CHAPTER TWO

This little hick town don't know what hit them.

People were staring as they all filed out of the bus, some of the new slayers injured and bloody. Mother's put a hand on their children and steered them in the opposite direction; probably thinking that they're all trouble. Hell, we got rid of the trouble, lady. You're welcome. But it ain't like Faith could blame them; she could see what they all looked like. A mess. Beaten, dirty, and tired. Probably a bit scary and overwhelming, yeah.

She doesn't even bother with the bathroom; it wasn't like she really needed to go in the first place. The line is now out the door anyway, and her patience isn't something she's well noted for. Taking out her pack of smokes and sliding one out, she looks around for Dawn, but can't find her. Figuring she's trying to stay out of sight from Buffy, she turns the corner and goes around the other side of the little convenience store their party seemed to have taken over. She catches sight of her, cigarette in hand, tapping her foot anxiously. She doesn't have a light.

"Heads up," Faith calls out to her, and when Dawn looks up she tosses her lighter. Dawn catches it eagerly, lighting her cigarette with a flick of her thumb. As she exhales the smoke she leans back against the wall, relaxing finally.

"Thanks," she says, handing Faith back her lighter once she's walked over to her. Faith just shrugs in response as she places her own cigarette between her painted lips and lights it.

"B catches you, you didn't get it from me," she tells her, the smoke forming around her words as she speaks.

"Noted."

The silence the falls between them isn't weird this time, it's more comforting. Maybe just relief. Addictions and their control and all that. Feed it and maybe you get calm. But as Faith flicks her ash on the ground she looks over at her, the guilt from the last conversation hitting her a bit. "Sorry I… ah. Didn't turn out to be the best role model, or whatever."

"Over it," Dawn replies, placing the cigarette between her lips again and taking a drag.

"You sure?"

Dawn looks over at her, exhaling a large cloud, obscuring their view of each other for a moment. But Faith doesn't move, she just looks at her. "It still pisses me off," Dawn tells her honestly. She flicks her cigarette, watching the ash fall. "All of it. You were like a second sister. Sorta. I don't know. Pissed me off. Not that you just screwed up, well, everything. But that you didn't even bother to try and fix it."

"Trying now."

"Might be a little too late," Dawn tells her, and Faith can feel the rocks pile up in the pit of her stomach. But then Dawn shrugs and says, "Might not. I don't know. I don't exactly hate you anymore for it. Buffy doesn't either. But we're both still pissed off. I think everyone is."

Faith could take that. She already knew that, to some degree. It isn't like everything is going to go back to the way it was, before all the bad. The world doesn't work like that. She's about to say something, when she hears Buffy exclaim, "DAWN!"

Dawn drops the cigarette automatically, her shoe covering it to put it out. Maybe to hide it, even though it was already pointless. And here comes Buffy, hands on her hips in this wave of self-righteous glory. That will never change.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Dawn's face colors in annoyance, and Faith can already start to see the Dawn that she knew start slipping out again. Maybe it was because she was around Buffy. Siblings tend to do that, or so she's heard. "It's none of your business what I do."

"The hell it isn't! What are you doing smoking?!" she's shrieking now, and it makes Faith wince as she backs up. Might as well get the hell outta dodge before this shit storm get's pointed at her.

"I really don't need you on my back right now, Buffy. I just needed one, okay? Damn," Dawn exclaims, and yeah, alright, she's back to being a teenager; defiance and all of that.

Faith was almost gone, so damn close, when Buffy rounds on her. "Where the hell do you think you're going? If I find out this was your doing I will kick your ass nine ways till—"

"I didn't get it from Faith," Dawn interrupts, and Buffy has this look that crosses across her face that Faith can't read before she turns and faces Dawn again.

"I will not have you smoking! It's a disgusting habit. You're going to get winkles and your teeth will turn yellow and just… ew. Seriously, Dawn."

