Destructive

"Okay, tell me what happened," Buffy said as she shut the door behind them. Faith strode right past her into the kitchen where she grabbed the milk and started to gulp it down out of the carton. Buffy shook her head in disgust.

"What's to tell? She wanted to know more about the slayer stuff and we met up and one thing led to another. The next thing I knew, I was spent and lying next to her," Faith said matter-of-factly. She pushed down any emotions she felt that night and put back up her defences. It was easier that way. Buffy glowered, now getting very angry with her sister slayer.

"Faith, you can't just use people like that! I think Bree really feels something for you and you act like you don't even care!"

"I'm sorry but I really don't care, B. We had a great time, we both settled our desires for each other and now I'm ready to move on. It's not my problem if Bree can't," Faith bit back confidently, although inside she felt slightly sick. Buffy stared at Faith in shock. She couldn't believe Faith had turned back into the heartless shell of a person she was 5 years ago. She also couldn't understand why she felt a nagging stab of jealousy tear through her when she thought of Faith being with someone else. It wasn't like she had feelings for her or anything. Surely not? Buffy decided she was going to have to have a good think after this was over. She quickly brought herself back to the present. Faith was looking at her strangely, as if she was trying to figure out what she was thinking. Buffy's face hardened again.

"I will never understand you Faith. One minute you're repenting for your sins and the next it's like you never committed them in the first place. You've obviously proven that nobody means anything to you, especially not Bree who actually tried to be there for you. I mean, she tried to get through to you and help you. To be your friend. But no, you found every way to hurt her and I have no idea why but she still loves you! Well screw you Faith! I've...I-I mean s-she's given up on you! Finally!" Buffy was shouting by the end, tears in her eyes. Somehow, Faith got the feeling Buffy wasn't talking about Bree. Buffy gave Faith one more helpless and weary look before turning round and leaving the house, slamming the door on her way out. Faith was too dumbstruck to do anything but stand there staring after her.

Lynette frowned, confusion etched into her face. She had just witnessed from her window, Faith leaving Bree's house. By the looks of things, it seemed she had spent the night. Lynette concluded that there must be some acceptable explanation that didn't involve...well she was going to find out either way. Lynette marched over to Bree's house and rang the doorbell. It was opened very quickly, a hopeful looking Bree standing on the other side. Lynette noticed the hope in her eyes die for a second before she smiled one of her practiced smiles.

"Lynette! What can I do for you?" she asked brightly. Lynette looked at her suspiciously.

"Why did Faith just leave your house? It's only..." she quickly checked her watch. "...8:30 in the morning."

Bree's smile fell and she looked at Lynette carefully for a few seconds as if deciding what to say.

"I think you'd better come in," Bree said wearily. Lynette stepped over the threshold and sat down on one of Bree's couches. Bree sat down beside her and they both turned to face one another. Bree sighed in defeat. She could've invented some impressive lie to protect her reputation but she somehow couldn't find the energy. Besides, she knew that, out of all of her friends, Lynette was probably the most trustworthy. Taking a deep breath, Bree told Lynette everything (minus the slayer and vampire parts of course). When she was finished, Bree felt a huge sense of relief and a weight seemed to have lifted off her shoulders. Lynette stared at her, her mouth slowly opening and closing as if she couldn't quite find the right words to say.

"Bree...wow that's a lot to take in!" she finally managed to say. Bree nodded in understanding. She would have been equally shocked if their roles were reversed.

"So do you...love her?" Lynette said gently, worried for her friend. Bree sighed. She had previously thought that sex would make her growing feelings for Faith disappear but quite the opposite seemed to have happened.

"Yes, I think I do," she answered softly. Lynette smiled a small smile.

"Well it looks like our Bree is really growing up," she said. "I mean, just a few weeks ago and you thought that loving someone the same sex as you meant that you were doomed to hell. Now look at you," she grinned, giving her friend a big hug. Bree returned the hug, smiling, although part of her still believed this and was making her stomach churn. When they were face to face again, Bree asked the question that was nagging in the back of her mind.

"What do you think, Lynette?" she held her breath waiting for an answer.

"What do I think about what?" Lynette inquired.

"Do you think I'm doomed to rot away in hell for my feelings and actions?" Bree asked, panic starting to enter her voice slightly. Lynette only smiled affectionately at her.

"No. To be completely honest with you, I think it's the biggest load of crap that's ever come outta your mouth. You can't help who you fall in love with and, besides, God wouldn't have made it possible for you to feel those things if he was planning on putting you in hell for them."

Bree relaxed. She could easily have argued against all of Lynette's points but, for now, she just felt relieved to know that her best friend was behind her. They talked for a while longer before Lynette had to get back to her kids. Bree swore Lynette to secrecy as, even though she accepted what she was feeling for Faith, she wasn't ready for the whole of Wisteria Lane to know. As she shut the door and returned back inside her house, Bree couldn't help but be concerned about what Faith was thinking or feeling. She really needed to have a serious talk with her.

The day soon turned into night and Bree still had no word from Faith. In fact, it was bothering her so much that she couldn't sleep that night. At 12:30, when she knew the slayers would most likely have finished patrol, she phoned their home. It was answered after the first few rings.

"Hello?"

Bree's stomach tightened with disappointment when she heard Buffy's voice on the other end.

"Hello Buffy. I was just wondering...is Faith by any chance around at all?"

Buffy's voice became colder when she heard it was Bree.

"No I'm sorry she's not around at the moment," she said bitterly. Bree sighed.

"Oh okay it's just...I really need to talk to her. You wouldn't happen to know where she might be would you?"

Buffy's voice softened as she heard Bree's obvious distress.

"Um yeah, she went out after patrol. There's this club she likes so I'd say she went there. Look, Bree..."

Buffy was finding it really hard to find the right words. She really felt sorry now for the poor woman who obviously was falling for Faith. Hell, she could empathise.

"...I don't think you can really expect much from Faith now. The people she sleeps with...well let's just say she doesn't take them too seriously. I don't want you to get hurt but I think it's inevitable."

Bree shook her head, unable to believe Buffy's words.

"Buffy, I appreciate your concern but what Faith and I have is..."

"It's over, Bree!" Buffy interrupted, realising the only way to be kind was to be harsh. "Faith is destructive. She makes a mess and never bothers to clean up after herself. It's the people who love her who are always left to pick up the pieces. The one time she actually took responsibility for her actions it almost killed her. Like I said - she's destructive." Buffy's voice cracked slightly with emotion as she said this. Bree felt numb. She had never been used in this way before; her emotions had never been toyed with.

"Thank you," she said, her voice numb with pain.

"I'm sorry," Buffy whispered to the beeping of the line which had been cut off.