A/N Angel's POV, Faith/Buffy=Buffy in Faith's body, Buffy/Faith=Faith in
Buffy's body. You got that? You need me to write it down? Oh, I just did!
"Buffy? Sweetie? Are you ok in there?" Angel called through the bathroom door of the mansion.
"Fine." Buffy called back.
"Are you sure? You seemed a little freaked out earlier with that device Faith used."
"I'm fine. I'm Buffy! Therefore, everything is fine."
"Ok." Angel walked back out to the large living area and sat down by the fireplace. Buffy had just walked in through the door and headed straight for the bedroom. When Angel had gotten in there, she was naked and heading for the bathroom. She had invited him to come join her in a bath, but Angel had declined. There was something off about her. He couldn't place it.
Angel stood up to find Buffy standing behind him wearing an over the top outfit and dark makeup. Her pants were shiny gold and the black tank top dipped a little too low. Her hair was loosely crimped and parted to the side.
"Hey baby. I'm going to go to Giles and then on patrol to uh.... catch some bad guys." Buffy said.
"Want me to come with?" Angel asked.
"Nah. I got it. But I'll be back. Promise." Buffy ran a finger down his chest and played with a button lustily for a minute.
"I'm going to go to Giles with you."
"What?"
"Come on. We need to tell him that the cops have Faith."
"Fine, but don't hold my hand like that!" Buffy jerked her hand away and followed Angel out of the mansion. They walked all the way to Giles' apartment. Angel stayed behind Buffy a little ways and watched her. Her walk was definitely different since that fight with Faith. Angel had assumed that she had just been injured and trying to overplay how well she felt, but now.... now he wasn't so certain.
When they were arrived at Giles', the whole Scooby Gang was already there. Buffy settled on the table and Angel stood by Giles.
"Buffy. Angel. Good." Giles said.
"The Scooby Gang's all here." Buffy said. "Willow, Xander, and...." Buffy looked at Anya, "everybody. What's up?"
"It's about Faith, not surprisingly."
"Didn't Joyce tell you? I already kicked that ass."
"I feel a high five coming on!" Xander said.
"Where is she?" Willow asked.
"On her way to the big house. Cops took her off my hands about an hour ago. Poetic justice." Buffy said.
"How's that?" Anya asked.
"Well, she did all those crimes, and now she's being arrested. I guess that's just regular justice. It's cool, anyway."
"Unless I'm mistaken, Faith is no longer in police custody." Giles said.
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, standing up straight.
"Watcher's Council. They, uh, sent a retrieval team to capture Faith."
"Well, yeah, I mean, 'cause it worked so well when Wesley tried it."
"This is a special operations unit. They, uh, handle the council's trickier jobs.... smuggling, interrogation, wet works."
"What's wet works?" Willow asked.
"Scuba-type stuff." Xander replied.
"I thought it was murder." Anya said.
"Well, yeah, but there could be underwater murder, with snorkels."
"So they're taking her to England?" Angel asked.
"It'll be a long, long time before she returns." Giles said.
Buffy started to laugh. Everyone turned to look at her. "Ohhh I'm sorry. It's just.... I'm happy. Faith is evil."
"Yeah. I hope they throw the book at her." Willow said.
"I'm not sure there is a, a book for this." Giles replied.
"They could throw other things."
"I forgot how much you don't like Faith." Buffy said to Willow.
"After what she's done to you? Oh, I wish those council guys would let me have an hour alone in the room with her, if I was larger and had grenades."
Angel tuned everything after that out as he stared at Buffy. She was looking hard at Willow. He was really concerned about her. He was about to say something to her, but she snapped her head up and stared back at him. There was something off about her eyes. They didn't have that Buffy shine that he saw in them every time he looked there. Angel walked over to her.
"What's up?" Angel asked.
"I'd never let her hurt you." Buffy said to him.
"Are you ok? You seem kind of off."
"I'm fine. Listen, Angel, I need to, uh, go.... on patrol."
"Ok. I'll meet you at the mansion when you're done." Angel lied.
"Sure." Buffy swept past Angel and looked at Giles. "I'm leaving. Patrol and all."
"Yes. Good. We still have Adam to take care of." Giles said.
"Yeah. Adam. What's up with him?"
"I wish we knew."
"Well, don't worry about it. I'm patrolling tonight as long as it takes. You guys have your fun, I'll be out there doing my job."
"Aren't you taking Angel?" Giles called after her, but Buffy slammed the door behind her. Angel stared at the door after her. "There's something wrong with her."
"What are you thinking Angel?" Willow asked.
