Chapter 5

AN: I'm sorry for updating soooooo late. I was thinking whether to continue this story or not. I've decided to continue it knowing that some readers might want me to finish it. Hope you like it!

Faith's POV

I'm waiting with B and Red in the hospital. Xander lost his eye in the vineyard and well…so many were injured and some died. I was injured as well but…I'll live. I looked up at Buffy who is sitting on the couch with her head bowed down slightly.

'I guess she's feeling a little guilty about the whole thing…it was her idea.'

I sighed and continue to lean on the wall with my arms crossed in my chest. Red was standing up walking around trying to wait for the doctors to come out. Dawn and Anya wanted to be here but…after a little yelling for Buffy to stay there and tend the injuries of the others well…they shut up and obeyed her. I think B's being a bitch. I mean Dawn and Anya only wanted to see how Xander is doing…but no…little miss uptight just yelled at them telling them to shut up.

You know when we were ambushed in the vineyard, I wanted to yell at B and tell her… 'Bad idea B! Should have listened to the scoobs!' But I didn't. I was too busy fighting the bringers not to mention that…that damn priest to care. I guess I also blame myself. Maybe if I said something in the meeting and stopped B with her crazy ideas…maybe just maybe…Xander would still have his eye and well…the potentials that died…just…wouldn't die.

Could I have possibly...stopped B from her plan? But I know she wouldn't listen to me…She didn't listen to Willow and Xander who was her best friends since I could remember…Giles who was like a father to her…and Spike who is surely her…lover. What could I have possibly have done knowing that I'm nothing to her? I'm just like a puppy to her that follows her around…and protects her. My words wouldn't reach her…

I shook my thoughts away as the doctor finally got out and walked towards us. Both B and I stood up and waited for the result.

"Are you relatives of Mr. Harris?"

B nodded and smiled a little.

"Yeah…we're his…cousins. How is he?"

The doc sighed and removed his glasses and cleaned them…much like Giles does.

'I wonder if this guy is related to Giles…'

He put it back on and frowned.

"He's fine…but I'm afraid he can't use his left eye anymore. What exactly happened to him that caused him to loose an eye like that?"

B and Red looked at each other and stammered for an answer. I just sighed and told doc the truth.

"Some freaks kidnapped him and well…tortured him."

"Oh God…we should call the police and inform them…so that they could get them and lock them up. It's dangerous for them to be lurking around…"

I shook my head and looked at him seriously.

"Nah it's okay. We already contacted the police and well…they caught them up. No need to panic anymore."

'Yeah right…the police couldn't even get me if I haven't turned myself in…'

The doc sighed and smiled a little. B and Red were looking at me with their eyebrow raised. I just kept on looking seriously though…I really wanted to grin at what I'm saying.

"I'm glad…those guys could be dangerous."

"You have no idea…anyway…how long will Xander stay here?"

"Oh…he can go now tomorrow evening if he wishes…until then maybe its best if someone stays here with him till he wakes up."

I nodded and the doc smiled and walked away. Red and B continue to raise their eyebrow at me. I frowned and raised my eyebrow back at them.

"What?! I did a lot better than you guys stammering and all…"

B rolled her eyes and turn to Willow who was looking at Xander's room.

"I'll stay with him. Faith…take Willow home so she can get so---"

"No…I think I'll stay here Buffy. Get some rest. You and Faith are the one's that's tired because of all the fighting. Just…take care of Kennedy for me."

She smiled a little and walked towards Xander's room leaving me and B to stare at her. B just sighed and looked at me.

"Do you want to get checked too?"

I frowned at her not getting what she's saying. I guess I didn't need to ask her what she's talking about as she pointed to the wall where I was leaning a couple of seconds ago. I looked at it and well…there was blood there. I touched my back and soon enough my hand had a blood in it. I guess that Caleb guy did a number on me. I just looked back at B and shrugged.

"Nah…I'll live. I've had worst wound than this…"

She looked at the floor for awhile looking sad and well…I think I know what she's thinking about. She's thinking about the time she stabbed me in the stomach. I sighed.

"B it's not what…"

She shook her head and looked at me again.

"Let's get back to the house…"

I looked at her for awhile and just nodded. I really have to keep my mouth shut. We walked side by side towards her house in silence. Neither one of us talked…

The Next Day…

Buffy and Giles are out of the house…I guess they went to see how Xander and Willow is doing. I think she didn't get much of a sleep…unlike me who slept like a baby. I guess I was really tired from fighting that priest. That damn priest is pretty powerful. If he and I were fighting one on one…I'd be dead by now. No wonder some of the potentials died.

