A/N: Again, thanks for all the reviews guys ;-)

Chapter 4: Revelations

Int: Warehouse

Faith lay on the dirty floor of the warehouse, pain coursing through her badly beaten body as she desperately clutched at her abdomen. She was struggling to remain conscious, blinking away the darkness threatening to overwhelm her. The fight wasn't over yet, and even in her severely weakened state, Faith was ready for battle.

Angelus looked outside and rolled his eyes, "Aw, crap! You mean killing the Beast really does bring back the sun? I thought that was Angel's retarded fantasy." He stood up and looked at the beaten Slayer, an evil smirk on his face, "Aah! Oh, well, what're you gonna do? Take the bad with the good, I always say. Anyway, I just wanted Beastie boy here to soften you up. I like my meat nice and tender."

The psychotic tone in his voice chilled Faith as she used some overhanging chains for leverage as she slowly struggled to her feet; she was in no condition to face the vampire so she swung the heavy hook and chains towards him before crumpling to the floor again.

Angelus dodged it easily, "Ooh, swing and a miss, slugger. Sorry, but…" realization hit him as he turned his attention to the chains as they smashed through the dirty window, letting the sunlight pour in.

He ducked for cover, "God!" he chuckled, "OK. Well, I gotta give you props." He glared at the Slayer, she was sitting safely out of his reach in the suns' rays, gingerly holding her abdomen struggling to breathe; his expression was psychotic, "Nice move, really." He smirked at her, "I guess we'll just have to take a rain check on that whole eviscerating you thing; hey, maybe Buffy can watch."

He looked at her hungrily, enjoying the pain and anger flashing in her eyes, "Just you and me, now, Faithy." He winked, "Catch you later." He disappeared into the bowels of the warehouse, his warning echoing behind him.

Int: Buffy's bedroom.

Buffy sat up in her bed suddenly; she was covered in a thin layer of sweat and was panting with fear. She hurt all over; she felt like she'd just gone 10 rounds with a brick wall. Faith. She could feel the pain the dark Slayer was in, it was almost unbearable. Relief filled her, the other Slayer was still alive, but she was obviously hurt, badly. Buffy closed her eyes and focused on sending reassuring feelings to Faith; she tried to will the injured Slayer not to give up. She could feel the pain, despair, hopelessness and self loathing pouring off the dark Slayer and it scared her.

Int: Bathroom at Wesley's Place

Faith stood tentatively under the shower nozzle; leaning into the water, letting it wash over her face. The tiny jets of water were so soothing, easing the pain in her battered body. She stared at the wall, utter exhaustion and despair filling her being, blood streaking down her body and legs, mingling with the warm water.

She started to punch the wall in front of her, losing control of her emotions, smashing the tiles, but not stopping; the pain in her knuckles fueling her rage. She screamed as she destroyed the wall, pieces falling to the floor at her feet.

Faith stopped pounding as a feeling of calm came over her, she took some deep breathes and let the soothing sensation wash over her. She could feel Buffy through their slayer bond, her presence was so strong. Faith felt safe all of a sudden, she didn't know why the blonde slayer was reaching out to her now but it felt so good, so right. She composed herself and stepped fully under the soothing water, closing her eyes, relishing the comforting feeling.

Int: Buffy's Bedroom

Buffy's connection with the dark Slayer was disturbed by soft knocking at her bedroom door. She sighed, hoping she'd done enough to reassure the dark Slayer, "Come in." she called out softly, sitting in her bed, arms folded across her legs in front of her.

Willow peered into the bedroom and smiled slightly at the Slayer, "I'm not disturbing you am I?"

Buffy smiled at her friend and gestured for her to come join her on the bed.

"Can't sleep?" Willow sat down next to the blonde, smiling sadly at her friend.

"It was just…" Buffy paused, not sure she wanted to tell Willow about the connection she had with the dark Slayer just yet, she smiled at the witch, "Just thinking, that's all." She looked at Willow; she could tell there was something on her mind, "You OK?"

Willow avoided eye contact with the Slayer, "Um, I just, I want you to know that I'm really sorry for letting you down." She looked into Buffy's confused face, "You know, here before with the magic going all aah, and me going all eeee and everything getting all rrrr." She looked apologetically at the Slayer, "I wish I could help out."

Buffy placed her hand on Willow's arm, "No one expects you to make everything right."

Willow looked dejected, "So, I can't do everything, but I should at least be able to do something. I have so much power, but when I try to use it…"

"Don't, OK?" Buffy stared intently at the witch.

"OK. But, you need help, Buffy. I know you, and I know you'll never admit it, but you need help."

