist. "Fuck it, B." The power of her punch scattered the swirling grey around them.
Buffy's vision wavered. Moaning in pain, she grabbed her head. As Faith continued to pound the thickened air around them, the stabbing behind Buffy's eyes grew. "Faith," she pleaded, heart rate picking up. "Stop. Please."
"B?" Through the blinding ache, Buffy felt Faith's hands grab her chin, lifting it. "What's wrong?" Even after their argument, Faith's eyes were concerned. She peered intently at Buffy, callused fingers stroking Buffy's cheeks.
"When…when you reacted just now, it hurt." Buffy leaned into the touch, needing the contact. Needing Faith.
She heard Faith swallow then the husky voice said softly. "Sorry, B. I didn't know." As quickly as she'd moved to comfort, Faith stepped away.
Buffy shivered as the chill fog draped itself around her again.
"So, this is your head?" Faith asked, spinning around and looking at the bleak landscape.
Still shaky from the pain, Buffy smiled wryly. Even without reading Faith's mind, she knew avoidance when she saw it. "The one and only, I guess." Glaring at the mist, Buffy muttered, "I nearly failed Earth Science. How did I manage to create this?
"Whatever, B." Faith didn't really sound impressed. "Bigger question: what are we doing here?"
"I…I wanted to show you that I wasn't lying. I didn't sleep with you as part of a plot, Faith." Shrugging helplessly, Buffy went on. "I did use what I felt in your mind, once or twice. I didn't want you to leave, Faith." Even trapped inside her own head, Buffy felt the heat suffuse her cheeks. God, this was so hard.
She braced for Faith's reaction. It wasn't what she expected. "We both know I wasn't gonna leave, B." Faith smiled wryly, not quite meeting Buffy's eyes.
Stunned by the revelation, Buffy opened her mouth – and then closed it. The air around them warmed, a hint of sunlight breaking through the shadows created by the fog. Buffy smiled and stepped forward, arms extended.
Faith ducked the embrace. "What I feel ain't a secret anymore, B. Not since you and Red started playing with magic. I want to know what you're feeling." Hands deep in the pockets of her borrowed pants, Faith turned away, staring through the thick fog. "It's time for you to do a little sharing. Call up some wind, turn on the sun, whatever it takes, B," she snapped. "Even Slayer strength can't cut through this shit, and I left all my fog lights and flares at the sporting goods store."
Wishing the warmer air and the sun had stayed, Buffy searched for answers. When she'd wanted to reach Faith, she'd simply reached. Simple, direct, with just a little brute force. This was a whole lot more complicated
"I'm not…I'm not trying to hide anything. I swear." She pushed toward Faith with her mind, sweat beading her forehead with the strain. Trembling with effort, she gritted out, "Can you feel anything, Faith? I'm reaching out for you."
Faith bit her lip in concentration. For just an instant, Buffy felt a feather light touch on her mind. A brief caress. Then it was gone.
"There's something. A little more than just the Slayer thing." Hurt brown eyes looked up. "Why can't you let me in, B? All that crap in the bathroom. Was it a lie, too?" Her voice started to rise. "I knew you didn't trust me."
This wasn't right. Frustrated tears pricked Buffy's eyes. Why had it worked before? "Try harder," she urged, voice pleading. "Please, Faith. I need you to understand. To believe." She moved toward Faith again, and this time the fog parted.
Faith simply shrugged and shook her head. "Look, B, as wicked as this head trip is, it ain't getting us anywhere. Take us back. You can check on Red, and we can kick the Mayor's ass."
"No!" This wasn't over. Buffy rushed at Faith, grabbing her shoulder. If Faith wouldn't reach through the fog, she would. Focusing on all of her emotions, she shoved them at Faith. "I'm not giving up. You have to understand."
Faith didn't want to understand. She was so tired of wanting and trusting – only to have Buffy or the Scoobs turn on her. Wrenching out of Buffy's grasp, she sprinted into the fog. Ignoring Buffy's calls, Faith sprinted blindly through the enshrouding grey. Sucking in deep breaths of damp air, she looked for a way out. An unseen object caught her foot. Hands flailing, Faith tried to cushion her fall. The impact never happened. Instead, the fog around her faded.
