Risen
Chapter 12...
"Let's do this." I say just as the sun disappears on the horizon. It's dark enough out that Ivy's gonna be able to walk around outside without worryin' about burstin' into flames.
"It's about time." Dawn says. She and the others all walk outside with me and we start down the street. The thing about Soulkeeper demons is that they have such a strong presence about them that Slayers can pinpoint their exact location easily if we're close enough. And we're very close. B, S and I can all sense it. We're exactly five hundred yards south of it. Five hundred yards ain't much. That's only five football fields' length.
But it sure as hell seems longer than that when you've got an army of Watchers around ya.
"Fuck!" I shout, pushin' everyone back into the motel room just as the Watchers on the rooftops open fire. We barely manage to get back into the motel room and close and lock the door without anyone gettin' killed.
Bullets punch through the door and walls of the front wall of the room.
I catch my breath, lettin' the adrenaline fade, and then I notice a look in Buffy and Ivy's eyes that I don't like.
"What are you guys starin' at?" I growl.
"Faith." Dawn says, pointin' at my shirt.
I look down and see blood pourin' out of a hole in my side, drenchin' my shirt, stainin' it red.
"Fuck..." I mutter as the pain starts comin' to the front of my mind, and I hit the ground, barely conscious.
"Stay away from her!" I hear Dawn scream at the two vamps, and I can feel her usin' some kinda magic that scares Ivy off, but Buffy keeps coming.
"Get out of my way, Dawn! She needs me!" Buffy screams, pushin' past Dawn and fallin' to the ground at my side. "Faith, hang in there!"
Her voice is the last thing I hear before the darkness takes me.
...
"-ckily, it passed right through her. It was a clean exit, so I didn't have to dig the bullet out." Someone's sayin' when I finally come back to consciousness. "It didn't hit any major organs, so she'll live. She's in pretty bad shape right now, so I don't think we should let her do anything strenuous for a while, but she'll be fine."
"Hurts like hell, though." I complain.
"Faith?" I hear Buffy ask. I open my eyes and see her sittin' near me, lookin' at me, worried.
"Yeah, it's me." I say, and her eyes harden as the worry fades.
"Good. Dawn says you'll live. Good. 'Cause if the Watchers are willing to start a shootout in the middle of a town with civilians in it, then I'm definitely going to need a bodyguard."
"Damn, B. Ya worried about me?"
"No!" she snaps.
I smirk. "Yeah. Okay. Whatever ya say, B."
"I wasn't! Just don't like seeing blood and not being able to drink it."
I roll my eyes and sit up, groaning.
"Careful, Faith." Dawn says, helpin' me support myself as I slowly get to my feet.
"Damn. Got me good, huh?"
"Yeah. Just lucky it wasn't an inch in any direction. It might have hit something a lot worse than straight up muscle and flesh."
"Yeah. Well, anyone got any ideas on how the hell to get outta here?"
No one says anythin'. "Damn. Come on, do I gotta do everythin' myself?"
"Actually... we've already examined every scenario." Satsu explains, and I turn my attention to her. "This room is surrounded. Only Dawn's shield spell is stopping them from bursting into this room and shooting us all. That, and the general cowardice of the Watchers. They don't want to risk close combat with a couple of Slayers and a Slaypire. But they have long range weapons, and they know how to use them. If any of us try to go outside, we're dead. Well... not Buffy. The Gem of Amarra will protect her. But then again, they might just shoot and destroy the gem, and Buffy'll burn up in the sunlight. There's no way for us to all get to where we need to go. Not with Watchers surrounding us. There's only one thing we can do, Faith."
"No!" I say, knowin' full well what she's suggestin'. B knows, too.
"No!" She agrees. "We can't do that! They'll just kill us!"
"It's the only way." Satsu says quietly.
I turn around, cursin'.
"Fine. What do we do?"
...