"She's off. Earlier tonight, Faith pulled this weird device out on her and when their hands connected, a light came through it and then Buffy's been acting weird ever since."
"Do you have the thing?"
"No, Buffy stomped it. It's destroyed."
"Hmm."
"Yeah, hmm."
"Angel, maybe you should tail her." Giles said. "See if she leads you anywhere that can give you a clue as to what's wrong with her."
"Yeah. I was just thinking that." Angel walked out and followed Buffy's trail. He was having trouble finding her scent. Normally he could pick it up in a snap, but something wasn't right. He followed the faint smell of Buffy to the Bronze where he found her surrounded by guys that were groping her and dancing way too close for Angel's liking. He felt a growl grow in his throat, but suppressed it when he saw Buffy approach Spike. Angel moved closer to hear what she was saying.
"Cause I could do anything I want, and instead, I choose to pout and whine and feel the burden of slayerness? I mean, I could be rich, I could be famous, I could have anything. Anyone. Even you, Spike. I could ride you at a gallop until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled up. I've got muscles you've never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you popped like warm champagne, and you'd beg me to hurt you just a little bit more. And you know why I don't? Because it's wrong." Buffy said, moving closer and closer to Spike and then moving away.
"I get this chip out, you and me are gonna have a confrontation." Spike called after her.
"Count on it." Buffy tossed back as she went back to the dance floor.
Spike started to leave, but Angel grabbed his jacket and hauled him over to a shadowed area out of Buffy's vision. "Hey Spike!" Angel said.
"Bloody hell Peaches! Almost gave me a heart attack!" Spike said, shrugging Angel off.
"So, what were you and my girl talking about?"
"I'd say she ain't your girl. That's not the Buffy I know. She smells off."
"Yeah. I was afraid of that."
"What's up with her any way?"
"I don't know. Faith pulled some kind of mojo on her and now she's.... off." Angel looked towards the dance floor, but Buffy wasn't there. He heard a bunch of people behind him start yelling "Chug! Chug! Chug!" Surly enough, there was Buffy.
"Looks like you're girl is making some new friends." Spike walked off and out of the club.
Angel looked back over at Buffy and saw that she was sprawled on the couch talking to Willow and some other girl. Willow walked off, leaving Buffy alone with the girl. The girl looked really uncomfortable as she listened to Buffy speak to her. Angel moved closer to hear what exactly his girlfriend was saying.
"He w-w-w-w-what? You gonna get that sentence out sometime tonight?" Buffy asked harshly.
Willow came back just as the girl was about to cry. "Buffy, guy in the corner."
"Yeah. Good call."
"What?" the girl asked.
"Vampire." Willow explained.
"Wicked obvious." Buffy sat there staring and then noticed Willow looking at her. Reluctantly she said, "So I should slay him." Buffy got up.
"You want help?"
"Nah, I got it." Buffy walked off grabbing a pool stick on her way before disappearing around the corner.
"Willow." Angel said.
"Angel! What are you doing here? Are you here with Buffy?" Willow asked.
"No, I'm trailing her still. Spike sensed it too. There's something off about her."
"Spike?"
"He was here earlier. Buffy said some stuff to him and then I got a hold of him. Can you...."
"I'll see what's up with her." Willow turned to go, but turned back around to introduce Tara to Angel, but he had slipped back at the sight of Buffy coming up to Willow.
He watched from the shadows as Willow and Buffy exchanged a few words. He watched Willow as she walked out, then decided to head back to the mansion. He could tell Buffy was getting bored with the Bronze and she was looking for some fun. As he ran, thoughts of the old Buffy came back to him. Her loving smile, the way she always said his name so breathily, her glowing eyes that were filled with her love for him and her friends. None of that was there now. Whatever Faith had done to Buffy, it had worked and he prayed that Willow could found out what it was. Just a block away from the mansion, Angel was attacked by a group of vampires. He took them down fast, only receiving a few bruises and a split lip. When he was finished, he started to run again to make sure he beat Buffy home.
Angel reached the mansion and slipped into his and Buffy's room. Just as he was about to sit down, he sensed a presence behind him and he turned. Buffy stood in the doorway looking damn sexy. She smiled lustily at him and raised her arm above her so her side was flat on the door.
"Hey baby." Buffy said. "You miss me?"
Angel decided to play it cool and dumb. "I did, actually. Everything's ok?"
"Everything's great." She started to walk towards him as he sat down on the bed.
"What about Faith?"
"Faith has a won a fabulous trip to England, and I...." Buffy straddled Angel's lap, "got the consolation prize, which is you."
