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Chapter 3: Chapter 3

LA Prison

Prison was neat and clean but something inside it makes you feel depressed and sad, maybe because it's lifeless, hopeless or freedom less, Buffy didn't give it much thought, she waited with Giles and her mom outside the infirmary while Angel went to see Faith first. She was rewinding every single moment spent it with Faith, thinking how things ended this way, the only explanation they had was Faith is evil she is unstable but no one ask why? What happened to her? Why did she turn to be evil? one minute they were laughing and fighting side by side and the other she's evil and in the other side? How is that possible? Time was passing very slowly, until Angel came out of the room.

"I didn't tell her that you all are here, I think its better that she don't know about Buffy being here" Angel didn't look her in the eyes; he was looking in the floor.

"I think that too, can I see her now" Joyce said with expectant

"Sure, but Joyce please take it easy with her and we will go to see the doctor"

Inside Faith's room

Joyce opened the door and stand there for a minute; she didn't see the 'Five by Five' girl or the leather girl, what she saw is a small young girl lying in bed, looking helpless and defeated. She sat in the bed beside her and did the only thing any mother can do, she took her little helpless baby in her arms.

Faith didn't fight; she just puts her head in Joyce chest and cried, tears were rolling from her eyes without any sound, she didn't cry when she was raped, she didn't cry when she felt naked and broken, she's a tough girl, she's used to this feelings 'pain, hate, ciaos'; what she didn't know is how to react for love and comfort, she didn't know how to ask for help, she didn't know why she consider it weakness, she was betrayed by all the adults in her life, but she always felt something for Joyce, she always wanted to go to Buffy's just to set with them, just to feel family, yes family.

"Mrs. Summers" Faith said without raising her head

"Yes Faith"

"What's goanna happen to me now" she paused" I know I will go for abortion but do you think that it will hurt, I mean the doctor said something about not giving me any drugs"

Joyce described the operation to her but without a lot of details; she didn't want to scare her before she enter.

"Mrs. Summers" Pause "Why are you here, I mean why are you helping me after all I did?"

"I'm here for you Faith" Joyce said calmly

Faith responded with more tears, she tightened her grips around Joyce and started to sob, Joyce held her until the nurse came to took her to the operation and Joyce went with her.

Outside the operation room

They all stand there waiting for Faith and Joyce to get out the room; they could hear Faith cursing and shouting or throwing things away. Although it's a painful situation, they couldn't shut there laughs when they could hear one of the nurses screaming at Faith to stop biting her hand but they fell in silence when Faith's voice faded away, they knew it was the end.

Buffy Angel and Giles return to the hotel after finishing all the papers while Joyce insisted to stay with Faith until they come back in the morning.

Faith's room

She wake early to find Joyce sleeping on the chair behind her holding her hand, this sight brought tears to her eyes she didn't understand why the hell did she do that for, why did she lose a friend, no, not only a friend she was the only friend, what was the price. She knew that Buffy's forgiveness is very far, she didn't even come once to visit her, but she didn't blame her for anything because she knows the truth well, she know that if Buffy didn't stab her she would do it, she wanted to hurt Buffy and she had her reasons.

Joyce stirs and opened her eyes, Faith tried to whip the tears fast but she knew that Joyce saw them; she smiled at her and Faith return the smile.

"Thanks Mrs. Summers" pause "and mm..I...I'm sorry for yesterday, you know for the cursing" she said the last part with an apologizing smile.

"Don't worry honey, I know it was hard, Angel and the others will be here after 2 hours" Joyce said smiling and trying to act casual.

"The others?" Faith asked with expectant.

"Yes Giles and Buffy are coming"

"Buffy? B is here?" Faith said with wonder

"Yes, she came with us, she was worried about you" Joyce smiled and touch her hand to reassure the younger slayer "Faith, do you...do you want to talk about anything before they come?" Joyce asked her.

"Things like what?" Faith knew exactly what Joyce wanted to talk about.

"Anything, like what happened to you or how you feel now?"

"Well, I'm Five by Five Mrs. Summers" Faith regretted saying those words, she wanted to be honest, she wanted a new start, she didn't want to play this twisted games again, so she decided to rephrase the sentence again "I mean...I'm not really Five by Five but, I don't wanna talk, s' this ok?"

"Of course its ok, but I want you to know that I'm here if you needed anything, all you have to do is ask, just ask Faith" Joyce felt some hope, she felt that the girl was changing.

"Sure, thanks Mrs. Summers, and I'm...I'm really sorry about all that I did before" She locked eyes with Joyce at the end; she wanted her to know that she was sincere; she ain't lying or bluffing any more.

Buffy, Angel and Giles came later, there was no conversation between Buffy and Faith, they just exchange greetings and they went to Angel hotel after finishing all paper work and releasing Faith.