"You're not mom, Buffy. So just… quit trying to be. This is my life, and if I want to make my lungs black then I will!" Dawn yells, stomping her foot just like a child as she storms off. Yup, she was back to being the Dawn, Faith knew. But hell, she's still in that awkward teenage phase. Part woman, part child, and all confusing. She can't blame her for it.

"Lot of help you were," Buffy snaps as she turns back to Faith. She raises her eyebrows.

"Me? What did I do?"

"Encouraging her. You're a shit role model," Buffy tells her, frustrated. She starts to walk past her, away, just angry in her little blaze of fuckin' annoying glory but Faith isn't gonna just take that. She doesn't need all this crap right now, not from her. They just finished this huge battle, rather not start another one. And yet, all she can do is snap back:

"Excuse me? It ain't like I handed the kid a cigarette and told her she should shed some years off her life and forfeit her left lung cause it'd be fun. I was just there. Besides, she's been smoking for years."

That makes Buffy stop, and Faith can notice her sigh a little. Maybe in defeat. It's unusual, her just giving up on an argument so quickly, but she's tired. They all are. "She told you that?" she asks, without looking back at her. Another sigh, then a quieter, "Figures."

"Figures what?"

"Nothing," Buffy replies. "Just. Her telling you." She takes another breath and then starts walking towards the front of the store. Faith follows.

"How does that even fit inside the realm of 'figures'?" she asks, not understanding. "The girl's still pissed at me about… hell. Everything. And I ain't someone anyone goes to keep their secrets. That requires trust."

"And yet she just did it," Buffy says, and Faith can tell there's some hurt in her voice. Maybe because Dawn felt like she couldn't go to her about it.

"Not outta trust, B. Outta addiction. I'm sure I wasn't her first choice."

"So you did give her one."

That makes Faith stop. Shit. Walked right into that one, didn't she? But Buffy ain't mad, she's just… tired. That's really all Faith can say to explain it. "Yeah," Faith tells her, just doing the honesty thing. Best policy or whatever.

"And she lied to protect you."

"Yeah. I guess."

"From me."

"I guess."

"Congratulations," Buffy responds, stopping when they get to the front of the store. Faith feels like that should have been sarcastic, but she didn't hear a hint of it in her voice. Buffy leans against the wall, watching all the girls enjoy the fresh air. Laughing, talking. Being thankful they're alive. But not her. She's pensive, quiet. Faith just watches her a little.

"On?" Faith asks, though isn't sure if she should.

"Just. I don't know," Buffy says, but can't seem to find the words, if she even knew what they were in the first place. "You know."

Faith does know. It's moving forward, at least with someone. But she looks over at Buffy, and it just, fuck, hurts. Again. Like always. Rips her apart cause she can't ever more forward with her. At least not, hell, forward enough. They weren't ripping each other's throats out, but they ain't friends.

There's a light breeze, and it feels good flowing through Faith's hair. She sighs a bit, looking over at the sun. Past five now; it's gotta be. Don't know where the hell they're gonna stay for the night, but something will be figured out, probably. Unless they're all gonna crash on the bus and for the love of everything she prays they don't have to do that.

"So where are you gonna go?" Buffy asks her suddenly, taking Faith out of her thoughts. "After we get to LA, I mean."

Well, that answered that question. "That's where we're going? Thought Angel heading up the Big Bad's office wigged you out."

"It does," Buffy says, wrapping her arms around herself a little. "I don't understand how he— but, whatever. We have a dozen girls with new superpowers and we need a safe place. Least for little bit. Until everyone is patched up and we have a plan."

Faith nods a bit, looping her thumbs in her belt loops and leaning against the side of the building. "Dunno where I'll go," she tells her honestly. She shrugs. "Around. Does it matter?"

"No. Yeah. I don't know. It could. Just in case…" Buffy trails off though, shrugging a bit herself. "Boston?"

"Fuck no. Staying as far away from there as possible." Too many bad memories there. She just went back to one hell hole; she'd rather not go back to another. But she never really thought about this. The after. Hell, maybe cause she didn't think she'd be around long enough for there ever to be an after.