"So we don't have to worry about Faith showing up and I was kind of hoping that we could talk." Buffy grabbed Angel's hand and leaned back, still straddling him. "Or I was until about thirty seconds ago."
"Oh, you wouldn't have wanted to talk with me. I would have said some stuff that would make you give into your animal instincts." She leaned down and started to kiss and nip at Angel's lips.
"Door's open."
"So?"
"My fantasies don't tend to include our friends walking in on us.... again."
"Oh, maybe they could learn something."
Angel got up and shut the door to the bedroom, holding his side that one of the vamps had somehow managed to crack a rib.
"You're hurt." Buffy said from the bed.
"Ahh, um, not that bad, actually. Small vamp attack a block from the mansion."
"You were trailing me?"
"No. Just got restless waiting."
"You got hurt by a few vamps?"
"I'm healing pretty quick, so it's not that big of a deal."
"Maybe we should take you for a test drive." Buffy said, getting up and wrapping a leg around Angel's waist.
He grabbed her thigh and held her there, pulling her closer with his other hand on her back. If he was going to get a reaction out of her, now was his chance. "Buffy?"
"Hmm?" She mumbled between licking and biting his neck.
"I love you." He said so tenderly, so lovingly, that he almost burst from the love he put into it.
"What?"
"I said I love you."
Buffy started to freak out and push him away. "Ugh! Get off. No. No. No! Get-get off! No. Off me. Get off. No, no-o. G-get...."
"Buffy.... What? What's wrong?"
"Why do you keep doing this to me?"
"Am I not supposed to love you?"
"This is meaningless!"
"You're shaking."
"Nuh uh!"
Angel grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Nothing." Buffy laid her head on his chest and settled in.
"Come on." Angel started to pick her up.
"What are you doing?"
"Putting you to bed." He swept her up and laid her in their bed. She relaxed into the dark sheets and slowly closed her eyes. Buffy stayed like that for the whole night. Angel watched her all the while and when her eyes snapped open and she stared at him, he simply asked, "What?"
"You! You lied!" Buffy said.
"What?"
"You're not human! How can you walk in the sun?"
"The Gem. But of course, if you were actually Buffy then you would know that Faith."
"Faith?" Buffy asked uncertainly. "W-W-What are you talking about?"
"You know damn well. You switched with her, didn't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about! You're talking crazy Angel!" Her eyes darted everywhere looking for an exit. Angel made sure he was blocking it.
"Come on Faith. It's tired!"
Buffy, or rather Faith in Buffy's body, jumped up. Instead of attacking him though, she switched course and flew threw the window. It shattered on impact and Buffy's body went tumbling to the ground unceremoniously. She landed hard with a thud, rolled, and took off running. It was day now and Angel had his ring on, but he was still hesitant to go after her. Who knew where she would run off to with his girlfriend's body? He had to get to her. Sighing, Angel jumped. He thudded to the ground, rolled to his feet with a groan, and followed after her. But it was too late. Faith was gone.
Instead of trying to follow her, Angel headed for Giles' apartment. He was at a dead run the whole way. People had to move fast to stay out of his way. Anyone who didn't make it, Angel jumped over or pushed away. He was sorry he had to do it, but this was an emergency. When he arrived, he found an armored truck outside and Faith, or Buffy in Faith's body, inside trying to convince Giles that it was in fact her.
"Angel! Oh God!" Faith/Buffy said. "Tell Giles it's me!"
"Buffy! I've been so worried about you!" Angel said, grabbing her into a tight embrace.
"Thank God! You know it's me! I knew you would."
"Of course I would. I love you."
"I love you."
"Angel, are you sure?" Giles asked.
Willow and the girl from the Bronze burst into the room. "Giles!" Willow cried.
"Will!" Faith/Buffy cried.
"Oh my God!"
"Willow, wait. You don't understand."
"You're Buffy. You and Faith switched bodies, probably through a Draconian Katra spell."
"She understands it better than I do." Giles muttered.
"How did you?" Faith/Buffy asked.
"Tara. Tara, this is Buffy, only really this time. Oh, and this is Angel." Willow said.
"Hi." Tara said shyly.
"Tara's a really powerful witch."
"Not really."
"No, really. She knew right away that you weren't you. So we connected with the nether realms to find out what happened. And we conjured this." Willow pulled out green glowing thing in a box.
"What is...." Faith/Buffy started.
"It's a Katra. Or the home-conjured version. It-it should switch you back, if you can get a hold of Faith."
"Oh thank God!"
The telephone rang and Giles went to get it. "Hello? Oh yes, uh, Buffy's here with uh, me. Actually, she.... she's uh.... Oh, all right." Giles hung up and turned on the TV. "Xander. Apparently there's a report on the television."