"Fine. I'll do it. This was all my stupid idea, anyway. Give me that bed sheet." I say, pointin' to the bed. Dawn hands me the sheet, and I hold it above my head as I step outside. I'm blinded by the sunlight outside. I must've been out a while.
The Watchers on the roof must've seen my makeshift flag of peace, 'cause I don't get shot down immediately.
"Who's in charge here?!" I shout up to them, and a Watcher walks out of the building across the street from us.
"I am."
Holy fuck. "Wesley?!"
(Insert Buffy theme song here.)
"Hello, Faith." He says, not meetin' my eyes. He takes his glasses off and cleans them with a rag from his pocket.
"I need to talk to ya, then." I growl.
He nods and motions for me to follow him.
"What is this about?" Wesley asks when we're alone.
I sigh. Guess I'm negotiatin' with him, then.
"Look, could we make this a private meetin', please?" I ask. He nods and turns off his walkie-talkie, and removes his earpiece. "Okay, all we need is a cell phone and some medical supplies."
"Medical?" He asks, narrowin' his eyes.
I nod and lift my shirt up enough to show him the makeshift bandage around my abdomen, coverin' the bullet hole.
"I see. And what makes you think we'll agree to give you this cell phone and medikit?"
"Um... I don't know... Call it a favor."
"I'm sorry, Faith. I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Please, Wes. Help us out, will ya? We're your friends. I'll even look past the whole votin' against us thing." I plead with him. "This fuckin' gunshot wound hurts like a mother! I at least need somethin' for the pain."
"Will you agree to surrender if we give you the phone and medical supplies?"
I hesitate and slump in a chair in front of him. I close my eyes and take a deep, shudderin' breath.
"Yes. I'll surrender. I'll come back with you guys." I choke up as I speak. "I'll... I'll stand trial for treason..." His surprize is evident, but he nods and hands me his cell phone and a first aid kit. "Ya need to let me go back to them real quick, though." I say, and he narrows his eyes.
"Why on Earth would I let you do that?"
"Look, Wes, no way we're gonna make it past you, right? I mean, we're in a tiny-ass motel room with one window and one door, and we've got an army of Watchers surroundin' us with assault rifles and snipers on the rooftops. I said I'm gonna surrender to ya, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do. I know how this is gonna end. Either way, I'm gonna die. I surrender, I die, I fight, I die. And the way things are right now, if I tried to fight, I'd go down before I could even touch one Watcher. So I wouldn't exactly take three of you guys out with me, like I've always said I would. I always said I'd take out three of my enemies with me when I died. But that's not gonna happen either way now. I may be crazy when it comes to fightin', but I'm not stupid. I don't stand a chance. None of us do. But I'd rather go out doin' the right thing than just gettin' shot in the head 'cause I was too proud, too stupid to see that I don't stand a chance. If I turn myself in, then I'll at least get to choose my mode of execution. And I choose death by vampires. I'll just take a stake with me, and take out as many of those creature of the night sons of bitches as possible before I die. That's how I always wanted to go out, anyway."
"Faith, don't play games with me. I know you better than you think."
"I don't doubt that. Look, all I wanna do is say goodbye, okay?"
"Goodbye? Why would you need to say goodbye? You're all going to the same place."
"No, we're not."
"But you said..."
"I said I'd surrender. Didn't say anythin' about B and Dawn and the others. That's up to them. But if I know them, and I'm willin' to bet I do, they're not gonna surrender. See, they're all more stubborn than I am. They won't accept that we've lost." I smirk. "Fact, if I know them, they're probably taking out the Watchers on the rooftops right now."
Wesley looks alarmed. He quickly grabs his walkie-talkie and turns it back on. Instantly, screams can be heard on the other end of the line as B and the others follow through with the plan.
... Flashback ...
I turn around, cursin'.
"Fine. What do we do?"
"We'll need a distraction, something to draw the Watcher's attention away from the motel room so we can climb out the window." Satsu says. "It need to be something big, and very noticeable. Faith, since you're wounded, it should probably be you that's the distraction, especially since you're pretty much the one in charge of this entire mission."
