Chapter 6
Buffy's POV
Oh God…Faith!
I ran as fast as I could knowing that Faith led the troops in the cellar again. I held on tight on the brand new weapon that I'm holding feeling it's power.
'I just hope this power is enough to end this…'
I stopped breathing heavily and gasped when I saw smokes come out of the cellar. A few girls getting out…but…there's no Faith. I grabbed a girl nearby holding another girl who is clearly injured. Faith was right…I should've learned their names.
"Are you alright? Where's Faith?"
She nodded.
"Kennedy and the others are looking for her down there."
I nodded and told them to help the other injured girls. They followed my orders without hesitation. Looks like I'm back to being a leader.
I quickly went inside amazed that the place was still standing what with the blast and all. I can't see a thing with the smoke and dust everywhere…but…it doesn't stop me from looking for Faith.
"Kennedy! Faith!"
"Over here!"
I turned towards Kennedy's voice. She and some other girl were carrying Faith while others were walking behind them. I quickly made my way towards them and felt tears form in my eyes as I saw Faith's injured state.
"I-Is she?"
"She's alive…barely…"
I nodded and glanced at my left as I saw something move. I gripped the weapon knowing what was heading towards us.
"You okay on carrying her?"
"Yeah…"
"Good…because there are things lurking around here. We're leaving…fast."
The girls seem alarmed at this and began to head out. I killed some swinging the weapon in my hand knowing that my first priority is to save everyone.
It took us a few minutes to get back in the house. I helped tend the wounds of others ignoring the thoughts in my head that I should go upstairs…to Faith.
'No…others are injured too…not just Faith…'
"You can check on her you know…I'm sure they'll understand…"
I frowned as I bandaged Kennedy's arm.
"I'm needed here…I don't want to focus on only just one person knowing that the others are injured too."
"So you're a leader first…then a woman in love second…"
I was struck by what she said that I stopped bandaging her arm. I don't want to be a leader first…
"Then go to her…"
I looked up at Kennedy and she gave me a small smile.
"I can take care of this…just go to her."
I nodded and took the first aid kit. Without a second thought, I quickly head upstairs.
'Is Willow giving Kennedy lesson in mind reading? Because if she is…I'm going to have to tell her to stop…'
Willow's POV
'Whew…finally everyone's patched up…'
"Ow! I cut my finger!"
Andrew screamed as he looked at his bleeding finger. He's looking at me like I'm going to give him the Willow-the-nurse treatment. I pushed the first aid kit to him.
'Yeah right'
I sat beside Kennedy who smiled at me.
"Not going to help him with his fatal wound?"
I shrugged.
"He'll live. Besides…I want some time with my girlfriend."
Her eyes lights up whenever I call her that. Well she is my girlfriend and I could help but smile at her with that thought.
"Hey Willow…how's Faith doing?"
Dawn asked and I turned to look at her.
"Still unconscious. Buffy's upstairs checking up on her. You should keep her company."
She snorted and I can't help but frown at what she said.
"Yeah right…and I'm sure Buffy will appreciate that."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well she's upstairs with Faith…"
I don't get it.
"Alone?"
Still don't get it.
"She's upstairs alone with Faith."
"So?"
She rolled her eyes and Kennedy smirked beside me. What is it? I don't get it. Was there a joke somewhere?
"You really are clueless aren't you?"
I hate to admit it…but I am. And I think Dawn is going to enlighten me as to what I'm clueless about. I just hope it's nothing bad…
Buffy's POV
"Faith…"
I sat at the edge of the bed looking at her face. There are a few bruises in her face which I know will fade in a few hours. She's still unconscious…and it scares me.
'I just hope she doesn't fall in to another coma…I can't take that.'
I had an urge to move closer to her, so I did. I caressed her cheek feeling its softness. I continue to stare at her face. Her eyes…I want to see them. See that soulful eyes of hers that she always tries to hide. I want to see them light up…just like when we danced at the Bronze. Tears suddenly began to form in my own eyes.
"Faith…please wake up…"
She whimpered and I eagerly waited for her eyes to open. It didn't. Instead, she began whimpering, tossing her head slightly, frowning.
'She's having a bad dream…'
Without thinking, I laid down beside her and pulled her towards me, holding her.
