Chapter 16 (The Strange Insightful-ness of Faith Lehane)

"Wow. Um, okay," Tara stared blankly at the nicely chopped basil leaves piled neatly atop the cutting board beside the sink. 'Piled' being the pivotal word.

'Was I in the bathroom that long?'

Artie looked rather proud of herself, and if she had a tail, it'd no doubt be wagging. Tara couldn't help but laugh.

"I guess we'll be having pesto for the next couple of days, huh?"

"Faith moved in."

Wow. Okay, subtle topic shifts were not her Slayer's strong point. "O-oh yeah. I asked her last week."

"Last week?" Artie's already squeaky little-girl voice cracked. "A whole week and you didn't tell me?"

Tara's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline. "I…assumed you wouldn't mind. We have lots of room here, and honestly? Giles' couch is no place for a teenaged girl." She gave her Slayer a pointed look.

"But, but," Artie looked at her with large, dewy, brown eyes and curled her hands up to her own chest in a way that should have made Tara think of a squirrel but in reality reminded her of a baby T-Rex. "She's a stranger."

Goodness gracious, perhaps it was a good thing Xander had turned down the offer she extended both him and Faith after the Q'bon incident. He needed a way out of his current living situation as much as Faith did, if not more so. Still, if this was Art reacting to Faith moving in, Tara was little glad that Xander had politely declined.

"I don't understand," she furrowed her brow. "You've patrolled together before."

"Yeah, like, twice! And you were there! She's intimidating!"

"I've seen you joke around with her, Art."

The little Slayer sputtered. "Yeah, because there were these…boundries!" She flailed her hands in an effort to make her words understood. Meanwhile, Tara's eyebrows continued their rise, fall, twitch, furrow pattern.

Okay, so it seemed Artie-logic was not normal person logic. Tara sighed. "Just…give it a bit, alright? I'm sure you'll get used to each other."

Art watched her Watcher turn to go, and couldn't help a little scowl.

She did not like being kept out of the loop.

WTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWT WTWTWTWT

KNOCK-KNOCK!

Tara poked her head into the downstairs bedroom. "Hi! Just checking to see if you were all settled?"

Faith sat up in the bed. "Hells yeah! Gotta say T, sweet digs. Waaay better than G-man's couch."

Tara ducked her head, blushing a bit. "I-it was no big deal. You definitely needed more space, a-and it is a Watcher's job to take care of Slayers, right?"

Faith rolled her eyes. "Sure, whatever you say, T," she paused. "Really Tara. I can't thank you enough."

The Watcher tilted her head at the uncharacteristic sincerity in Faith's voice. "Not a problem. Really."

And then the moment was broken, Faith turning her attention back to the TV. "Shit, T. Didja see this yet?" It was a news report.

"….Australia's rabbit population has hit an all-time low. Considered pests that have damaged the ecosystem since their introduction in the 19th century, all week it's been observed that younger rabbits have been turning on the older ones and killing and eatingthem."

"Strange times down under, eh, Frank?"

"Along with the rumored 'bunyip' sightings going on over there, I'd have to say you're right Diane."

"You don't suppose that was Anyanka and our Q'bon, do you T?"

Tara could only nod dumbly. "That's..that's genious, when you think about it."

Faith clicked the 'mute' button. "So..?"

"Huh?"

"T, as nice as you seem, you totally didn't just come in here to check on me." She took a moment to study the witch.
"Actually, you probably did. But really, what else is it?"

Tara blushed. Was she so easy to read? "It's, um well, it's Artie."

"Baby Slayer? What up with her?"

"Just…maybe you could hang out with her a little? She's a little-"

"Freaked right now?" At Tara's wide eyed stare, Faith shrugged her shoulders. "You shoulda seen B' when I first rolled into town. Ain't meant to be more than one Slayer, it's just unnatural. The way B' says it, we're predators, all territorial like. Took me and B' a month or three before we figured out why she was so 'grrr' and I wasn't."

Tara nodded, cupping her own chin deep in thought. "You were the young, sleek thing coming into her town, doing her job."

Faith grinned wickedly. "I'll take that as a complement," then her face turned contemplative. "Wonder what it's like on baby Slayer's end? All little and getting started, and then a bigger, more experienced hunter comes in your house?" She sat up, boots hitting the floor. Hands on her knees, she sighed. "I'll be friendly."

"I'm terrified to know your definition of friendly," Tara deadpanned. "I want my Slayer to not be a territorial baby kitten, but I also don't want her being some sort of truant."

"Shouldn't you be at a picnic sucking face with Red?" Faith huffed as she stuck her head out of the bedroom door. "HEY KIDDO! LET'S GO FOR A WALK!"

Tara cringed as she ducked out the front door in time to hear a crash and Artie's terrified yelp. She glanced at her watch, tucking the picnic blanket safely under her arm.

11:30

She hoped she wasn't late.

WTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWT WTWT

Back at the Rosenberg residence, Willow stared horrified at the various items spread on the kitchen island, then to the picnic basket.

"Oh god. White bread or whole wheat?"

A few of each should work, she decided, and reached for the bowl of chicken salad. Then stilled her hand. Maybe egg salad? What about tuna? She felt her stomach drop.

"Oh god. I never asked if she ate animal products!"

Panicked, she clamored for the jars of peanut butter and jelly. PB&J, the end all, be all of sandwiches. There was no possible way to fuck it up.

Unless….

Her hands flew to her hair. "Gotteniu! What if she's allergic?!"