"Right. Got an idea of what the distraction could be, anyway." I agree.
"Good. Then, when you're distracting the Watchers, we'll climb out the window and keep to the shade so Ivy doesn't burst into flames, as well as to keep ourselves hidden. Now, we'll probably need to draw blood."
"Don't mind sheddin' Watcher blood." I say, and Satsu nods in agreement.
"Right. That's good, because we're probably going to be shedding a lot of it. Dawn did a quick birds-eye-view spell a little bit ago, and there are a total of three snipers on the rooftops, on three different buildings. We'll need to take them by surprise. It'll need to be me, Dawn, and Oz taking the snipers out."
... Present ...
Satsu creeps up behind the sniper to the south of the motel. He, like the other Watchers, is completely oblivious to the fact that the motel room is empty. Satsu pulls a small mirror out of her pocket and holds it at an angle, catching the rays of sunlight, and sending up the signal to Oz and Dawn that she's in position. She sees Dawn and Oz's signal, too, and they all simultaneously sneak up behind their respective targets and knock them out with rocks to the heads. They then reflect the rays of sunlight towards the ground, signalling Buffy and Ivy.
... Flashback ...
"Why you, D, and Oz?" I ask Satsu.
"Because bullets can kill us. They can't kill Ivy and Buffy. We'll be sneaking up on the snipers, taking them by surprise, so we'll be at a decreased risk. Ivy and Buffy can't be killed by bullets, so they'll need to stick to the shadows and make their way across the street to one of the buildings with Watchers. Chances are, they'll be spotted, and the Watchers will open fire. The bullets can't kill them, so they'll do whatever it takes to take the Watchers out."
... Present ...
Ivy and Buffy burst into the room, and just as Satsu predicted, the Watchers opened fire. How stupid of them to not have a single wooden stake nearby. Or holy water. They had crucifixes, but neither vampire was concerned about those, because while crucifixes hurt to touch, they wouldn't kill them unless exposed to them for very long periods of time. Buffy wouldn't be killed by them at all, thanks to the Gem of Amarra.
Buffy and Ivy are riddled with bullets, but they charge, tearing into the Watchers like demons. Technically, they are demons, but still. The Watchers scream as the vampires tear into each of their throats, not bothering to drink, just killing. Soon, the last Watcher falls, and Buffy holds her arm out the window in the sunlight, signaling Satsu, who is watching for that with her Slayer sight. Satsu, in turn, signals Dawn and Oz with the mirrors.
... Flashback ...
"Okay, so that takes care of the snipers and one squad of Watchers, but how many squads are there total?" I ask.
"Five total." Satsu explains. "And that brings us to stage three. By then, we actually need the Watchers to figure out what's going on."
"Why?"
"Because, after Buffy and Ivy kill the Watchers, they're going to set up a little surprise for the other Watchers just outside that building. While you're serving as a distraction, Faith, you'll need to keep the leader away from the radio, prevent him from knowing what's going on. Watchers won't make a move without their leader's command. So, keep him occupied for about ten to fifteen minutes so we can get everything set up, then make sure he gets on the radio, and figures out exactly which squad was killed, and have all of the other Watchers try to ambush us in that building. When the other squads of Watchers get to that building, Buffy and Ivy are going to already be back at the motel, and it'll be too late for the Watchers to stop us." Satsu smiles victoriously.
... Present ...
"Bloody hell!" Wesley curses, and I sit back in the chair, relaxin'. Suddenly, the screams die out, and I know the last Watcher will have fallen. "Mr. Barron! Which squad was that?!" Wesley shouts into the radio.
"Mr. Price! I do believe that was squad six!"
"Then have all other squads converge on squad six's position! Destroy the Gem of Amarra and kill the Slaypire! Kill the others as well!"
"And Lehane?"
Wesley curses. "She is of no consequence at the present. Take the others out."
"Yes sir!"