'I was so close in loosing her…again…'
I pulled her closer smelling her slight fragrance with a tinge of smoke in her hair. I tried to comfort her, assuring her that everything's ok just to make her stop whimpering. I kissed her forehead and brushed some tears that's falling from her eyes.
"Shhh…it's ok…I'm here…I'm not going to leave you…ever…"
"M-mom…"
She whispered softly and I can't help but remember my own mom. How she consoles me like this whenever I've had a bad dream…then she sings to me and I fall back to sleep feeling that I'm not alone.
I smirked.
"You'll regret this…"
I kissed her forehead again and caressed her cheek.
I wake up in the morning
Put on my face
The one that's gonna get me
Through another day
Doesn't really matter
How I feel inside
'Cause life is like a game sometimes
But then you came around me
The walls just disappeared
Nothing to surround me
And keep me from my fears
I'm unprotected
See how I've opened up
Oh, you've made me trust
Because I've never felt like this before
I'm naked
Around you
Does it show?
You see right through me
And I can't hide
I'm naked
Around you
And it feels so right
I'm so naked around you
And I can't hide
You're gonna see right through, baby
Somehow…she seems to have calmed down. Mom's method really works huh. I smiled and snuggled in her neck feeling the warmth of her body.
'So unlike Angel's and Spike's…and also Riley…'
I smiled and closed my eyes feeling my tired body taking over me. This is what it should be…
'I'm Faith's woman first…and a slayer second…'
Willow's POV
"See…I told you…"
Dawn whispered as I watched my bestfriend, snuggle with her former arch rival. I couldn't believe it.
I grabbed Dawn's hand and led her downstairs carefully not disturbing their moment.
"You so owe me!"
"Alright…but…how long have you…?"
"Known?"
I nodded curious at her answer. She grinned at me.
"Since the beginning…"
'Huh?'
Faith's POV
'Warm…'
"Faith?"
'Huh? Who's calling me? Still…warm…'
"Faith…are you awake?"
The warmth that I felt beside me suddenly fades making me mumble out in protest in order for it to stay. But I can't feel it anymore…
"Faith."
'It's…It's Buffy's voice…'
"B-Buffy?"
I slowly opened my eyes and wasn't surprised to see Buffy's smiling face as she looked down at me. Her eyes…it's shinning…is she crying?
"Faith…thank God…"
I looked around noticing I'm in her room.
'How did I get here? The last thing I remember…'
My eyes went wide as I remember everything. The cellar…the potentials…the responsibility…the bomb…
'Oh God…the explosion!'
I quickly sat up surprising B with my sudden movement. I couldn't help but groan. My whole body hurts…
"It's not surprising…you barely made it in that explosion…"
'Must've said that out loud…'
I gritted my teeth ignoring the pain.
"The girls…are they?"
Her face changed from happy to sadness in a few second. Then she gave me a small smile. Her eyes telling me it's alright…and I know that it's not…
"Most of them are injured…"
"And the rest…?"
I don't need to ask…It's written all over her face…
"Some died…"
Figures…the first time I lead them, they ended up hurt and dead. I am only a side kick after all…I'm not cut out to be head girl. Who am I kidding to think that I could lead a whole army of slayers wannabe.
"Hey it's ok…"
B said as she placed her hand on mine.
'Is it really?'
"I'm going to show you something…"
She squeezed my hand and just as I was about to squeeze back, she stood up and got something from the far side of the room. It's a red shiny weapon…looks kinda like an axe or something…
"Caleb was hiding this…so I took it. Looks like he's scared of it…"
She handed it to me and was surprised with the power that I felt.
"You feel it too, don't you?"
"Damn. And damn, that's something."
"I know."
"It's old. It's strong, and it feels like... like it's mine…"
I gripped the weapon and sighed, placing it beside me.
'Who am I kidding…it can never be mine…'
"I guess that means it's yours."
"It belongs to the slayer."
She said frowning.
"Slayer in charge, which, I'm guessing, is you."
She sits back on the edge of the bed and looked at the weapon and then back at me.
"I honestly don't know. Does it matter?"
"It never mattered to me. Somebody has to lead."
I sighed and couldn't help but grin at her.
"Let's vote for Chao-Ahn. It's harder to lead people into a deathtrap if you don't speak English."
She chuckled and smiled slightly.
"It wasn't your fault."
I sighed and looked away from her feeling a bit guilty with what happened.
"I'm really not looking for forgiveness."
