Chutes & Ladders

Part 2, Chapter 3

Her bare feet remained clean despite the dusty beach she was standing on. The night was alive around her with the sounds of battle. Men fought furiously in hand to hand combat, wearing body armor and carrying spears and clubs. Buffy didn't have much time to be alarmed because almost immediately, a pair of dueling men fell through her. The feeling was curious, like a crawling under her skin; then the two were rolling away, beating one another's faces furiously. She sighed and looked up at stars shining more brilliantly in the dark sky than she'd ever seen in her life. A girl ran by, her face pale and covered in a sheen of sweat. Buffy's eyes tracked her. This had all the marks of a slayer dream and there went a slayer.

Following the girl was easy enough, given that none of the falling, swinging, frenetic bodies could touch her. She was at once part of the scene and outside of it. She matched the girl's pace and followed her to the shoreline where the she paused, doubling over in pain. Still, she held a torch aloft in her hand. The dark skinned girl wiped her arm across her clammy brow and dragged herself upright. Plunging into the water, she began swimming toward several huge ships anchored off-shore.

"Seriously?" Buffy asked aloud, looking upward toward the sky. "I didn't even bring a bathing suit!"

"It comes for Thessily now." A voice intoned close to her ear and the slayer stepped back, startled.

Turning toward the voice, her eyes widened. "Kendra?"

The former slayer smiled benevolently and tilted her head toward Buffy in acknowledgement.

"Kendra." The blonde repeated sadly, remembering the last time she'd seen the other slayer. The girl had been dead on the library floor, her throat cut by Drusilla.

"Buffy." The former slayer greeted, her accent as thick as it had been in life.

"Where are we?" Buffy asked, watching as the swimming girl reached the closest ship and began to haul herself up a rope she'd located.

"We are in the place between times."

"Right." Buffy frowned. "Silly me."

Kendra's thick braid bobbed as she stepped closer and urgently looked into Buffy's eyes. "He lives outside. But you can catch him, if you're clever."

Trying to follow along, Buffy nodded. "I'm clever. Kind of. How can I catch him?"

"Watch." Kendra said with sudden intensity. The slayer was leaping gracefully from the ship's side. Her feet disappeared under the waves just as flames began to lick the sides of the boat. Screaming men dove from all sides of the deck. Fire raced across the water's surface, which was slick with oil. Buffy watched anxiously until the girl finally dragged herself from the waves. She was running again instantly. Buffy moved to follow her, but Kendra's cool hand on her arm stopped her. Without any effort on their part, the two 20th century slayers followed in the girl's wake. Finally, the slayer arrived at a modest house and stumbled through the doorway. A man sitting at the table jumped to his feet. "Thessily!" He cried, as she collapsed in his arms.

"Oh, no. No, no, no," He muttered fervently and although his language was foreign to her, Buffy found she understood him all the same. "Please." He sank to the ground, holding her to his chest.

"Thaos?" Her whispered word was almost drowned by the sounds of the man crying.

"Why are we watching this?" Buffy asked quietly.

Kendra held up a warning palm and the world seemed to freeze. All sound ceased and the weeping man on the ground was unmoving. The girl too was frozen, her blue lips unmoving.

"What did you do?" The blonde asked in alarm. As she spoke the scene began to change rapidly. The stars shifted in their positions. The house fell away, being replaced by an uphill winding path. The girl floated free of the man's grasp and her body changed rapidly. The lines in her face melted away and her form became thicker and stronger. Her hair grew longer until it fell down her back in tangled locks. She was younger now and she wasn't alone, as more bodies appeared near her. Abruptly, the world began to move again and suddenly the girl was fighting, futilely trying to fend off the nine vampires crowded around her. The fight was short lived and ended when one of the vampires got a lucky hold around the slayer's torso. With a snort of pleasure, he sunk his teeth into her throat and ripped. The slayer collapsed as her life's blood pounded from her torn throat.

Buffy watched in horror as the rest of the vampires leapt on the fallen girl, sinking their teeth into any part of her they could reach. She turned her back on the scene, feeling sick to her stomach.

"Do you see?" Kendra asked, stepping into her line of sight.

"See them ripping her apart? Yeah, I got it." The blonde was disgusted.