'I guess Buffy's lost her touch…or more likely her brain.'

It was noon when Buffy walked inside the house with some files in her hands. Research she says…

'Oh goody…just what I was waiting for to happen. My most favorite thing to do…read some dumb files and look for a way to defeat this Caleb guy.'

I sighed and sat down the dinning table. Buffy quickly left saying that I should do some research and find something about Caleb. I didn't have time to react as she went outside again to God knows where. I started looking at some files and well…it's boring! Luckily Dawn helped me read some of it.

The potentials took a lot of time in the basement thanks to Anya. I think it was almost 6 in the evening when they got out of there with the potential groaning. Some of them went to the living room to wind up I guess. Me and Dawn decided to join them. That's where Giles came in and asked Spike and Andrew to go somewhere.

Spike was reluctant at first…coz he thinks it might be trap again to kill him. I couldn't blame him for hesitating but…it kinda surprised me to hear that Giles tried to kill someone. Well…not someone of course…I mean it's Spike…a vampire. I guess it's just natural.

I went in the kitchen and got myself some pastry in the box. It's labeled but…what the hell! Finder's keepers! I walked towards the living room with the box still in my hand. Andrew glared at me as they walked outside. I guess he's kinda sad about his pastry. Who cares…

"So, see? That's something, right? We'll have some news soon."

Dawn said as she smiles at the potential that looks like they just attended some burial or something. Amanda just shrugged saying…

"Sure. Maybe that'll get us somewhere."

I just kept on eating as I looked at the potentials. I kinda feel bad for them. I frowned as I looked at them looking gloomy.

"Maybe. In the meantime, the troops here gotta sit and stew, feeling crappier by the minute."

Dawn nodded and said something I've been dying for someone to say.

"We should keep them occupied."

I grinned at them and nodded.

"Yeah. I know how to keep them occupied."

Buffy's POV

'Ugh…that guy really did a number on me…'

I couldn't help but groan when I opened the door on my house. I was beaten by Caleb again who I didn't know was on the school. We talked, fight and eventually he made me unconscious for a little while. I decided to inform everyone of my new plan so I hurriedly went to the house. I was prepared to say something to the troops but stopped when I noticed no one was there but Giles. I frowned and walked towards Giles who was sitting by the dinning table sipping coffee.

"Buffy. Are you hurt?"

"Oh... Caleb came back looking for seconds."

"My God, is h-he…"

"Still able to make me see cartoon birdies all around my head? You betcha. The short lack of consciousness was nice. I feel rested. So...how did those police files work out? Were they helpful?"

I sat down and couldn't help but groan as I felt the soreness in my body. Giles took a sit next to me.

"Uh...uh... yes. Very much so, I think. Um... there's evidence that Caleb may have established a foothold up north."

"That's great. That's..."

"I, um... I sent Spike to look into it."

I couldn't help but look at him like he's crazy or something. He tried to kill Spike once…and I guess he's planning again to do that. I frowned at him as he clean his glasses.

"Spike? Is this a mission from which you intend Spike to return alive?"

"Yes. I sent Andrew with him."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Again I ask the question."

"Buffy, you weren't here. Decisions have to be made in your absence."

"Yeah, well, those are the ones that have been scaring me."

"I did what I thought was right."

Right? Is bringing me to life and ripping me from heaven, right? I wanted to scream that to him…but I couldn't. He just wouldn't understand…

"You sent away the one person that's been watching my back—again."

He stood up and frowned.

"We're all watching your back."

"Funny... that's not really what it feels like."

I stood up and slowly walked away.

"Buffy—"

I turn to him and frowned.

"Where did everybody go?"

"What?"

"Faith. The girls. Where are they?"

He began to shake his head looking at the floor.

"Um...Faith thought that the girls could do with some time off their studies. I—I thought...She took them to the Bronze."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes.