The news announcer's voice sounded throughout the silent room. ".... And barricaded themselves in the church with at least 20 parishioners. One of the few who escaped described the three men as frighteningly disfigured, almost inhuman. So far, one escapee has since died of severe neck wounds. There is no report on the condition of the parishioners still trapped inside, but their assailants have vowed to kill all of them if police attempt to storm the church."
"Giles, I have to get to those people. As in now." Faith/Buffy said.
"I know, but how?" Giles asked.
Angel sat in the back of the armored truck holding Faith/Buffy's hand. The truck jolted to a stop and he, Faith/Buffy, Willow, and Tara jumped out. A policeman tried to stop them.
"We've gotta get inside." Willow said.
"The police are handling this. Just back off right now." the officer said.
"But we can't, we've gotta, y- you don't understand."
"Listen you have to clear the area."
"Damn it, man, we have to get inside!" Giles suddenly yelled. Faith/Buffy slipped her hand from Angel's tight grasp and slid around the truck. "Our, um, uh, uh families are in there! Our, um, mothers and.... and tiny, tiny babies."
Angel followed Faith/Buffy up to the church's back doors and ran into Riley just as a vampire was thrown into the sunlight.
"Riley!" Faith/Buffy cried.
"Ohh. It's ok, miss. Just get yourself out of harm's way." Riley said. Then he noticed Angel. "Angel?"
"Long story." Angel said.
"Riley, it's me. Uh. Never mind. How many are in there?" Faith/Buffy asked.
"Well.... who are you?" Riley asked.
"Like I said: long story." Angel said.
"There are only three. Lots of civilians."
"Ok. Um, Buffy.... you go in and get to Faith. Riley will stay here and catch any that try to run. I'll go in and watch your back from the shadows."
"You got it." Faith/Buffy and Angel took off inside.
A vampire was standing in front of a downed Buffy/Faith. "Adam has shown me the way, and there is...." Faith/Buffy staked him and he turned to dust.
Buffy leapt to attack. The two exchanged punches and Buffy/Faith was attacking hysterically and she was slightly quicker. She knocked Faith/Buffy down but Faith/Buffy came back with an uppercut and knocked her back.
"You can't win this." Faith/Buffy said.
"Shut up! Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Buffy/Faith nearly shrieked. She grabbed Faith/Buffy and threw her down, then sat on top of her and started punching her. "You're nothing!" Punch, punch. "Disgusting!" Buffy/Faith grabbed Faith/Buffy's hair with both hands and banged her head on the floor. "Murderous bitch! You're nothing! You're disgusting!" Buffy/Faith was starting to cry.
Faith/Buffy grabbed Buffy/Faith's hand to stop a punch and their hands glowed. Now Buffy was in her own body and Faith was in her own. The real Buffy fell back as their hands separated. The real Faith jumped up and ran off. The real Buffy sat, stunned or shocked, and watched her leave. Angel rushed up to her and held her.
"Are you ok?" Angel asked.
"I'm.... I'm fine. It's her I'm worried about." Buffy said.
"I know. I know. It's ok now."
Buffy hung up the phone in the bedroom and turned to Angel on the bed. "She's gone. Not a trace. Giles said the council guys have cleared out, too."
"That's good." Angel said.
"Yeah. I guess."
"Are you ok?"
"It's just.... never mind. It's not important."
Angel stood up and walked over to her. "It's important or else you wouldn't have that strained look on your face."
"Really, it's nothing."
"Buffy...."
"All right. It's just, and don't think I don't trust you, cause I do, it's Faith I don't trust."
"You want to know if I slept with her."
"Maybe."
"Buffy, I would never. It's Faith. I don't love her. I'm a one Slayer guy. And that Slayer is standing in front of me."
"She didn't try to tempt you?"
"She did."
"And you weren't the least bit tempted?"
"It wasn't you. All I had to do was look in your eyes and know you weren't in there."
"Really?"
"Just like you knew that demon Giles was Giles. Besides, you're my soul mate. I'm gonna know when something's not right."
"God I love you. I am so glad that the Powers sent you to me."
"You're not the only one. Now, you owe me some quality Buffy Summers snuggle time."
"All you want is snuggles?"
"Didn't say that."
"Good." Buffy shoved Angel hard on the bed and fell on top of him. She crushed his mouth with a fiery kiss and ripped his shirt off. She pulled back for air and looked deep into his eyes. Angel knew that it was really Buffy in there. Besides, only Buffy could have that much gentleness in her while she was driving him mad with lust and love.