Kendra shook her head, her face curiously blank. "It comes and you are blind to it. It will destroy them all." Her gaze sharpened on Buffy's. "Until it comes for you."

"You know," The blonde pointed out, "When Faith invites herself into my dreams, at least she sometimes makes sense."

The ghost of the smile that crossed Kendra's face squeezed Buffy's heart. She reached forward, cupping Buffy's face in her cool palms. The Jamaican girl took a deep breath as though about to impart some important information, when they were interrupted by a third party.

"Don't mean to interrupt what looks like it'll be a really interesting make out session," Faith growled rudely as she appeared at Buffy's side. "But what the hell's going on?"

Kendra dropped her hands from Buffy, regaining her stoic expression. "It is finished here."

"Kind of looks like it's still going on." Faith grimaced as she watched the rabid vampires feasting on the now deceased slayer.

"He is gone." Kendra replied. "She is the first. But she will not be the last." She narrowed her gaze to just Buffy. "Their books cannot help you."

"What will help me then?" The blonde asked.

Suddenly Buffy opened her eyes to early morning sunlight. She was awake, she realized with a start. She looked around wildly for a moment, not remembering quite where she was. Spotting the person slumbering next to her, she relaxed back against her pillow. It was cold, and she drew the covers up further to cover his shoulders. Xander mumbled incoherently, burrowing his face into his pillow.

Buffy wondered what Faith was thinking of the dream they'd just shared. She had no idea what the hell Kendra had been talking about. Seeing an ancient slayer die was awful, but it wasn't exactly newsworthy here in the present. Maybe Faith had some ideas… Catching herself, Buffy paused. She had to stop thinking about Faith. She'd wasted enough time pursuing what she thought was the start of something with the other slayer. Only to have it thrown back in her face on Christmas Eve. No, she was not going to think about Faith.

Beside her, Xander slowly drifted into consciousness. "Hey," He whispered when he saw that she was awake.

"Morning." Buffy murmured back.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." She looked down. "Just a slayer dream."

"This is just a wild guess, but I'm thinking it didn't include a bunch of slayers eating ice cream and getting pedicures."

"And you would be correct." The blonde affirmed. "It was more of the vampires feasting on her dead body variety."

"Well," Xander frowned. "At least now I've lost the urge to eat breakfast."

"Sorry." She smiled slightly. "Next time I'll dream of pancakes."

"Please do." The boy agreed.

"Pancakes?" Willow's rumpled red hair appeared over Buffy's shoulder. "Are there pancakes?"

"Metaphorical cakes, Will." Xander replied.

"Oh." The witch pouted.

Buffy sat up, pulling her arms around herself for warmth. "Let's go find some pancakes. It's freezing in this tent."

"It was your idea to camp out." Willow pointed out.

"That's because I didn't want to patrol."

Understanding, Xander nodded. "So, uh, was Faith in the dream?"

Buffy nodded. "And Kendra."

"Weird." The redhead interjected, poking her feet from under the blanket and fumbling to put her sneakers on. "Do you know what it meant?"

The slayer shrugged helplessly.

"So I guess we're library bound?"

"Yeah." Buffy sighed. It looked like she was going to be meeting with Giles sooner than expected.

---

"Is anyone else disturbed by the fact that Giles was already at school, during Christmas vacation, before we called him?" Xander looked around at the others seated in the library. "Just me?"

"I received some new books last week and I thought I'd make good use of this time to catalogue them." Giles informed them. "There are some rather interesting texts on the Old Ones, pure demons, in particular I…" He trailed off, taking in the three blank faces before him. "Umm, yes, what was it you needed to speak to me about?"

"Slayer dream." Buffy replied, filling him in quickly on the gist of the dream.

"You say Kendra was there?" Giles asked, already scanning the shelf under the counter for the tome he wanted.

"Uh-huh. I got the feeling she wanted to tell me something else, but Faith showed up and then I woke up."

"Well perhaps Faith can shed some further insight into the rest of the dream." Giles's cheeks flushed guiltily. "Ah, it would probably be best if you brought it up to her."

The slayer shook her head. "I'm persona au gratin right now, too."

"Persona non grata." Willow correctly gently as Giles looked pained.