Buffy bit down on her tongue lightly as she stares off in the distance. "You should… stick around. For a little while," she tells her finally. It makes Faith raise her eyebrows in surprise as she looks over at her.

"Why? You gonna miss me?" she asks, a teasing smirk on her face. She had to. Just to… hell, get some normalcy. Least normal the way she liked it. Missed it, even. It seems like Buffy missed it to though, and Faith can see her crack a smile despite herself.

"Not what I meant, you cocky asshole," Buffy says, but its light. She's still smiling a bit to herself, but then it's gone. Back to business. "What I meant was just… you know. New slayers and all. We're going to have to train them; teach them. I can't do it all on my own."

"And you sure you want me near these girls, teachin' them shit?" Faith asks, the surprise evident in her voice.

"You can teach them stuff I can't."

"Like what? Like how to fuck up? Faith's lesson on what not to do as a slayer?" Faith snorts, but it's not funny. It never will be. It just fuckin' hurts.

"Don't… don't be a child," Buffy tells her, finally turning to look at her. Faith just lets it slide; she doesn't want to argue over her calling her a name. They were too old for all of that. "You know that's not what I meant either. Least. I don't know. Not like that. But yeah, a bit. Teach them how out of control the whole thing can seem; how you can wrap yourself up in it. Teach them what it means if they go down that path. Teach them about redemption."

"I ain't the teaching type, B."

"Never thought you were the say you're sorry type either," Buffy retorts, but it's quiet. She purses her lips together, and looks away again. She sighs a bit. "Things change. People change. You never know. You could be really good at it."

"Figured you'd want me out of your hair the first chance you got."

"No. I think I want to be there when more congratulations are in order," she says simply, like it doesn't mean way more than just those few words.

"What's with the sudden faith in me?" Faith asks, looking at her like she doesn't know who's standing next to her anymore.

"This isn't faith, not really. Just. Giving you the chance I refused to before," Buffy tells her. Faith just stays silent though, so Buffy turns to her. "This isn't forgiveness," she says, trying to make that clear. "And this isn't pity. This is just a chance. You helped us; figured you earned as much."

"Do you get sentimental after every time you save the world?" Faith responds. Almost a joke. Almost.

Buffy smirks, turning around so she's facing her. Faith's not sure if she likes the change in position though. Her back is up against the wall and it feels almost like being trapped. But she stands her ground, looking at her lighter counterpart.

"Least there are no flowers involved," Buffy responds, the smirk still lingering on her lips. Faith cocks an eyebrow, deciding to tease her rather then, hell, finish this conversation. Whatever it was. It was getting too… just too something.

"Was that a hint? I can give you a nice bouquet with a little card next time. Something that reads, 'Sorry for being such an asshole', or whatever. I can ever hire a singing messenger, that's what get's ya off, B."

Buffy rolls her eyes, but she's smiling a bit. "You're kind of an idiot," she tells her. Faith just shrugs, a hint of a smirk still playing on her lips. Buffy laughs a little; once, softly, before turning around. "Come on, let's get everyone back on board so we can get to someplace with a bed."

"I'm for that," Faith agrees, and suddenly her muscles decides to remind her how damn sore she is. Hell… yeah, a bed? That sounds fucking fabulous right about now.

When they all piled back into the bus, Faith was surprised when Buffy slid herself into the seat next to her. Faith didn't say anything and neither did Buffy. They just kind of left it like it was, so completely done with talking that it didn't matter enough to start again. It was maybe three or more hours until they got to LA, and Buffy did end up nodding off during the way. Faith didn't even notice until she felt her slip onto her, her head resting on her shoulder.

That hurt rips through her again, and she does everything she can to just not think about it. She trains her eyes out the window, the darkness settled in and the bright lights of the city on the horizon. She tries to ignore everything, all of it. All the feelings and the longing and the, hell, the sadness. Loneliness, maybe.

But it's kind of hard to ignore something when the cause of it is sleeping on your shoulder.

TBC…