"You're not?"
I shrugged.
"What do you want me to say? I blew it."
Again her hand found mine trying to comfort me with what I did. I guess I'm going to add another Faith-fucked-up-file in my head. Another reason to hate myself…great.
"You didn't blow it."
I looked up at her feeling the anger within me. I wasn't angry at her…I was angry at myself…and she knows it.
"Tell that to those girls who…"
"People die. You lead them into battle, they're gonna die. It doesn't matter how ready you are or how smart you are. War is about death. Needless, stupid death."
I sighed defeated knowing that at some point, she's right. Somehow…I understood what's it like to be her.
I looked at where our hands are feeling her caress the top of my hand with her finger. It somehow comforts me…like I'm not alone…like she's telling me that she's here with me.
I couldn't help but chuckle sadly.
"So, here's the laugh riot. My whole life I've been a loner."
She smiled.
"That's the funny part? Did I miss something?"
"I'm trying to—"
"Sorry. Sorry. Go."
"No ties, no buddies, no relationships...well, Robin kissed me and asked me out…Boy's got guts."
It's true…he did kissed me after the whole First visit and fucking my brain. I was surprised when first we were talking and then he suddenly kissed me and I let him. After that he asked me out which I was surprised. I guess he liked me. Who wouldn't! Oh…her…
I couldn't help looking at Buffy. She looked shocked. Her hand stopped caressing mine…and she stood up…pacing.
"Principal Wood? And you?"
I raised my eyebrow confused of her reaction. I can't seem to read her. She's somewhat, shocked…pissed like I stole something…and…is she jealous? Probably of me. Is she and Wood…?
"Don't tell me you two got wriggly."
She stopped pacing and now she looked kinda…sad. Was she expecting a relationship with Wood? Maybe I should back out of him…
"No. No. No, no. We're just good friends. Or mortal enemies, depending on which day of the…was that the funny part?"
'Now she sound tired. Damn B…I can't read you…'
"OK. The point. Me, by myself all the time. I'm looking at you, everything you have, and, I don't know, jealous. Then there I am. Everybody's looking to me, trusting me to lead them, and I've never felt so alone in my entire life."
"Yeah."
"And that's you every day, isn't it?"
Even with the whole body swap…I didn't understand what's it like to be Buffy. Maybe because I was so focused on ruining her life back then. But then again…that experience made me realize what's it like to be me. How lonely it is to be me. That somehow we're so alike and so different at the same time…I finally saw me. Faith Lehane…
"I love my friends. I'm very grateful for them. But that's the price. Being a slayer."
She looked down looking all sad and I wanted to somehow comfort her. But I can't…because…I'm nothing to her…
"There's only supposed to be one. Maybe that's why you and I can never get along. We're not supposed to exist together."
"Also, you went evil and were killing people."
She grinned and I nodded. There was no hate in her words…just acceptance.
"Good point. Also a factor."
"But you're right. I mean, I... I guess everyone's alone. But being a slayer? There's a burden we can't share."
"And no one else can feel it. Thank God we're hot chicks with superpowers."
"Takes the edge off."
"Comforting."
She nodded and I couldn't help but grin. My grin started to fade when our eyes locked. I'm trying to read her…but I just can't. So many things seem to be in her eyes. One emotion does stand out…determination.
She sat back at the edge of the bed not taking her eyes off me. I couldn't help but swallow feeling nervous in her intense gaze. Her voice soft when she started speaking…
"We can't share it to anybody…only the two of us can feel it."
Somehow…I don't think she's talking about being a slayer anymore. Both of her hands took mine and squeezed it.
"Do you feel it?"
I swallowed yet again listening to voices in my head. One was telling me to look away…the other telling me to give it a chance. Could I really? I feel so lost in her gaze. I can't look away…and I know neither can she. So I guess…that takes care of voice number 1.
I smiled slightly at her as I told her in full honesty the answer to her question.
"It's all I ever feel…I tried to stop it…but I just can't…"
She gave me her beautiful smile. Her eyes shinning. Did I do that?
"I want to share it to you…only to you…"
Again I feel lost in her eyes. I can see her pain…her suffering…her joy…her sadness…and a lot more in her eyes. Tears are forming in her eyes…and from the way she's holding my hand I can tell she's trying not to cry as she waits for my reply…
AN: Look! A cliffy!