"You're gonna love what's to come." Angel said as he flipped her underneath him.
"Buffy? Sweetie? Are you ok in there?" Angel called through the bathroom door of the mansion.
"Fine." Buffy called back.
"Are you sure? You seemed a little freaked out earlier with that device Faith used."
"I'm fine. I'm Buffy! Therefore, everything is fine."
"Ok." Angel walked back out to the large living area and sat down by the fireplace. Buffy had just walked in through the door and headed straight for the bedroom. When Angel had gotten in there, she was naked and heading for the bathroom. She had invited him to come join her in a bath, but Angel had declined. There was something off about her. He couldn't place it.
Angel stood up to find Buffy standing behind him wearing an over the top outfit and dark makeup. Her pants were shiny gold and the black tank top dipped a little too low. Her hair was loosely crimped and parted to the side.
"Hey baby. I'm going to go to Giles and then on patrol to uh.... catch some bad guys." Buffy said.
"Want me to come with?" Angel asked.
"Nah. I got it. But I'll be back. Promise." Buffy ran a finger down his chest and played with a button lustily for a minute.
"I'm going to go to Giles with you."
"What?"
"Come on. We need to tell him that the cops have Faith."
"Fine, but don't hold my hand like that!" Buffy jerked her hand away and followed Angel out of the mansion. They walked all the way to Giles' apartment. Angel stayed behind Buffy a little ways and watched her. Her walk was definitely different since that fight with Faith. Angel had assumed that she had just been injured and trying to overplay how well she felt, but now.... now he wasn't so certain.
When they were arrived at Giles', the whole Scooby Gang was already there. Buffy settled on the table and Angel stood by Giles.
"Buffy. Angel. Good." Giles said.
"The Scooby Gang's all here." Buffy said. "Willow, Xander, and...." Buffy looked at Anya, "everybody. What's up?"
"It's about Faith, not surprisingly."
"Didn't Joyce tell you? I already kicked that ass."
"I feel a high five coming on!" Xander said.
"Where is she?" Willow asked.
"On her way to the big house. Cops took her off my hands about an hour ago. Poetic justice." Buffy said.
"How's that?" Anya asked.
"Well, she did all those crimes, and now she's being arrested. I guess that's just regular justice. It's cool, anyway."
"Unless I'm mistaken, Faith is no longer in police custody." Giles said.
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, standing up straight.
"Watcher's Council. They, uh, sent a retrieval team to capture Faith."
"Well, yeah, I mean, 'cause it worked so well when Wesley tried it."
"This is a special operations unit. They, uh, handle the council's trickier jobs.... smuggling, interrogation, wet works."
"What's wet works?" Willow asked.
"Scuba-type stuff." Xander replied.
"I thought it was murder." Anya said.
"Well, yeah, but there could be underwater murder, with snorkels."
"So they're taking her to England?" Angel asked.
"It'll be a long, long time before she returns." Giles said.
Buffy started to laugh. Everyone turned to look at her. "Ohhh I'm sorry. It's just.... I'm happy. Faith is evil."
"Yeah. I hope they throw the book at her." Willow said.
"I'm not sure there is a, a book for this." Giles replied.
"They could throw other things."
"I forgot how much you don't like Faith." Buffy said to Willow.
"After what she's done to you? Oh, I wish those council guys would let me have an hour alone in the room with her, if I was larger and had grenades."
Angel tuned everything after that out as he stared at Buffy. She was looking hard at Willow. He was really concerned about her. He was about to say something to her, but she snapped her head up and stared back at him. There was something off about her eyes. They didn't have that Buffy shine that he saw in them every time he looked there. Angel walked over to her.
"What's up?" Angel asked.
"I'd never let her hurt you." Buffy said to him.
"Are you ok? You seem kind of off."
"I'm fine. Listen, Angel, I need to, uh, go.... on patrol."
"Ok. I'll meet you at the mansion when you're done." Angel lied.
"Sure." Buffy swept past Angel and looked at Giles. "I'm leaving. Patrol and all."
"Yes. Good. We still have Adam to take care of." Giles said.
"Yeah. Adam. What's up with him?"
"I wish we knew."
"Well, don't worry about it. I'm patrolling tonight as long as it takes. You guys have your fun, I'll be out there doing my job."
"Aren't you taking Angel?" Giles called after her, but Buffy slammed the door behind her. Angel stared at the door after her. "There's something wrong with her."
"What are you thinking Angel?" Willow asked.
"She's off. Earlier tonight, Faith pulled this weird device out on her and when their hands connected, a light came through it and then Buffy's been acting weird ever since."