'Oh God…I have a bad feeling about this…'

Faith's POV

I started to sway towards the music finally letting myself go. It's the first time in years that I danced. The last time I think is when me and B went out…the day I killed Finch…

I shook my head as I recall the painful memories three years ago. I excused myself from the guy I'm dancing and decided to join the potentials. Some of them were drinking and were still underage. Being the reformed slayer that I am…I stopped them from drinking and told them to just drink a soda or something. If I would have been the girl three years ago, I wouldn't mind them drinking. I guess I just want B to see that I'm responsible and all…that underneath my bad ass attitude…I can also be like her…a self-righteous chick…

I sighed and felt someone tap me on the back. I slowly turn to look at the person and frowned when I saw three cops looking at me.

"We're gonna have to ask you to come with us, miss. Outstanding warrants."

I kept my cool trying so hard not to show how scared I am to go back to jail. If I go back to jail now…I'd probably spend the rest of my life there since I did escaped. And what kind of person would want to spend the rest of their lives in a stinking cell? I may be reformed…but I'm not stupid…

"Yeah, or we could try this one on instead. How 'bout you guys buy me another drink, and we see where the evening takes us."

He didn't listen and just grabbed me by the arm and puts it behind me shoving me towards the exit. The potentials and Dawn seemed alarmed at what's happening and is going to fight back to help me. I looked at them.

"It's cool. I got it. It's nothin'. Get—get off me."

"Shut up."

Some guy closed the door when the rest of the officers shoved me outside. I struggled to get free…but finding it hard which made me think if they're really human…

"I tell you right now, I'm not goin' back to jail."

I manage to get out from his grip and quickly walked towards the entrance to see if the potentials are okay. I was blocked by one of the officers who grinned at me.

"Who said anything about jail?"

I turn to the other two and frowned when they held out their shotgun at me. The next thing I know I'm lying on the ground as they continue to beat me up. I manage to kick a guy on the ankles that made him fall down. I quickly got on my feet and fight the other two. I continue to fight back but then I ended up on the ground again. I heard the door open and thanked the potential when they fought the officers who were ganging me up. I managed to get on my feet again and grabbed the nearest officer to me and knocked him off. I looked around and saw that all the officer were knocked down. I looked at the potential, grinning. I was about to thank them when, she arrived.

"Faith! What are you doing?"

What? No 'I'm glad you're alright'? My grin slowly faded when I saw the way she looked at me. She's obviously pissed. I shrugged feeling the soreness on my shoulder.

"Just blowing off steam. Well, it started that way. Turned when the cops went evil on us."

Buffy looked around and noticed Dawn and the others.

"Girls, go home. I need to talk to Faith for a minute."

Dawn tried to stop her from 'having a talk' to me, but general B is one hell of a chick when she gets mad. When she says something…she really does it…no matter how much you beg her not to. That's one of her trade mark as Buffy…

"Dawn— you, too. Go."

Dawn sighed and decided to follow B's decision. I pity her sometimes. It's as if B isn't her sister anymore. She always treated Dawn as if she was one of the potentials. I always thought that having a sister means that you get to have a second best friend…you know…where you do a lot of girl stuff. Sure you argue a lot…but that's a trade mark that both of you are sisters. I can't seem to see that to B and Dawn…

Once everyone is gone she turned to me, glaring. It's much like the time in my apartment when she gutted me.

"What is this?"

"They needed a break, all right? They've been running themselves into the ground. Things just got out of hand."

"Taking a break is one thing—I get blowing off steam—but they were fighting. And those girls were drunk! What were you thinking?!"

I frowned still not getting her point.

"Seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Yeah, what if someone had gotten hurt?"

"They didn't."

"Faith, I need to know that these girls are gonna be safe when I'm not around."

"No one got hurt, B. Look, you don't even know these girls. Maybe you should have a little more confidence in 'em, let them mess up sometimes, you know, get down and dirty. How the hell else are they gonna learn?"

"Learning from your mistakes is one thing. But you don't throw children into—"

I shook my head.

"They're not children."

"That really isn't the point."

She started to walk away but I suddenly felt that I didn't want her to win this argument. I did what I shouldn't have done. I stepped over the boundaries…I went to far…It's much more like the old Faith…the Faith that I don't want to bring back anymore…The Faith that I wanted to erase…

"Yeah, what about the vineyard?"

She stopped and turn to look at me, frowning. I kept on chanting 'shut up' in my head…but I couldn't stop…I couldn't stop hurting her…

"How safe were they when you dragged them off to meet Caleb? How safe was Rona or Amanda or Molly?"

