Five: Angel

Author's Note- Secrets are revealed in this one...enjoy x

Angel frowned as he stood, putting the book down that he'd been holding.

He could hear someone outside and he wondered why they hadn't bothered coming in.

He went outside and saw Faith pacing back and forth like an untamed lion.

"Faith?"

The dark haired slayer looked up and forced a weak smile.

"Angel...I-I had no where else to go..."

He nodded and gestured for her to come inside.

She walked past him, wringing her hands as she went.

"I've done something really bad and B wants to turn me in." She explained.

Angel's frown deepend and he sat down as he listened to her.

She continued to pace and wring her hands.

She was restless and obviously whatever was plaguing her was tearing her apart.

"Faith, start from the begining."

She licked her lips and nodded.

"Ok...I was out with Buffy and then she went home. I said I was gonna swing by Restfield but this guy jumped me in this alley-I didn't know he was human, Angel, I swear- but I um...I killed him and now I...I don't know what to do and B wants to hand me over to the police and...Oh god, Angel I'm so scared." She cried as she went to him, throwing her arms around him and clinging on for dear life.

Angel and Faith hadn't known each other for very long but she knew if anyone could understand what she felt, what she was going through, he could.

He was a killer and now...so was she.

He probably understood parts of her that she couldn't even comprehend but she wasn't about to reveal that she had the hots for his girl, that would be something that Faith would take to her grave.

Angel held her for a while and then slowly pulled back, still holding her by the shoulders.

He was her anchor in a world that was falling apart all around her and she was scared that if he let her go, she would fall into the dark pit that had been calling her name ever since she had taken the life of a mortal.

"Does anyone else know?" Angel asked.

Faith shook her head.

"Ok. Now it's obvious you feel bad about what you've done. You're not a monster, Faith. As tragic as this is, it was an accident. Buffy wants you to go to the police because she believes that it could help you with the guilt you're feeling."

"Angel, I can't go to jail... I just can't."

"What about Giles? Have you thought of telling him about this? Maybe the Watcher's council could help with-"

"With what?! What could they help me with exactly?! Could they take away the image of the guy I staked? Can they make me feel better somehow? They can't help me, Angel. I have to find a way to live with this."

Angel nodded.

"You do...and I'm gonna help you."

Faith looked up at him, hope shone in her dark eyes which had somehow softened since she'd been in his company.

"You will?"

Angel nodded and she lept up, embracing him tightly.

"Thank you..." She whispered, tears cascading down her cheeks.

Faith closed her eyes as she rested her head against Angel's chest.

She felt safe and protected. She would be ok. As long as Angel was here, she'd be ok.

"What's going on here?"

Faith and Angel both looked up and then moved back from each other as Buffy stood in the doorway.

The blonde had a frown on her face and a brief look of hurt in her eyes.

"You couldn't get me on your side so you came to him?"

Faith shook her head.

"No...B, it's not like that. I didn't know what to do. I needed-I needed a friend."

"I am your friend, Faith!"

Angel took a step towards Buffy.

"It's not what you think. Faith came to me looking for help. She said you wanted her to go to the police."

Buffy nodded and folded her arms.

"I did. I still think she should."

Angel looked back at Faith.

"What good would it do her, Buffy? She's hurting, she feels remorse for what she did...she's not a monster."

Buffy looked from Angel to Faith and then back again.

"So that's all it takes, huh? Doe eyes, a little 'help me, Angel, I need you' and she's got you right where she wants you. I know her, Angel. She's reckless and selfish."

"B, I tried to talk to you-"

"Don't say another word." Buffy snapped, glaring at the other slayer.

"You know what Angel means to me and I wouldn't give you the answers you needed so you came here, to try and seduce him."

Faith frowned at that accusation.

"I just wanted help..."

"Oh I bet you did. I know Angel wouldn't touch you, Faith, but we both know that doesn't stop you from touching him."

Faith's fists clenched at her sides.

"This isn't about me and Angel or taking anything from you, B. I just wanted someone who understands me!"

Buffy narrowed her eyes at Faith.

"Why don't I believe you? Why should I believe the sexually adventurous, slutty Faith only ever wants a cuddle?"

Faith said nothing, just lowered her gaze.

Angel glanced at Faith.

When he looked back at Buffy, he lowered his voice.

"If you keep acting this way, we're gonna lose her."

"Angel, we lost her the moment she decided to kill that man!"

Faith put her hands to her head, trying to block out the voices.

She tried to ignore what Buffy was saying; how angry Buffy was and how Angel kept trying to defend her and make the other slayer understand Faith's point of view but the blonde wasn't having any of it and in the end, Faith ran.

Buffy took off after her but lost her as soon as she emerged from Angel's mansion.

Buffy looked up and down the road but Faith was no where to be found.

Angel was right...they'd lost her.

Buffy went back inside and Angel glared at her.

He knew Faith had gone.

His jaw tightened as Buffy stopped in the doorway as she had done when she'd come in the first time.

"She's gone."

Angel nodded, not saying a word.

"I thought she...I thought she came here to-"

"Sleep with me? Buffy, she was crying out for help. Anyone could see that."

Buffy nodded her head slowly.

She realised that her anger had overtaken her sense of what was right and wrong, or maybe it was something more; maybe the sight of another woman touching Angel had sparked something inside of her.

Buffy had never been the jealous type but after seeing how her friends had taken to Faith, she wondered if anyone could take Angel from her, could that person be Faith?