"Do you have the thing?"
"No, Buffy stomped it. It's destroyed."
"Hmm."
"Yeah, hmm."
"Angel, maybe you should tail her." Giles said. "See if she leads you anywhere that can give you a clue as to what's wrong with her."
"Yeah. I was just thinking that." Angel walked out and followed Buffy's trail. He was having trouble finding her scent. Normally he could pick it up in a snap, but something wasn't right. He followed the faint smell of Buffy to the Bronze where he found her surrounded by guys that were groping her and dancing way too close for Angel's liking. He felt a growl grow in his throat, but suppressed it when he saw Buffy approach Spike. Angel moved closer to hear what she was saying.
"Cause I could do anything I want, and instead, I choose to pout and whine and feel the burden of slayerness? I mean, I could be rich, I could be famous, I could have anything. Anyone. Even you, Spike. I could ride you at a gallop until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled up. I've got muscles you've never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you popped like warm champagne, and you'd beg me to hurt you just a little bit more. And you know why I don't? Because it's wrong." Buffy said, moving closer and closer to Spike and then moving away.
"I get this chip out, you and me are gonna have a confrontation." Spike called after her.
"Count on it." Buffy tossed back as she went back to the dance floor.
Spike started to leave, but Angel grabbed his jacket and hauled him over to a shadowed area out of Buffy's vision. "Hey Spike!" Angel said.
"Bloody hell Peaches! Almost gave me a heart attack!" Spike said, shrugging Angel off.
"So, what were you and my girl talking about?"
"I'd say she ain't your girl. That's not the Buffy I know. She smells off."
"Yeah. I was afraid of that."
"What's up with her any way?"
"I don't know. Faith pulled some kind of mojo on her and now she's.... off." Angel looked towards the dance floor, but Buffy wasn't there. He heard a bunch of people behind him start yelling "Chug! Chug! Chug!" Surly enough, there was Buffy.
"Looks like you're girl is making some new friends." Spike walked off and out of the club.
Angel looked back over at Buffy and saw that she was sprawled on the couch talking to Willow and some other girl. Willow walked off, leaving Buffy alone with the girl. The girl looked really uncomfortable as she listened to Buffy speak to her. Angel moved closer to hear what exactly his girlfriend was saying.
"He w-w-w-w-what? You gonna get that sentence out sometime tonight?" Buffy asked harshly.
Willow came back just as the girl was about to cry. "Buffy, guy in the corner."
"Yeah. Good call."
"What?" the girl asked.
"Vampire." Willow explained.
"Wicked obvious." Buffy sat there staring and then noticed Willow looking at her. Reluctantly she said, "So I should slay him." Buffy got up.
"You want help?"
"Nah, I got it." Buffy walked off grabbing a pool stick on her way before disappearing around the corner.
"Willow." Angel said.
"Angel! What are you doing here? Are you here with Buffy?" Willow asked.
"No, I'm trailing her still. Spike sensed it too. There's something off about her."
"Spike?"
"He was here earlier. Buffy said some stuff to him and then I got a hold of him. Can you...."
"I'll see what's up with her." Willow turned to go, but turned back around to introduce Tara to Angel, but he had slipped back at the sight of Buffy coming up to Willow.
He watched from the shadows as Willow and Buffy exchanged a few words. He watched Willow as she walked out, then decided to head back to the mansion. He could tell Buffy was getting bored with the Bronze and she was looking for some fun. As he ran, thoughts of the old Buffy came back to him. Her loving smile, the way she always said his name so breathily, her glowing eyes that were filled with her love for him and her friends. None of that was there now. Whatever Faith had done to Buffy, it had worked and he prayed that Willow could found out what it was. Just a block away from the mansion, Angel was attacked by a group of vampires. He took them down fast, only receiving a few bruises and a split lip. When he was finished, he started to run again to make sure he beat Buffy home.
Angel reached the mansion and slipped into his and Buffy's room. Just as he was about to sit down, he sensed a presence behind him and he turned. Buffy stood in the doorway looking damn sexy. She smiled lustily at him and raised her arm above her so her side was flat on the door.
"Hey baby." Buffy said. "You miss me?"
Angel decided to play it cool and dumb. "I did, actually. Everything's ok?"
"Everything's great." She started to walk towards him as he sat down on the bed.
"What about Faith?"
"Faith has a won a fabulous trip to England, and I...." Buffy straddled Angel's lap, "got the consolation prize, which is you."
"So we don't have to worry about Faith showing up and I was kind of hoping that we could talk." Buffy grabbed Angel's hand and leaned back, still straddling him. "Or I was until about thirty seconds ago."