"Whatever. The point is we're not exactly making with the speaking these days."

"Possibly because you've been camping in my backyard to make sure she can't find you." Xander chimed in.

Buffy's responding look was murderous.

"Here we are." Giles muttered. He was holding a cracked leather book. "Thessily of Thessilonikki was a Greek slayer, called in 507 B.C. She was the slayer for seven years and by her watcher's accounts she showed tremendous potential. Unfortunately she was attacked and killed by a mob of vampires."

"Thaos was her watcher?"

"Yes."

"I don't understand." The slayer shook her head. "I saw her running through this huge battle. She set those ships on fire."

"It sounds like you're describing the Battle of Marathon. But Thessily couldn't have been there." Giles frowned. "She'd been dead for ten years."

"Why would I see her there?" Buffy asked.

"I've no idea." The librarian admitted.

"Maybe it's an alternate universe thing?" Willow suggested. "Like in a different universe she was there."

"It's possible." Giles agreed, having no better suggestions. "I'll do a little research. In the meanwhile, Buffy, if you do speak to Faith, see if she has any more to add to your account."

"Okay." She agreed. Standing up, she looked at her friends. "Let's get out of here before Giles realizes we're bailing on the research."

Her watcher smiled patiently at the trio as they pulled their coats on. "Enjoy your break."

---

When the knock sounded at her door, Faith was sprawled miserably across her bed channel surfing. It had been four days since she'd stormed out of Buffy's room, and the blonde girl had pretty much been avoiding her ever since. Not that Faith had really gone looking for her. The older slayer had gone out patrolling every night and she suspected Buffy had done the same. She hadn't seen the blonde, but a few of the cemeteries were emptier than they usually were, which led her to believe someone else had gotten there before her. Faith had tried each of the graveyards she knew Buffy was most likely to hit, and she'd even gone through the Bronze in hopes of running into the other girl accidentally. But she'd been unsuccessful.

She knew she could just go over to Buffy's house and catch her there, but she hadn't really figured out what to say yet. After spending Christmas day in her motel room eating ding dongs and watching a repeating loop of "A Christmas Story," Faith could admit she hadn't exactly meant what she'd said to the other slayer. Hopping up from bed, she brushed off her pants. That was probably Buffy at the door now. Or the manager to kick her out for nonpayment. Either way, she had to face the music sometime.

She fixed a neutral look on her face and swung open the door. To her great displeasure, the newest Watcher's Council stiff was standing on the other side. Wesley gave her a tentative smile and wiggled the pizza he was carrying enticingly. Faith frowned, weighing the cost of listening to the guy prattle on against her love of pizza and the fact that she hadn't eaten anything substantial in the last day. She spotted the motel manager making his way across the lot and made up her mind hastily. Grabbing Wesley's arm, she yanked him into the room. He let out a gasp of surprise upon finding himself dragged into her room.

"Hey! Lehane!" The manager's shout reached her just before the door could close and Faith sighed irritably.

"Look, I told you I'll be paid up by the end of the week." She growled as he reached her door.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, panting and gripping his paunch. "You're paid through the end of the month. I came to tell you I had a plumber by to look at the pipes. So you can quit complaining about the water pressure in your room."

"Gee," Faith chirped, trying to mask her ignorance of where the rent payment had come from. "It only took you two months."

The man rubbed his palm over his balding head. "Well, whatever. It's done now."

"Thanks a bunch." She flashed a fake smile and stepped inside, closing the door hard in his face. Turning, she found Wesley awkwardly holding the pizza and looking around the room. "I'll take that." Faith relieved the watcher of his package and set it on the table, immediately pulling it open and helping herself to a slice. She settled in the only chair, leaving Wesley to seat himself awkwardly on the edge of her unmade bed.

"Faith," he began uncertainly. "I was hoping we could talk."

She eyed him indifferently while polishing off her first slice of pizza. "So talk."

"Alright." Wesley agreed, folding his hands in his lap. "I've come to give you another opportunity to work with the council."

Faith paused in her pursuit of a second slice. "You're kidding, right?"

"Kidding? No, I'm afraid not."

"Well, in that case, I already told you. I'm done with the council."

"You are the slayer." Wesley reminded her indignantly. "You don't have the option of being 'done with' your calling. The world needs the slayer."