Like takin' candy from a baby. I think to myself as I grin. Seems it went off without a hitch.
...
Satsu, Dawn, Oz, Buffy, and Ivy all get back to the motel and keep an eye on the building across the alley from them. They see no less than twenty Watchers slowly proceed inside, and Buffy and Ivy grin, baring their fangs as they look to Satsu for her signal. Both vampires hold in their hands detonators. The thing is, these Watchers had planned on blowing up the building with everyone inside. An explosion works on humans and vampires alike, and while the explosion couldn't kill Buffy when she's wearing the Gem of Amarra, it would disorient her enough for them to get in, remove the Gem of Amarra and kill her before she could recover. But they wouldn't get a chance to test that theory, as Buffy and Ivy had utilized the explosives themselves
"Now." Satsu says as the last Watcher enters the building. Not all of them would be killed by the explosion, but being crushed under several tons of rock would kill them dead, anyway.
... Flashback ...
"Okay, and what about me?" I ask.
That's where Satsu falls silent.
"S? What about me?" I ask again. Buffy and everyone else looks over at her in concern.
"That's the one thing that I don't think we'll be able to do."
"What do you mean?"
"Get you out. I don't think we'll be able to do. Especially when you're injured." I start to protest, but she keeps going. "When that explosion happens, it's going to call any reinforcements the Watchers have within five miles, and they'll be here in about five minutes. That would either be enough time to go back in and get you... Or push on and lose the Watchers long enough to accomplish the mission."
I fall silent.
"That means we need to make a choice. No... you need to make a choice, Faith. What's more important? Getting you out... or finally accomplishing what we're here to accomplish? What you came here to accomplish?"
I slump against the wall, and Buffy snorts.
"Please. Like that's gonna happen." She says, and everyone turns their heads to her. "Obviously we're going to go back for her. I mean, we're all any of us has left, much as I hate it. Separate, none of us will survive long against the Watchers. I may not care much about humanity or anything, but I do care about myself, and myself isn't going to last long without help. Not against all of the Watchers. If it were twenty or less Watchers, I'd say sayonara to the lot of you. But we're talking hundreds of thousands of Watchers all around the world. So again, we're all gonna need each other."
"That's real inspirin', B." I say, gettin' everyone's attention. "But you're forgettin' somethin'. This is my decision. It's my decision whether or not to ave you guys leave me behind. And I say that's exactly what you guys are gonna do. Like S says, either you guys can get me out, or go for the Soulkeeper, but not both, especially with me in the condition I am. Yeah, it's not bad, but I'll still slow you guys down. Even if we say screw the Soulkeeper, I'll slow you guys down, and they'll catch up with us within days, and kill us all anyway. So here's what you're gonna do. You're gonna do this little plan Satsu set up, then you're gonna make a break for the Soulkeeper. Ivy and Buffy are gonna get their souls back, then you're all gonna run. You're gonna run like hell, and you're not gonna look back. You're gonna spread the word about the comin' war. You're gonna rally the forces of the Slayers, recruit as many as possible, and you're gonna beat the Watchers.
"You're gonna set things right, and say to hell with the Watchers. Do away with every one of them that doesn't join your side. The ones that do, let them act solely as advisors, or some shit like that. You're gonna make sure that shit like this doesn't happen again, okay?" Everyone but Ivy has tears in their eyes. I'm stunned to see that even Buffy is in tears.
"Faith, no. You... You can't do that. You can't do that to me!" She cries, then collapses beside me. Everyone is silent in shock at the way Buffy's sobbin' into my chest right now. "I'm scared, Faith, please!" She sobs, and I find my arms wrappin' around her outta instinct.
"What are you scared of?" I ask. "You're invincible right now."
"I'm scared...! I'm scared... that I'm going to lose... to lose myself!"
"What?"