She walked towards me and surprised me when she punched me on the face which made me crouched down on the floor. I held the place where she punched me and looked at her back as she continue to walk away leaving me alone…

'Alone…that's the way it should be…'

Buffy's POV

I was so angry at Faith for what she said that I punched her on the face. I know I shouldn't have but…she shouldn't have said that too. Punching her like that…it feels like we're back to square one again.

'Whoever said that we left square one?'

I know she was just trying to ease the tension that's building within the potentials. That she was trying to calm them. I guess I overacted. I was just so…worried that they might get…hurt.

'Argh! Who am I kidding?! I'm just worried for her!'

I stopped walking and looked at the ground thinking.

'I'm worried because…she might do something that might make her disappear from me again. That maybe this time…she might never get back. I don't want her to go to jail again. I want her to stay beside me… I mean for God's sake! She was fighting policemen! She might get arrested!'

I sighed and looked back thinking that I shouldn't leave her alone. After some inner conflict whether or not I should go to her and make her understand. The other side won though. The 'I should check the potentials first and Faith later' decision. With that thinking I walked towards the house again still thinking of Faith…

Faith's POV

I was feeling crappy that I decided to buy some smokes. The guy selling them looked at me curiously seeing the bruise on my cheek. I looked at him trying to look pitiful.

" sniff M-my…husband did this to me…"

I held my face on my hands trying to look like I'm crying. He seems to buy it and started caressing my back.

"I… sniff h-he took all my money…my children…everything!"

I pulled some coins in my pocket and put them in the counter.

"Th-This is all I've got left…I'm sorry…"

I faked my cry harder and he really seem to buy it. He nodded and told me to keep my money and lend me the cigarette that I'm buying for free. What really surprised me is when he gave twenty dollars. I thanked him and slowly made my way outside. Once outside the store…I couldn't help but laugh at the gullible guy in the store. I think doing that made me forget about B for awhile.

I quickly found myself in front of B's front door. I hesitated for awhile thinking that she might…do something again. I took a deep breath and opened the door preparing for a massive of glares and angry looks that B might give my way. I noticed someone staring on the kitchen and I know instantly that it's her. I didn't look at her though and made my way towards the living room where the potentials are. Dawn saw me and quickly made her way towards me giving me a hug.

"You're alright…I was gonna check the hospital when Buffy didn't say anything…"

I pulled her away from me and smiled. She noticed the bruise on my cheek and touched it slightly which made me wince.

"Faith…you should put some ice in that…"

"Nah…it's not that bad. It'll heal…don't worry bout it…"

She frowned and I quickly changed the topic.

"So uh…what are you guys doing here? Ain't getting some sleep?"

Kennedy sighed and looked at me.

"Well…we're having a meeting. Willow, Anya and Giles went to the hospital getting Xander…and Wood's still not here so…I guess were in waiting duty…"

I smirked.

"That's kinda a pain in the ass huh?"

They nodded which made me grin.

"I could wait with you guys but…waiting just ain't my thing. I'll wait in the porch."

I slowly opened the front door to go inside when I heard her voice.

"Faith…"

I didn't turn to look at her…so I couldn't see the anger in her eyes. I don't know what to say…so I didn't say anything and just walked outside closing the door. What would I say to her? That my stupid mouth took over making me say those stupid things? Yeah right…

I sat down on the porch and lighted the cigarette that I got. I stared ahead thinking of what I would do once this is all over… It only took 10 minutes of thinking when I heard footsteps. A black man looked at me frowning slightly.

"The big meeting hasn't started yet, has it?"

"God, I hope so."

"Faith?"

"You must be Principal Wood. Heard a lot about you."

"It hasn't really started yet, has it? 'Cause I, uh... I hate being late."

What the hell is this guy's problem? So what if he's late? He's like the opposite me when it comes to a meeting…which is I'm always late…

"Troops are still gathering. I think you're safe."

He looks at me closely and saw my bruise on my cheek.

"Looks like someone banged you up pretty well."

"Yeah. Cops. Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"Yeah. This one's from someone who just thinks she's a cop. It's my favorite of all my current bruises."

I pointed the big bruise on my cheek was I think is still swelling.

"So someone who thinks she's a cop, huh? You gonna have to, like...ice her now or something like that?"

Ice? This guy is kinda funny…

"I'm not gonna kill her. Wanted to, but didn't. By the way, bully for me since no one else said it."

"For what? For not killing Buffy?"

"It's this new thing I'm tryin'."

"She told me about you."