"Maybe." The brunette shrugged. "But I haven't noticed any of you council guys fighting next to me in the cemetery. So not really clear on why the slayer needs the council."

The young watcher blinked back at her in disbelief. "Because every slayer since the very first has worked under the council."

Faith paused in her voracious chewing to bark out a laugh. "Except the ones you murdered, I guess."

Wesley grimaced. "No one was trying to murder you. The cruciamentum is a merely a test to--"

"Look," Faith interrupted, leaning forward in her seat so Wesley cowered backward. "I'm gonna tell you this one more time. I'm a free agent. I slay when I wanna slay. I go where I wanna go. And I don't take orders from you or anyone else."

"But--"

The savage glare the slayer shot him was enough to halt Wesley's sentence. Faith climbed to her feet and yanked open the door hard enough that it creaked on its hinges. "We're done talking. And next time I see someone from the council, I might have a couple 'tests' of my own. You got that?"

"Yes." The watcher informed her, climbing to his feet. He stepped through the door onto the pavement outside. "You know how to contact me should you come to your senses."

Faith's eyes nearly rolled out of her head. "Thanks for the pizza." She smirked, before she slammed the door in his face.

---

"Are you sure you feel up to going out tonight?" Willow asked in concern for perhaps the fifth time since she'd arrived at Buffy's house.

The slayer momentarily paused where she stood at the dresser, applying mascara liberally to her lashes. "Will, I told you, I'm good."

"Okay… it's just that you've been kinda hiding out in your house since Christmas, so…"

"I was not hiding!" Buffy huffed. "Okay, so maybe I was a little Daria-esque. But I'm fine now, okay?"

Her best friend looked back earnestly.

"I mean it." The blonde insisted. She finished with her mascara and reached for some pink gloss. "I misread the situation with Faith. That's all. I'm over it now."

"Okay." The other girl murmured. "Well, I'm glad you wanted to come. The Dingoes are playing and I wanted to go and be supportive girl."

"Supporting is good." Buffy agreed, beginning to rummage through her closet for something suitable to wear.

Willow flipped absently through a magazine while the slayer got dressed. She looked up as she heard Buffy clearing her throat. "Oh," She sputtered, taking in the blonde's skintight jeans and skimpy top. "You look nice." She looked down at her fuzzy blue sweater in dismay. "Are we going for fancy? I didn't know we were doing fancy."

Buffy gazed into the mirror innocently. "I don't know what you mean, Will." In truth, she was not going to risk running into Faith without looking hot. Let the other slayer see what she was throwing away. Downstairs, the doorbell rang. Buffy took one last approving look in the mirror, mentally congratulating herself on her newest push-up bra, then held out a hand to drag Willow up from the bed. "That must be Xander. You ready?"

---

Faith sat in the darkest corner of the Bronze, watching as Cordelia danced with a couple of guys she didn't recognize. She'd come here hoping to run into Buffy, although she still wasn't sure what she was going to say when she saw the other slayer. If B would even listen, that was. Well, that was one reason. Cordelia showing up at the motel and complaining until Faith had agreed to come with her was the other. Faith liked Cordelia, she was interesting and gave as good as she got when verbally sparring, but listening to the cheerleader bitch and moan could really wear a person down. Her only options had been to accompany the other girl or to bodily throw her out of the room. Option #2 hadn't seemed like an entirely bad idea, but unfortunately with the rest of the Scoobies definitely on Team Buffy, she wasn't winning any popularity contests.

So, she found herself seated alone on a couch that had been worn threadbare by thousands of asses, nursing a Jack and coke she'd procured. She was contemplating slipping out while Cordy was occupied when a blonde entering the Bronze caught her attention. Buffy's hair was pulled back loosely, leaving her toned shoulders bare to Faith's gaze. She looked good. Really good, Faith decided. Her usual entourage flanked her, and the trio quickly found a table near the stage, where the Dingoes were just starting to set up. Buffy didn't glance over to see her, but Faith knew the other slayer could tell she was here. The minute the blonde had entered the club, her spine tingled. There were no surprise entrances with the slayer connection thrumming between them.

