Chapter Four: Mistake
The Slayers had been getting on really well since the staking of Kakistos.
Faith had been showing Buffy her way of slaying and the blonde had to be honest, she was finding it fun.
Want. Take. Have.
"So, what's the deal with you and Angel?" Faith asked as Buffy and herself walked through the cemetery they were currently patrolling one night.
Angel had been brought back into Buffy's life and she had only just told the rest of her friends about it even though he had been back a little while.
Buffy shrugged.
"I don't know...he's just here and I'm...taking care of him."
Faith grinned and nudged Buffy's arm.
"Oh yeah? It's like that, is it?"
Buffy rolled her eyes but a smile played across her lips.
"I don't blame ya, B. He's a hot piece of ass, I'll give ya that but...can he be trusted, after what he did?"
Buffy shrugged but then she thought about it.
"He's not Angelus anyore. He's Angel...I'm certain of that."
Faith shrugged.
"Well, good luck to you both." Faith said but it wasn't meant.
If anything, she was a little worried.
She'd been given the low down on Angelus and everything he'd done by Xander and he hadn't painted a pretty picture but Faith had picked up Xander's tone; resentful, jealous.
So she wasn't the only one who had a thing for little miss perfect, she thought with a knowing grin that she tried to hide from the girl in question.
Faith put her hands in the pockets of her jeans and tried to sound casual.
"So, I was thinkin', maybe after this we could get a takeaway? I did say that slayin' always makes me hungry and-"
Buffy held up a hand.
"Yes, I know the other part of that sentence."
Faith chuckled and looked at the blonde.
"So what d'ya say?"
Buffy stopped and turned to look at her, pausing to think for a moment.
"Yeah, I guess we could. I am a little hungry."
Faith smiled brightly.
"Cool. We'll do one more sweep of this place then we'll go."
Buffy nodded and the two slayers made that their last round.
...
The park had been locked up but that hadn't been a problem for Faith as she broke the chain and let Buffy in whilst telling her to hold her fries.
Once inside, the slayers went over to the swing set and took a seat each on them while they overlooked Sunnydale and ate their fries.
It was silent.
Neither girl said anything until Buffy spoke up.
"So Xander seems pretty impressed by you."
Faith nearly choked on a french fry.
"Xander?"
Buffy nodded.
"Do you like him?"
"No offence, B, but he's not really my type." She said with a raised eyebrow.
Buffy frowned but only slightly.
"Oh, then what is?"
Blonde, beautiful, hazel eyes, can kick ass almost as good as I can...
"I dunno. I don't really think about it much." She replied vaguely.
Faith suddenly felt uncomfortable as a wave of sadness hit her.
A longing for something that could never happen.
"Look um, I'm beat so I think I'm just gonna head back."
Buffy looked a little disappointed and she wondered if maybe she'd said something to upset Faith.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Faith shook her head and forced a smile.
"No, I'm just really tired, B. But look, I had a great time. Patrolling has never been so much fun. Thanks."
Buffy smiled when she saw the Faith's reaction was genuine.
"You're welcome. I'll walk you back."
Faith held up a hand.
"No, it's cool. I might swing by Restfield. It's on the way."
Buffy nodded. Faith wanted to be alone. That much was clear.
"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow?" She ventured.
Faith nodded and binned the rest of her fries.
"Sure. Same time, same place."
Buffy nodded and watched as Faith walked away.
Faith could kick herself sometimes.
Why did she have to act like that? Like nothing mattered and that she didn't really care about anything.
Why couldn't she be honest and say what she felt, what she really wanted to say.
She let out a groan as she turned into the alley that lead to Restfield cemetery, when someone jumped her.
She spun around, producing her stake and plunged into the vampire's heart.
No...
Not a vampire...a human.
Faith's eyes widened as she watched the human sink to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth.
Faith crouched down beside him, her hands moving in the air just in front of him.