"Oh, you wouldn't have wanted to talk with me. I would have said some stuff that would make you give into your animal instincts." She leaned down and started to kiss and nip at Angel's lips.
"Door's open."
"So?"
"My fantasies don't tend to include our friends walking in on us.... again."
"Oh, maybe they could learn something."
Angel got up and shut the door to the bedroom, holding his side that one of the vamps had somehow managed to crack a rib.
"You're hurt." Buffy said from the bed.
"Ahh, um, not that bad, actually. Small vamp attack a block from the mansion."
"You were trailing me?"
"No. Just got restless waiting."
"You got hurt by a few vamps?"
"I'm healing pretty quick, so it's not that big of a deal."
"Maybe we should take you for a test drive." Buffy said, getting up and wrapping a leg around Angel's waist.
He grabbed her thigh and held her there, pulling her closer with his other hand on her back. If he was going to get a reaction out of her, now was his chance. "Buffy?"
"Hmm?" She mumbled between licking and biting his neck.
"I love you." He said so tenderly, so lovingly, that he almost burst from the love he put into it.
"What?"
"I said I love you."
Buffy started to freak out and push him away. "Ugh! Get off. No. No. No! Get-get off! No. Off me. Get off. No, no-o. G-get...."
"Buffy.... What? What's wrong?"
"Why do you keep doing this to me?"
"Am I not supposed to love you?"
"This is meaningless!"
"You're shaking."
"Nuh uh!"
Angel grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Nothing." Buffy laid her head on his chest and settled in.
"Come on." Angel started to pick her up.
"What are you doing?"
"Putting you to bed." He swept her up and laid her in their bed. She relaxed into the dark sheets and slowly closed her eyes. Buffy stayed like that for the whole night. Angel watched her all the while and when her eyes snapped open and she stared at him, he simply asked, "What?"
"You! You lied!" Buffy said.
"What?"
"You're not human! How can you walk in the sun?"
"The Gem. But of course, if you were actually Buffy then you would know that Faith."
"Faith?" Buffy asked uncertainly. "W-W-What are you talking about?"
"You know damn well. You switched with her, didn't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about! You're talking crazy Angel!" Her eyes darted everywhere looking for an exit. Angel made sure he was blocking it.
"Come on Faith. It's tired!"
Buffy, or rather Faith in Buffy's body, jumped up. Instead of attacking him though, she switched course and flew threw the window. It shattered on impact and Buffy's body went tumbling to the ground unceremoniously. She landed hard with a thud, rolled, and took off running. It was day now and Angel had his ring on, but he was still hesitant to go after her. Who knew where she would run off to with his girlfriend's body? He had to get to her. Sighing, Angel jumped. He thudded to the ground, rolled to his feet with a groan, and followed after her. But it was too late. Faith was gone.
Instead of trying to follow her, Angel headed for Giles' apartment. He was at a dead run the whole way. People had to move fast to stay out of his way. Anyone who didn't make it, Angel jumped over or pushed away. He was sorry he had to do it, but this was an emergency. When he arrived, he found an armored truck outside and Faith, or Buffy in Faith's body, inside trying to convince Giles that it was in fact her.
"Angel! Oh God!" Faith/Buffy said. "Tell Giles it's me!"
"Buffy! I've been so worried about you!" Angel said, grabbing her into a tight embrace.
"Thank God! You know it's me! I knew you would."
"Of course I would. I love you."
"I love you."
"Angel, are you sure?" Giles asked.
Willow and the girl from the Bronze burst into the room. "Giles!" Willow cried.
"Will!" Faith/Buffy cried.
"Oh my God!"
"Willow, wait. You don't understand."
"You're Buffy. You and Faith switched bodies, probably through a Draconian Katra spell."
"She understands it better than I do." Giles muttered.
"How did you?" Faith/Buffy asked.
"Tara. Tara, this is Buffy, only really this time. Oh, and this is Angel." Willow said.
"Hi." Tara said shyly.
"Tara's a really powerful witch."
"Not really."
"No, really. She knew right away that you weren't you. So we connected with the nether realms to find out what happened. And we conjured this." Willow pulled out green glowing thing in a box.
"What is...." Faith/Buffy started.
"It's a Katra. Or the home-conjured version. It-it should switch you back, if you can get a hold of Faith."
"Oh thank God!"
The telephone rang and Giles went to get it. "Hello? Oh yes, uh, Buffy's here with uh, me. Actually, she.... she's uh.... Oh, all right." Giles hung up and turned on the TV. "Xander. Apparently there's a report on the television."