As the brunette observed, Buffy smiled playfully at her friends, pulling them toward the packed dance floor. Willow and Xander followed her and the three began to dance in a loose group. Even if she hadn't known B was a slayer, she'd still have known there was something special lurking under the other girl's tiny exterior. Buffy's hips moved in perfect rhythm, her body perfectly at home with any kind of dancing the beat required. She exuded a confidence and a sensuality that most of the other dancers lacked. Which was why it was only moments before a guy muscled his way between her and Xander, giving the boy a dismissive smile. Xander took the hint, moving closer to Willow (although not too close). Buffy smiled dazzlingly up at the tall dark haired man who was now wrapping his hands around her hips.

Faith had been bored a few minutes ago but now she sat up straighter in her seat. Buffy was writhing slowly in the other dancer's hold, letting her pelvis bump his and allowing him to run his hands over her body. Anger flared deep in the older slayer's stomach, beginning a slow smolder that forced her to clench her hand tighter around her glass. As she kept watch on the dance floor, her frustration only increased, until she felt ready to storm out there and rip the asshole's arms from his body. The flood of adrenaline pumping in her veins was exactly the same as when she was slaying. She had to move.

Heading for Cordelia, she saw an average looking guy who would suit her purposes, and grabbed his collar, dragging him along after her. "Hey!" He protested. Faith ignored him, pulling until she reached her friend's side. Once there, she released his shirt, dancing close to him. "What the hell?" He asked, irritated.

"Look," Faith growled, licking her lips. "Shut up and dance." A little extra swing in her movements ground her hips into his. The guy quit protesting and grabbed her waist.

Cordelia observed Faith's entrance onto the floor with a knowing smirk. "I see Buffy's here."

"What's your point?" The slayer muttered, wrapping her palm around her partner's neck and pulling his face down so he was breathing right on her neck.

Cordy shrugged, continuing to dance. "Just that it's obvious what you're doing. Just like it's obvious what she's doing."

"Yeah? Well, I'm gonna do it better."

And she certainly gave it her best shot. The man she'd drawn into the game with her had no complaints as the slayer basically used him as a pole. While Buffy's dancing was sensual, Faith's style was a little more overt. She moved around her delighted partner, shoving her breasts into his chest, turning around and backing her butt into his crotch, raising her leg around his hip so she could feel his semi-erect cock poking against her. She kept a slight smile on her face, acting like she was enjoying the way the man's hands ran up her sides, brushing against her breasts. Her real purpose was both to keep her eye on the other slayer and to make sure Buffy saw what she was doing.

"What's your name?" Her dancing partner asked casually, while basically dry humping her in full view of the entire club.

"Faith."

The guy waited a moment then frowned. "Mine's James." He offered.

"Great." She muttered back, obviously unconcerned. Buffy's new friend, who looked disconcertingly like Angel, was whispering something to her. The blonde was laughing and smacking his bicep coquettishly, as if she couldn't break him in two with one hand. Faith narrowed her eyes, eager to know what the hell was so funny. Now the blonde was throwing her head back, letting the guy support her weight while she swayed in his arms. The older slayer couldn't help imagining trailing her mouth down Buffy's soft white neck. Sliding her fingertips over that exposed patch of abdomen showing when the other girl's tank top rode up. Why was Buffy even bothering with this creep? Probably just tryin' to get me jealous. Faith told herself. Well two can play this game, B. "Want to go somewhere?" She asked a startled James.

"Uh, sure." This chick was a little weird, even for a Sunnydale girl, but James wasn't about to pass up free pussy, no matter how strange she was.

"Great." Faith spat, taking his hand and yanking him after her.

"Uh, Faith?" Cordelia called to her friend's back.

The slayer ignored her, shoving her way through the crowd so that she dragged James right by Buffy and the Scoobs. As she passed the smaller girl, she glared down at her heatedly. Buffy narrowed her hazel eyes back for a moment and then turned her attention back to dancing.

Fuming now, Faith headed for the exit, with James struggling to keep pace with her. "Whoa," He said as they reached the door. "Slow down, baby."

The slayer charged through the door and dropped his sweaty palm as soon as they were clear. Before she could tell him to get lost, the door burst open behind her, and Cordy spilled out. "What are you doing?" She demanded.