They were both similar now. They had a connection.

Angel sat down and scrubbed at his face.

"You should try to find her. The sun's coming up soon. I can't do anything."

Buffy nodded and turned to leave when she stopped herself.

"Angel...I'm sorry."

"Just find her." He said but he wasn't angry, he was disappointed.

Maybe if she could find Faith, they could help the other girl together.

It was worth a shot.

Buffy walked the streets of Sunnydale for hours, looking for the other slayer.

Faith was no where to be found.

Buffy tried the Bronze, the cemeteries, the motel...where could she have gone?

Buffy stopped walking, as she suddenly realised where Faith could be.

When Kakistos had been looking for her, she had waned to run so what was the difference this time?

Faith was in trouble and her gut instinct was to run.

She would run again. Buffy was sure of it.

Buffy turned and started running in the direction of the bus station.

Maybe she could catch her. Maybe it wasn't too late.

Buffy kept running.

She may be the slayer but her lungs still screamed for air and her legs burned as she pushed harder and harder.

She had to get to Faith.

Finally, she rounded the corner and found Faith standing at a bus stop.

She couldn't help the relieved smile that spread across her face.

A bus pulled up and Faith moved towards it as it stopped.

"Faith!" Buffy called out, jogging over to her.

Faith rolled her eyes at having been found.

"Shit..."

"Faith, you can't go."

"Why? Because the police haven't turned up yet and I should give them a chance?"

Buffy shook her head.

"No, because I believe that we can work this out, without anyone else. Me and Angel, we'll help you. Both of us."

Faith smirked but it was cold and void of emotion.

"Because your boyfriend told you to?"

Buffy frowned.

"No...because you're my friend, Faith."

Faith folded her arms and narrowed her dark eyes at Buffy.

"Really? Because the last time I checked, you basically accused me of trying to screw Angel."

Buffy licked her lips.

"I know but...you know, I wouldn't blame you if that's what you wanted. He wouldn't ever...do that but-"

Faith rolled her eyes.

"I don't want Angel, Buffy."

"I know but he is very attractive and you and he-"

"I needed someone to talk to, B. I didn't want to sleep with him."

It was clear by her fake smile that Buffy didn't believe a word the other girl was saying.

Buffy nodded but she thought that Faith was lying and her anger was starting to resurface.

"Ok. If you want to keep pretending that you aren't attracted to him then-"

"I'm not." Faith stated.

"Oh come on, Faith! I saw you with him!"

"I needed someone."

"You could have picked anybody! Giles, Xander, my god, even Willow but no, you picked him because you know what he means to me."

"That's not why-"

"Faith just stop with the lies!"

"It's not lies! If you knew what was really going on up here, you'd never question me again!" She exclaimed, pointing at her head for emphasis.

"Then tell me, Faith! Because I don't understand why you think it's ok to go after someone's boyfriend!"

"I will never want Angel like that!" Faith shouted, anger rising.

Buffy glared at her.

"More lies! So now do you want to make up a lie of why you wouldn't want him?!"

Faith reached boiling point and it came out of her mouth before she even had time to stop it.

"How could I possibly want Soul boy when all I've ever wanted was you?!"

Buffy stopped and Faith raked a hand through her hair as she licked her lips and turned away, instantly regretting what she'd just revealed.

Both slayers stayed silent.

Buffy was trying to understand what Faith had just said and Faith was standing there, wishing that she could take back that last sentence.

When Buffy could finally speak, she frowned a little.

"Why didn't you...I mean-why did you keep this quiet?"

Faith shrugged, trying to look tough again.

"Dunno, what was the point? I mean, as you could ever feel that way about someone like me."

Buffy looked down.

She wasn't sure what to think.

There was something about Faith that made Buffy a teeny tiny bit curious but nothing she would ever admit to.

She could never see herself in a relationship with the other woman.

In truth, she never thought that Faith, so cock-sure of herself, confident, almost bordering on arrogant, would ever be interested in whiter-than-white little Buffy or Little miss perfect as she would sometimes called her.

Buffy's eyes slowly looked at Faith who had her back to her.

"Faith."

The dark haired slayer turned.

"Nothing can ever...I mean, I don't feel that way...about you."

Faith nodded as her heart broke but really, she was only listening to what she already knew.

A small smirk touched Faith's lips.

"I know. It's cool. You'd probably be a boring screw anyway."

Buffy nodded.

It wasn't that she agreed but she knew why Faith said those cutting things sometimes.

All the jibes, the insults, the snappy responses; it was all to protect that indestructible wall she'd carefully built up over the years.

"Anyway, I gotta go." Faith said, turning to leave the bus station.

"Where will you go?"

Faith shrugged.

"Anywhere that isn't here... Anywhere that doesn't include you or anything to do with you." She said sharply as she turned her back on the other slayer.

Buffy watched her walk away.

She wondered where Faith would go and if she was doing the right thing by letting her walk away.

It didn't change anything that Faith had a thing for Buffy.

They could still be friends in Buffy's eyes, but whether Faith was on board with that was another issue.

Buffy watched until Faith rounded a corner and then the blonde turned turned away.

She would tell Angel that she couldn't find her.

It was easier than telling him the truth.

At least that's what her mind told her.

Author's Note- So it's out in the open. Faith will be back but what side will she be on and what does that mean for her and Buffy, if anything? Wanna know? I'll update soon. Thanks for sticking with this story guys. x