Buffy tilts her head up to look me in the eye. "I'm scared that I'm going to lose myself, Faith. If I get my soul back. I've done things that I know I'll have nightmares about once I have my soul back. I've taken human lives, lots of them. But more importantly, I'm... I'm scared I'm going to lose you."
That revelation takes us all by surprise. "What?" I ask again.
"I'm scared I'm going to lose you. I'm scared that if we leave you behind, I'm never going to see you again. I... I love you, Faith."
I blink away the tears in my eyes. "Stop it, B. Stop lyin'."
"I'm not, Faith. I love you. I never stopped loving you, even after I got bitten. Even after I rose from my grave. I couldn't handle it at first, that's why I really wanted to kill you. I wanted to kill you because I was freaking out. I was a new vampire, something I'd hated for years, and yet, I was still in love with you. I wigged, and I hated you because you were a reminder of what I'd lost, because I still loved you. And I still do. I love you, Faith. I can't lose you."
"Just shut up, okay? Stop lyin' to me. It's not right, this has to be some sorta joke."
Then, Buffy does something I never would have expected from her, even when she was alive, but especially as a vampire. She makes the first move.
She crashes her lips against mine in a passionate kiss that feels exactly how I'd imagined my first kiss with Buffy to have been like when she was alive, only much better. I can feel everything I feel for Buffy reflected by her lips, and the rest of the world, Dawn, Oz, Satsu, Ivy, the Watchers outside, the danger all around us, the hell we're about to raise, it all just melts away, leaving only the two of us. We're surrounded by darkness, yet I've never felt happier. I've spent the last few years staying away from the darkness, keeping to the light, trying hard not to become that monster I used to be, the monster that shut herself down after killing the Deputy Mayor of Sunnydale, the monster that willingly, and even took joy in killing an innocent scientist that had no idea what I was working for. I know I can't avoid the darkness anymore, because I know that's where my future lies. If I'm going to survive, if any of us are going to survive, I'm going to have to embrace the darkness again.
And yet, I'm okay with that. I'm actually glad. I can find peace in that knowledge, because I know Buffy's going to be there with me. We'll be together, side by side. God help anyone who tries to stand in the way of that future.
I find myself kissing her back, and I can feel her fangs on my tongue. The feeling sends shivers down my spine. I love it. I love her. Finally, she pulls back, smiling, tears welling up in her eyes, and I'm outta breath. I pull her back down, though, and we kiss again, even more passionately than before, and when we separate, I know I could definitely get used to this feeling of breathlessness. Hell, I love the feeling. I don't think I can ever get enough of it.
"So what do we do, Faith?" Satsu asks.
I turn to the rest of the group and see determination and loyalty in each of their eyes, 'cept of course, Ivy. Loyalty to me. If I asked them to, every one of them would take a gun and put a bullet in their own brain, and not because I've enslaved them, but of their own free will. That kinda loyalty is rare, and I can see it in every one of them. None of them will question me, or each other. We're more than a team. We're more than friends. We're a family.
"What do we do?" Satsu asks again.
... Present ...
A loud explosion rocks the town outside, and I smile, knowin' we've won. Wesley looks at me, alarmed.
"What's the matter, Wes?" I ask, smirkin'.
"What have you done?" He whispers.
"Not sure, but I think we just killed the rest of your Watchers. You're alone, Wes. It's just you."
"And I suppose you're going to just walk out that door now?"
"Nope."
"Then your friends are going to come to your rescue?"
My smile grows slightly, though it's more a smile of sadness. Of irony.
I love you, B. I'm sorry it had to be this way. I think to myself.
... Flashback ...
"What do we do?" Satsu asks again, and I look back to Buffy. Her grin fades, and the tears of grief and anger come back when she sees the apology in my eyes.
"Run for it." I say. "This changes everythin', but it changes nothin' at the same time. I'll still only slow you down. I'll leave it up to you guys whether you go for the Soulkeeper or not. But leave me."
... Present ...
"Then your friends are going to come to your rescue?"
"No." I say. "Looks like I'm comin' back with you, Wes."