"What's it look like?" James butted in, rudely.

Cordelia spared him a withering glance. "It looks like my friend is about to catch Chlamydia. Get the hell out of here."

James's face darkened and he stepped closer to the tall girl. "Watch it, bitch."

"Why don't you watch your fuckin' mouth." Faith hissed back at him, taking a step away.

He reached out to grab the slayer's arm. "Let's just get out of here."

"Get your hands off her!" The taller girl barked.

"Cordy, I got this." Faith cut in. With little effort she removed her arm from his grasping hand. "Changed my mind." She informed him with little interest.

"Excuse me?" He laughed incredulously. "Is this some kind of game with you two? You lure some guy in and get him all hot and bothered and then tell him to fuck off?"

"That's exactly the kind of game she likes." A new voice remarked, and Faith looked up to find Buffy standing nearby with her arms folded across her chest. Xander was standing next to her, looking awkwardly at the trio they'd stumbled upon.

"Must be a slayer thing." The brunette slayer shot back.

Looking back and forth between the two angry girls, Cordelia sighed. "I can't believe these words are about to come out of my mouth, but Xander! Let's go talk. Inside." She pushed past him, taking his arm and pulling him behind her.

As their friends disappeared back inside, Faith shot an irritated look at her former dancing partner. "What are you still doing here?"

Turning on his heel, James disappeared down the alley.

"Ending your date so soon?" Buffy asked, as he walked away.

"Wasn't really my type. Not like your guy in there."

"What about him?"

"Just looks an awful lot like your ex, that's all."

The blonde paled, eyes narrowing dangerously. "What's your point?"

"Nothing." Faith raised her palms in surrender. "This one's alive right? At least you're making progress."

"Screw you." Buffy muttered. "At least I didn't look like I was trying out for a porn in the middle of the Bronze."

"No, you looked like you were letting some guy put his hands all over you to make me jealous."

"Why would you care? You made it crystal clear we're not together." When Faith didn't reply, Buffy shrugged with forced nonchalance. "So I guess it doesn't matter what I do."

Faith turned so her face was in shadow. "Guess it don't."

"Great." Buffy turned back toward the club, intent on getting Xander.

"Ask you something?" Faith muttered, stuffing her hands in her back pockets.

"What?" The other girl stopped, but didn't turn back around.

"What'd you come out here for?"

"We were ready to leave."

"Beefstick wasn't doing it for you?"

"What do you care, Faith?"

The brunette fidgeted for a moment. Brought her fingertips to her mouth as if to chew her nail. Dropped them again, smoothed her hand over her hip. "Thought maybe you came out after me." She mumbled honestly.

Buffy turned to face her. She took a deep breath, searching for something to say. She seemed to come up empty.

"I'm sorry, B." Faith's admission was blurted.

"For what?"

Faith groaned inwardly. She should have known Buffy wasn't going to let her off the hook easily. "Tonight. The Angel comments."

"Oh," Buffy said, obviously still upset. "I thought you were apologizing for flipping out on me and ditching me on Christmas Eve."

"Uh," The brunette muttered. "Yeah, that too."

The smaller girl wrapped her arms around herself. "What happened, Faith?"

Shrugging, the older slayer studied the concrete under her feet. "Just pissed about this shit with the council, I guess."

"So you took it out on me."

"Yeah." Faith stepped closer. "Look, B, I know it ain't your fault. Shouldn't have said all that crap."

"Yeah." Buffy softened slightly. "I'm sorry too."

"For what?"

"Only thinking about myself." She said, echoing Faith's accusation to her.

"I didn't really mean that." The brunette mumbled.

"Yeah, you did. But you were right."

Faith let that sink in for a few minutes before tentatively looking over at the other girl. "So…we're okay?"

"Yeah," Buffy replied. A few laughing teens left the Bronze, walking between them and down the alley. The blonde watched their retreating forms quietly. Faith stepped closer, as if to touch her and Buffy looked back up to her, finishing her thought quietly. "We're friends."

"Good." Faith said with a forced smile. She dropped her hand as if she hadn't been intending to touch the other slayer. Friends?

---

If you're reading, please leave a comment! I'd love to know what you think, where you're hoping the plot is headed, suggestions, anything... :)