She didn't know what to do. She couldn't think, didn't want to acknowledge what had just happened.
She should call someone but it was too late for that...he was dead, whoever he was.
She looked around and then down at the blood on her hands.
Buffy. She'll know what to do.
...
There was a light knocking on Buffy's bedroom window and the first thought that came to mind was Angel. He used to do that all the time.
She smiled when she got up from the bed and went over to the window to find a scared looking Faith outside.
She opened the window with a confused frown and the other slayer climbed inside.
"Faith? What's wrong? Are you ok?" Buffy asked, keeping her voice low as not to wake her mom.
Faith shook her head and held out her blood stained hands.
Buffy held them and her eyes widened.
She knew it wasn't demon blood.
"What happened?"
Faith's voice shook.
"This guy...he just-he came outta no where and I couldn't-I didn't know...Buffy I didn't know." Faith said, sobs wracking her body as she fought for control.
Buffy nodded and steered the other girl to the bathroom.
"Let's get you cleaned up first."
Inside, Buffy was shaking.
Faith had killed someone. Yes, it had been an accident but it was still murder.
Faith sat by the sink as Buffy ran the water and washed the blood from Faith's hands.
Faith was watching it drain away down the sink; the red of the blood making a harsh splash against the pristine white porcelain.
Once that was done, Buffy told Faith to take a shower while she went and got some clothes for her to wear.
Buffy rummaged around until she found some shorts and tank top. She then put them on the toilet seat while Faith was showering behind the curtain.
Back in her room, Buffy was trying to come to terms with what had happened.
They would need to talk about it, there was no getting away from it.
It had happened and Faith would have to face the consequences.
A little while later, Faith emerged from the bathroom.
Buffy forced a smile.
"Feel better?"
Faith wrapped her arms around herself and nodded.
"A little."
Buffy patted the space on the bed beside her.
"Tell me what happened, Faith."
Faith let out a breath as she sat next to the other slayer.
"I was in the alley, heading for Restfield, like I told you I would, then this guy jumps me and I..."
Faith experienced the flashback.
The guy. Her stake. His blood.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Buffy rubbed her arm comfortingly.
"It's ok. You can tell me."
Faith licked her lips, her mouth was suddenly dry.
"I staked him. Buffy, I thought he wads a vampire, I swear. I would never-"
"I know, I know, it's alright."
Faith shook her head.
"No...it's not alright. I killed a man."
Buffy nodded.
"I know but we'll get through this. Now the first thing we need to do is go to the police and tell them what happened."
Faith sprang up from the bed, making Buffy flinch and also stand up.
"No, no I can't do that."
Buffy frowned.
"Faith, you have to. You killed a man."
"I know but...jail? B, it was a mistake."
"It's still murder, Faith. I wanna help you but you have to do the right thing."
"And I wanna but I can't go to jail, Buffy. It's bad enough that the image of this guy is gonna haunt me for the rest of my life but to be inside as well? Nah, I can't do that."
Buffy gave her a stern expression.
"We all have to face up to what we've done, Faith. I would if it was me."
Faith's eyes suddenly darkened.
"But this wouldn't be you, would it? You're all good and pure. Buffy can do no wrong, that's you, isn't it, little miss perfect?"
Buffy glared at Faith.
"I'm not perfect."
Faith clenched her teeth.
"Coulda fooled me...you damn well act like it."
"Don't argue with me just because you can't handle what you've done."
Faith shook her head in disappointment and headed for the window.
"Y'know somethin? I really thought you were different. That you had my back. Man, I was way off."
"Faith, I do have your back and I'm trying to help you." Buffy explained, sounding like she was pleading with her.
"By puttin' me in the slammer? I don't think so."
Faith opened the window and climbed out.
"Faith, wait!"
"No, B. I know you now. I was wrong about you. Wrong to think that I could actually feel-" She stopped herself and then just shook her head.
"Whatever. See ya round."