With a sigh of relief, Faith settled into her body, gravity and external senses returning.
Before she could stand and flee the bathroom, a kaleidoscope of colors and images exploded in her mind, and she snapped back into the shared astral world. This time, there was no form to their shared experience. Faith merely felt Buffy holding her hand. A frisson of warmth caressed her skin.
Faith twisted and turned in their color drenched landscape. It was all there. Every part of Buffy laid open for view. In one blinding instant, Faith felt/saw Buffy as she stood amid the flames at Hemery, choked and struggled in the dank puddle with the Master's laughter echoing, and faced a grief-stricken Giles after Angelus had murdered Jenny Calendar. Finally, as she bowed under the flow of memories and sensations, Faith/Buffy arrived at the rooftop.
Tears streaking her cheeks, Faith pulled Buffy into her arms, reliving that night from Buffy's perspective.
Swimming through a haze of shared desire and emotion, she lowered her head. Buffy might not be visible, but Faith knew she was there. They were one now.
Her lips brushed Buffy's once, twice. As she leaned in for a third, Faith sink into and then through Buffy until the landscape changed again.
Blinking dazedly, Faith slowly spun. Dappled sunlight brushed her skin and the thick grass under her feet. A warm breeze rustled the leaves of the tall oaks around her, and a snow white blanket rested on the ground a few feet ahead.
"B?" There was no sign of Buffy. Frowning, Faith ignored the happy scene and felt around. Automatically reaching for Buffy through the link, she relaxed immediately. She might not be able to see Buffy, but she could feel her. Ephemeral lips brushed her neck. "Hey, cut it out." She felt the pout in response to her words. Grabbing Buffy's invisible hand with unerring skill, Faith explained softly, "We don't have time for a picnic, Buffy. Not now. Red's still down; the Mayor's on the loose. Let's take care of business and then I'll be more than happy to do this for real."
Buffy materialized in front of her. "I can't believe you're the one reminding me of our responsibilities. It's just wrong." She grinned faintly before growing sober. "It's time, isn't it?"
"Yeah, B. It is." Faith's shoulders tightened and her throat burned with unshed tears. It was nice here. Peaceful. "You picked just the right set up, though. Damn. I always wanted to do a picnic in the park, fight the ants for my food." Rubbing her thumb over the back of Buffy's hand, she admitted softly, "Maybe make love after we finished eating." Faith sighed, memorizing every detail so she could recreate it in the real world. "Let's go home, B."
She maintained her hold on that small hand as they let the world around them fade. This time, Faith's journey to her body was completed. Her limbs felt heavy and sluggish. Groaning, she tried to stand, Buffy still clutched in her arms.
"Come on, Faith. Where's all that stamina you're always bragging about?" Buffy taunted, peering up at her.
"Think it got left somewhere along your Yellow Brick Road, B." Finally upright, Faith let Buffy slide out of her embrace. They leaned into each other and stumbled toward the door.
As they entered the empty hallway, Buffy smacked Faith in the stomach, scowling fiercely.
"What the fuck?" Faith absently rubbed the sore spot.
"That was for the munchkin comment you were about to make." Buffy glared narrow-eyed, chin set at an aggressive angle.
Pausing with a hand on the library door, Faith grinned faintly. "Oh, that." She laughed as Buffy's eyes narrowed even more. "Guess that means the link thing's still there, huh?"
With an exasperated snort, Buffy pushed past her into the library – and stopped.
The Scooby gang, including its newest members, hovered around Willow. Faith leapt forward, arms wrapping around Buffy. Tension thrummed through her, echoing the tightening in Buffy.
A/N: A heartfelt thanks to Lady Val for saving this chapter (maybe, the entire fic) from finding its way into the recycle bin. The muse hit a block and refused to work. The fantastic descriptions found early in the chapter were written entirely by Lady Val. As always, her work and her encouragement kept me going