The news announcer's voice sounded throughout the silent room. ".... And barricaded themselves in the church with at least 20 parishioners. One of the few who escaped described the three men as frighteningly disfigured, almost inhuman. So far, one escapee has since died of severe neck wounds. There is no report on the condition of the parishioners still trapped inside, but their assailants have vowed to kill all of them if police attempt to storm the church."
"Giles, I have to get to those people. As in now." Faith/Buffy said.
"I know, but how?" Giles asked.
Angel sat in the back of the armored truck holding Faith/Buffy's hand. The truck jolted to a stop and he, Faith/Buffy, Willow, and Tara jumped out. A policeman tried to stop them.
"We've gotta get inside." Willow said.
"The police are handling this. Just back off right now." the officer said.
"But we can't, we've gotta, y- you don't understand."
"Listen you have to clear the area."
"Damn it, man, we have to get inside!" Giles suddenly yelled. Faith/Buffy slipped her hand from Angel's tight grasp and slid around the truck. "Our, um, uh, uh families are in there! Our, um, mothers and.... and tiny, tiny babies."
Angel followed Faith/Buffy up to the church's back doors and ran into Riley just as a vampire was thrown into the sunlight.
"Riley!" Faith/Buffy cried.
"Ohh. It's ok, miss. Just get yourself out of harm's way." Riley said. Then he noticed Angel. "Angel?"
"Long story." Angel said.
"Riley, it's me. Uh. Never mind. How many are in there?" Faith/Buffy asked.
"Well.... who are you?" Riley asked.
"Like I said: long story." Angel said.
"There are only three. Lots of civilians."
"Ok. Um, Buffy.... you go in and get to Faith. Riley will stay here and catch any that try to run. I'll go in and watch your back from the shadows."
"You got it." Faith/Buffy and Angel took off inside.
A vampire was standing in front of a downed Buffy/Faith. "Adam has shown me the way, and there is...." Faith/Buffy staked him and he turned to dust.
Buffy leapt to attack. The two exchanged punches and Buffy/Faith was attacking hysterically and she was slightly quicker. She knocked Faith/Buffy down but Faith/Buffy came back with an uppercut and knocked her back.
"You can't win this." Faith/Buffy said.
"Shut up! Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Buffy/Faith nearly shrieked. She grabbed Faith/Buffy and threw her down, then sat on top of her and started punching her. "You're nothing!" Punch, punch. "Disgusting!" Buffy/Faith grabbed Faith/Buffy's hair with both hands and banged her head on the floor. "Murderous bitch! You're nothing! You're disgusting!" Buffy/Faith was starting to cry.
Faith/Buffy grabbed Buffy/Faith's hand to stop a punch and their hands glowed. Now Buffy was in her own body and Faith was in her own. The real Buffy fell back as their hands separated. The real Faith jumped up and ran off. The real Buffy sat, stunned or shocked, and watched her leave. Angel rushed up to her and held her.
"Are you ok?" Angel asked.
"I'm.... I'm fine. It's her I'm worried about." Buffy said.
"I know. I know. It's ok now."
Buffy hung up the phone in the bedroom and turned to Angel on the bed. "She's gone. Not a trace. Giles said the council guys have cleared out, too."
"That's good." Angel said.
"Yeah. I guess."
"Are you ok?"
"It's just.... never mind. It's not important."
Angel stood up and walked over to her. "It's important or else you wouldn't have that strained look on your face."
"Really, it's nothing."
"Buffy...."
"All right. It's just, and don't think I don't trust you, cause I do, it's Faith I don't trust."
"You want to know if I slept with her."
"Maybe."
"Buffy, I would never. It's Faith. I don't love her. I'm a one Slayer guy. And that Slayer is standing in front of me."
"She didn't try to tempt you?"
"She did."
"And you weren't the least bit tempted?"
"It wasn't you. All I had to do was look in your eyes and know you weren't in there."
"Really?"
"Just like you knew that demon Giles was Giles. Besides, you're my soul mate. I'm gonna know when something's not right."
"God I love you. I am so glad that the Powers sent you to me."
"You're not the only one. Now, you owe me some quality Buffy Summers snuggle time."
"All you want is snuggles?"
"Didn't say that."
"Good." Buffy shoved Angel hard on the bed and fell on top of him. She crushed his mouth with a fiery kiss and ripped his shirt off. She pulled back for air and looked deep into his eyes. Angel knew that it was really Buffy in there. Besides, only Buffy could have that much gentleness in her while she was driving him mad with lust and love.
"You're gonna love what's to come." Angel said as he flipped her underneath him.