A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews! I'm glad people are reading this, and even happier that some actually like it! Here's the next part; enjoy!
PART TWO: Lose my way
Chapter 4:
The device fitted snugly on her hand, like a glove almost, and she felt a thrill everytime she clenched her hand in her pocket. Who would think the fate of her world (really, hers is the only one that matters right now) rested in her jeans?
After locating her stash and pocketing the device and money, Faith had taken a last look at the site of her destruction, and left it behind without hesitation. She bought enough food to feed a small army, or a recently-awoke-from-a-coma-Slayer, and then went on the prowl. After dusting a few vamps to get in the groove, she made her way to Giles' condo. She'd thought briefly of going to Buffy's house first, but then dismissed the idea. She blamed the strange twist in her belly on eating too fast, and that was that.
Good thing too, since the whole gang seemed to be congregated at the Watcher's place anyway. She stared at them through a gap in one of the window curtains, and if she could have seen her reflection, the naked longing on her face would have made her run away.
There was the staid Watcher, carrying a tray of tea (probably), and Buffy looking on, bemused. She shared a look with Willow and Xander, before turning to a guy next to her on the couch, shaking her head at something Faith couldn't hear. She could feel her rage bubbling to the surface, and the rogue Slayer welcomed it. Far more useful to her than the strange melancholy and longing of earlier, she decided.
The rage gained strength as the girl looking on noticed other things: There were two other people she didn't know in attendance. Not vampires, she thought; she has perfected the art of telling the difference now. So who were they? And as she continued her sient scrutiny, another revelation: Buffy was now kissing the guy next to her. What? What the hell?
Faith remembered all too well what had been the final straw that had led her and Buffy to their battle. Angel had needed a Slayer's blood to survive Faith's assassination attempt, and since Buffy had not fed her to the Souled Vampire, did that mean he was dead? And if that was true, why was she suddenly feeling ... shame? She had wanted Angel gone, and Buffy to be devastated, broken and alone like Faith had always been, hadn't she? If her plans had worked, if she had finally gotten something she wanted, why wasn't she happier about it? What had this coma done to her?
The phone rang inside the condo, and Giles left to answer it. Faith didn't wait to see the rest, her confused thoughts and emotions requiring all her attention. Maybe this wasn't real, she reasoned, unconsciously making her way to Revello Drive. Maybe this was like the time VampWillow jumped into their reality, and somehow she was stuck in the middle. Or maybe she wasn't awake at all, and this was yet another way for Fate to screw with her, and her body was still rotting slowly in some dank hospital room.
Maybe Faith was finally really crazy.
The thought made her laugh out loud.
And then she was knocking on the Summers' front door.
Chapter 5:
The phone call seemed to freeze everyone, except Riley.
"Who's Faith?" he asked, taking in Buffy's concerned look, and Giles' furrowed brow.
It was Xander who answered. "Nobody important."
The tension continues until Willow takes Tara's hand, and stands up.
"Maybe we should go," she gestured, nervously biting her bottom lip. Tara nods her head, sensing the apprehension in her red-haired friend.
Buffy nods absently, then seems to snap out of her stupor tostare intensely at the awkward pair.
"I don't think that's a good idea," she says. "Maybe we should stay together?" she asks, looking around at the others.
"We don't know where she is. I mean, she could be waiting to pounce right outside or something."
Giles looks unconvinced.
"We don't wanna risk me bein' right by having people showing up dead, do we?" she asks him.
So it's decided that Riley will walk Willow and Tara back to the other girl's dorm, since Faith doesn't know her, and Buffy will walk Xander and Anya home, then go by the hospital to look for any clues to the rogue's whereabouts.
Giles will lock all windows and doors, and keep his trusty tranq gun close.
No one mentions the house on Revello drive.
Chapter 6:
Faith always wanted a mother like Joyce. The punch she greets the elder Summers with, does not reflect this acurately, but Faith doesn't really care. She carries the limp body upstairs, chuckling at her weakness. Just like Giles, she thinks, and has a mini epiphany. It's age that's important in the battle between good and evil, because that indicates strength. No wonder Slayers die so young.
She sees the pile of letters on Joyce's desk, and sighs softly. At least this isn't a set-up; the blonde Slayer isn't gonna jump out from behind the door to finish what she started that night. Buffy clearly hasn't been home in a while. Faith sneers at the thought that she was probably too busy getting it on with her new boy-toy to pay mommy a visit, which is really so perfect for Faith, isn't it?
When she realizes suddenly that Joyce is awake, she wonders briefly if she spoke aloud.
"Faith?" Her confusion is genuine. A hans comes up to cradle her face. "Did you hit me?" she asks next, incredulous. Faith shrugs in apology, then scowls at her own reflection in the dressingtable mirror. Sorry? She's not sorry. She doesn't care, remember?
"Are you allright?" Joyce interrupts Faith's internal scolding, making her look at the other woman in amusement.
"Oh, I'm just peachy" she says sarcastically. "How are you?" the brunette enquires in the same tone.
Joyce looks like she wants to argue that there's no need for Faith's sarcasm, but really, that is not a wise choice of action, and so she merely shakes her head. Faith laid her on the bed, and now she scoots to sit with her back against the headboard. Her eyes take in Faith's appearance, and then darts across her room as though seeking escape. Faith's sees this, and shakes her head.
"You're stuck with me now, Mrs. S" she says sweetly, turning back to examine herself in the mirror.
"Buffy won't be coming to your rescue tonight. It's gonna be just us girls" she continues, turning back to the bed, and sitting down on the edge. She is facing the older woman, who looks torn between bravado and annoyance, but not too scared. Yet.
"However shall we pass the time?"
Chapter 7:
Buffy doesn't find anything at the hospital, except proof that Faith's 'rest period' hasn't mellowed her out at all. She attacked some poor woman who had gotten lost, and took her clothes. According to the nurse who had found the crying girl, and then confirmed that her patient was indeed gone, Faith shouldn't have been able to get out of bed, let alone harrassing defenseless women. She obviously also believed in gangs on PCP, random animal attacks, and that an entire town could hallucinate at once.
Not knowing what else to do, she thinks of checking Angel's Mansion, or even the burned down highschool, before dismissing both options for Faith's former abode.
The apartment seems to still echo with their fight, and Buffy shivers in remembrance of that night. Faith had goaded her until she had reacted exactly how she wanted her too, lashing out in anger and pain, and yes, she had felt good. Finally a worthy opponent, no holding back, no need to pretend to be human, normal.
But after, when Faith's blood had dried on her hands, and Faith's parting words registered, she had been horrified.
"You did it, B. You killed me. Always knew you had it in ya."
Her body, in the hospital, so pale hooked up to machines to fix what Buffy's not human, never normal hands had so carelessly broken; and nevermind that she had poisoned Angel and threatened her friends and family; nevermind that she had worked for the Mayor to end the world; nevermind that a man was dead because he had a conscience and Faith had too much adrenaline.
The only one who could understand her life. And Buffy had wanted to end hers.
She is surprised by the wetness suddenly coating her cheeks. And it is as she's leaving that she notices another pair of tracks in the dust.
Maybe ... this didn't have to be where it all ended.