Loss of Faith

Chapter 5: Hellmouth Welcome

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters contained within.

That would be Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc….

Xander's POV –

I begin to tell her the story of what happened, from when Giles found her, since he told us what he saw when he got there and she was out of it by then. The traffic keeps getting lighter the farther South we drive so I don't have to pay as much attention to the road. "Faith," I start in, "Giles told us that when he got to the pier you were already in the water. He didn't see any sign of Buffy and thought he was too late. He jumped in after you and was trying to get to you before you sunk. He said he saw you go down a couple of times but you kept coming back up to the surface. He figured you were still conscience and were keeping yourself afloat, but when he finally grabbed you, he knew you were already gone. He dragged you back to shore and had one of the people that started to gather around call 911 while he started CPR. He had to keep at it until the paramedics got there, because you just wouldn't breathe on your own."

I chance a look over at her and she's sitting there listening, but not really involved. It's almost like she's hearing a story about someone else. Maybe cause she was dead at that point? She doesn't ask any questions so I go ahead and tell her the rest. "When the ambulance showed up they got your heart going again and Giles took a moment to look around. He said there was no sign of Buffy or a dusted vamp anywhere. He figured that the remains had probably been carried out to sea on the wind and he was more worried about you at that point than anything else, so he climbed into the ambulance with you and went to the hospital."

Faith is frowning and mumbled, "Worried my ass. He wasn't worried enough to let me know what he had Red doin, was he."

I don't think she meant for me to hear that, but I did and I can't let it go. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, Faith. I thought we were going to try and let some of that crap go. You know that frowning will give you wrinkles, right? I mean, next thing you know, you'll be running around with all kinds of twisty, wrinkly, line thingies around your mouth and on your forehead. Then there goes your hot, badass chick rep right out the window. You'll start looking all prune faced or something."

She starts grinning at me again and says, "Well I might look 'prune faced', but I'd still have the wicked ass bod."

"There is that," I say to her nodding my head. "Anyhow, Giles said he didn't see anything unusual on the pier and since we all took turns staying with you at the hospital, we never got the chance to look for ourselves. Then you woke up, got out and got gone. Nobody ever found anything to show that Buff was ever there with you."

"Yea," she says, "When I went back there the day I left, I was kinda hopin to see something. I dunno what, just anything that woulda givin me answers, ya know? Guess it's hard to find answers when ya don't even know the questions."

What can I say to that? She's right and who knew that Faith would be thinking such deep thoughts anyway. When we first met she seemed like the total opposite of Buff. Living totally in the here and now. No worries, no regrets. I feel kind of guilty about the way we all treated her back then, especially since I always put up an act for people to see. It should have been obvious to me she was doing the same thing. Only instead of being a clown, she was being the tough chick. Man I would change so much of what we did if I could. Since I can't I'm going to make it right to her now. Can't change the past but I'm going to damn well change the present.

"What happened after I left?" she asks. "Give me the low down on why you're so sure B's back in town."

I tell her, "I already gave you the short and sweet version. Not really anything else to tell. Shannon was called as a slayer and the Council sent her here to watch over the Hellmouth. When you left, the rest of us kept up the patrols and we were able to keep the vamp population pretty well under control till she got here. Giles has been working with her to bring her up to speed, but his heart isn't really in it. He's doing it more for Joyce than anything else. Joyce just can't stand the thought of yet another young girl out there battling these things alone. That's why she insisted that Shannon move in with her."

"That sounds like Joyce," Faith says with a sigh, "runnin a half way house for wayward slayers. She should call it the Buffy Summers Slayers Sanctuary."

I chuckle at that and say, "That's not half bad. Try saying it three times fast, though."

"Is Joyce really alright?" she asks me in a low voice.

"Well I wouldn't say she she's all rainbows and kittens, but she is getting along, "I tell her. "She's still living at the house on Revello drive and she's working. Basically she's going on with her life. You need to take some time and see her while you're in town. I think it'll be good for both of you. Plus then you can see for yourself how she's doing."

"Yea, it'd be great to see her, "Faith says. "I miss her a lot and she was always there for me, ya know? There for a little while I had everything I always wanted, the family I never had. It was hard to give that up, but I just had to get outta there for awhile Xand. There were just too many bad thoughts runnin through my head."

"I get that Faith, really I do," I tell her, "and I would have let you work it out on your own then come back, if that was what you wanted. But I needed you to come with me and see if we can find out if it is Buffy or not. If it's not you can stay or go, your choice. No harm, no foul, right? If it is her, maybe you can help track her down and find out what she's up to. Maybe get her to let us help her. I don't know, there has to be something we can do to help her."

Faith has a far off look in her eyes as she watches the road ahead. I know it's asking a lot of her to come back to Sunnyhell, but I don't know what else to do. If Shannon was to find out I'm trying to help the vamp she's hunting…., I don't want to think about what she'd do. Probably tie me up in a knot and leave me in the woods or something. That's the problem with hanging out with slayers. Yeah, they're strong, powerful girls, not to mention that so far they've all been extremely hot looking, but they've all been a little bit crazy too. Maybe it comes with the slayer package, strength, fast healing, super senses, a cocky attitude and a warped sense of humor. In Shannon's case, living with the Council for so long definitely would have screwed her up. The rest of them must have been quirky on their own. Maybe it's the genes?

About an hour later we drive past the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign and the sun is going down. Always a great time to be out and about in the Dale. It's funny, I lived here all my life and until I met Buff, when I found out the things that go bump in the night are real, it never occurred to me that all the normal humans start clearing the streets at sunset. Yeah, there are still some people that venture out at night, that's what keeps the demons fed, but for the most part they all just start wandering indoors as it gets dark and no one ever talks about it. It all seemed so normal when I was growing up that I didn't notice. Now though, things have changed. I know what's out there, but I also know who's protecting us and you know what? My money is on the slayers every time.

We're pulling into town and I turn my head to ask Faith if she wants to stop at my place and get cleaned up or if she wants to head straight out on patrol, when out of the corner of my eye I see something dash across the road in front of me. I stand on the brakes, laying a couple feet of rubber and a second figure runs in front of the car. Faith has her door open and is staring at the spot where both people disappeared into the shadow of an alley.

She looks over at me and raises an eyebrow in a silent, 'you gonna tell me?' question. I look from her to the alley and back then say, "Not sure about the first one, but the second one looked a lot like our new slayer."

She lets out a sigh and says, "Just my luck. I shoulda known I'd get a regular Hellmouth welcome, right?" She shakes her head a little then goes on, "Guess I better go make sure the newbie's alright. Wouldn't wanna trade in slayers this soon, huh. Might make them think this place is dangerous or something."

She closes the door and starts to move towards the alley. I quickly pull over to the curb, then shut off the engine and start following her. I call out, making her stop for a moment, "Faith, be careful. Remember Shannon's gunning for you, too. She really is too wrapped up in the Council to think for herself right now and I don't want to lose you already. You know, you just being back in town and all."

I catch up to her at the mouth of the alley. She turns to me with a grin and says, "Awww Xand, I never woulda guessed ya cared. What with the drivin for hours to find me and haulin me back. Ya keep this up and I'll start to think you're gettin soft on me."

I smirk back at her and say, "Trust me Faith, no one ever gets soft with you around."

She lets out a laugh and we head into the dark.