Probably about how I'm a slut and an untrusting person…

"Believe every word."

"So what changed? I mean... why didn't you fight back?"

What changed? Everything…from realizing that what I did was wrong…to realizing what I felt for someone I can never have…

"Other things matter more."

"I think you're worried about her."

I couldn't help but smirk and look at him like he's crazy or something…

"I think you need to brush up on your Buffy and Faith history."

"All right, if you say so. But I read people pretty well. It's a thing I do."

I threw my cigarette on the grass and looked at him.

"You, uh, live around here, right?"

"Uh, no, not exact— Well, it's the center of town, really."

"This town, walking anywhere after dark is like an extreme sport. Someone who didn't know you very well might think you were out lookin' for a fight or something. Maybe you got bigger issues than what's wrong with B. I read people, too…"

I couldn't help but grin at his reaction. It's like all I said was true. He didn't try to deny it which made me believe that it is true. A car suddenly stopped into the driveway.

"Xander's home."

Buffy's POV

After welcoming Xander…which is not really what I call the best welcoming ever. I think it could go to the worst welcoming ever category. Well…after that I discussed my new plan which involves getting back in the vineyard. Something is in there…and Caleb seems to be protecting it…

Everyone seemed to be against what I'm planning. It's like their doubting me or something.

"I—I don't understand this. For 7 years, I've kept us safe by doing this— exactly this, making the hard decisions. And now, what— suddenly you're all acting like you can't trust me?"

More yelling telling me that my plan is not right. Even Willow seemed to be against my plans…

"With everything that's happened, I—I'm worried about your judgment."

"Look, I wish this could be a democracy. I really do. Democracies don't win battles. It's a hard truth, but there has to be a single voice. You need someone to issue orders and be reckless sometimes and not take your feelings into account. You need someone to lead you."

Anya frowned and stood up.

"And it's automatically you. You really do think you're better than we are."

"No, I—"

"But we don't know. We don't know if you're actually better. I mean, you came into the world with certain advantages, sure. I mean, that's the legacy. But you didn't earn it. You didn't work for it. You've never had anybody come up to you and say you deserve these things more than anyone else. They were just handed to you. So that doesn't make you better than us. It makes you luckier than us."

We continue to argue on the plan and I said I'm willing to listen to their suggestion. They didn't listen though and even appointed Faith as the new leader saying that she's a slayer too. She shook her head and her eyes went wide.

"What? Whoa, whoa, whoa. So not what I meant. I'm not in charge chick. I think B here needs to just...chill out for a little bit, take a siesta or something. But I'm not the one you want."

Kennedy was suggesting about the voting which made me mad. I don't know why…but having the idea of Faith being the leader makes me mad. It's like she's taking away everything that I've worked hard for. I seem to forgot the feelings I felt for her and just felt the anger that I felt three years ago when she betrayed me…

"No. You don't get to vote until I've had my chance to pal around, you know, get everybody drunk. See, I didn't get this was a popularity contest. I should have equal time to bake them cookies, braid their hair—"

"Learn their names?"

"You're just lovin' this, aren't you?"

"You have no idea what I'm feeling."

"Come in here, take everything that I have... You did it before. Did you tell them that? Did you tell them how you used to kill people for fun? Hey, you guys think that's nifty?"

Oh God…this isn't me anymore. It's like I've transformed into someone…and I couldn't stop. I was silently thankful for Giles who told me to stop because he knows I'm going too far…

Faith seemed affected and frowned at me.

"I didn't come here to take anything away from you, but I'm not gonna be your little lapdog, either. I came here to beat the other guy, to do right, however it works. I don't know if I can lead. But the real question is...can you follow?"

That's when everyone agreed that Faith should be the leader. Even Dawn who asked me to leave was against me. My very own sister…

I looked around for awhile noticing their glares at me. The only once who weren't glaring was Willow, Xander and…Faith. I sighed and grabbed my coat and quickly headed outside to be followed by Faith.

"Hey. Look, I swear I didn't want it to go this way—"

"Don't."

"I mean it, I—"

"Don't...be afraid to lead them. Whether you wanted it or not, their lives are yours. It's only gonna get harder. Protect them, but lead them."

I looked at Faith despite the tears that's falling down my eyes. It just hurts to be left out by your own family and friends…

She nodded and hesitated for awhile until she opened the door and walked inside leaving me alone…in the dark feeling helpless…