Buffy's thoughts returned to the dark Slayer as Willow's words sunk in; the witch was right, she did need help, but she'd never admit it.

Int: Storeroom behind Demon Bar

Wesley purposefully strode out of the demon bar with his shotgun over his shoulder, Faith following him, her expression dark, "So, what? Torturing humans part of the new makeover?" she asked him, making him stop in his tracks.

"I did what I had to do because you couldn't." he started walking again.

"I hit her." Faith said, indignant.

Wesley looked at her incredulously, "You think that's something new to her?"

"You crossed it back there, Wes. What you did back there…"

Wesley stopped walking and turned to face the dark Slayer, "Oh, you have a problem with torture now? I seem to recall a time when you rather enjoyed it."

Faith looked at him, a hurt look on her face, "Yeah, well, it's not me anymore. You know that." Her voice broke, his words cutting deep.

Wesley leaned in towards the Slayer, bringing the shotgun down from his shoulder, "Nice to have this along, just in case. I remember what you did to me, Faith. The broken glass, the shallow cuts so I would remain conscious."

Faith had a memory flash to torturing Wesley, she wanted to run and empty her stomach, her guts twisting as she remembered the pain she had caused the watcher. Her thoughts turned to Buffy and how she had hurt the blonde Slayer; she felt like someone was stabbing her in the heart; composing herself she turned to Wesley, "You think I'd hurt you again?"

"This the part where you tell me you've turned a new leaf, found God, inner peace? We both know that isn't true. You haven't changed. You can't..." he spits the words out with such venom in his voice.

"Wes…" Faith holds her hands up and starts to walk away from him.

"…Because you're sick." Faith stops walking, "You've always been sick." She turns to face Wes, her expression unreadable, he continues his tirade, "It goes right down to the roots rotting your soul. That's why your friends turned on you in Sunnydale, why the Watchers' Council tried to kill you. No one trusts you, Faith. You're a rabid dog who should've been put down years ago!"

Suddenly Faith pushes Wesley violently against the chain link fence, something inside her snapping. Taking the gun she raises it behind her as if to hit him with it but stops short; "Faith, you don't get it, you KILLED a man." "No, YOU don't get it. I don't care." Buffy's desperate words ring in her mind as she releases her grip on Wesley, taking a step back; she did care, she cared so much it was eating away inside her, the guilt consuming her.

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Wesley says softly, ignoring Faith's glare, "It's what you'll need to beat him."

Faith takes a further step back and puts the gun down, "No." she says with conviction, refusing to become that cold blooded murderer again.

"You have to be willing to take it all the way, Faith." Wesley calls out after her retreating form.

Int: Buffy's House Kitchen

Buffy was standing by the sink, staring out the window, watching the potentials train. She was deep in thought, not really seeing the potentials, but rather looking past them.

Willow walked into the kitchen, "Hey, Buffy." She said softly, walking over to her best friend. When she got no response she placed her hand on Buffy's shoulder, "Earth to Buffy, you in there?" she gave the Slayer's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Wha…oh…" Buffy smiled and turned to face her friend, "Sorry Will, spaced out for a bit there."

Willow raised her eyebrow knowingly, "You've been doing that a lot lately." She commented.

Buffy sighed and gave her friend a small smile, "I guess this whole thing with the first is just getting to me." She said, running a hand through her hair and sighing.

Willow tilted her head and looked intently at the blonde, "No, I don't think that's what's bothering you so much."

Buffy looked at her best friend, surprise and amusement in her expression, "Oh, really." She said, leaning against the kitchen counter, arms folded across her chest.

"You're thinking about Faith." Willow said simply. She went and sat on the kitchen table and stared intently at the blonde Slayer, daring her to deny it. She had felt the feelings Faith had for the blonde Slayer when they'd been fighting, and she was sure Buffy felt the same way.

Buffy stared incredulously at her best friend, "What…no, I…Will, she tried to kill us all, she's a murderer." Buffy thought that if she said the words out loud, reminded herself of what Faith was capable of, then she would stop thinking about the dark Slayer so much.

Willow looked at the Slayer sadly, "So am I, Buffy."

Buffy's head snapped up as she heard Willow say those words, she opened her mouth to say something but she couldn't find the right words. Willow watched the conflict of emotions play out on her friend's face.

"She also saved us all when…" Willow paused, she couldn't bring herself to say 'When I tried to kill you all and destroy the world' she smiled sadly at her friend,"…after Tara…"

"I know." Buffy said softly looking at the floor for a while, avoiding eye contact with the witch.

Willow continued to stare at Buffy, eyebrow raised, waiting for her to finally admit her feelings, "She deserves a chance, Buffy."

Buffy finally spoke, "I just wish she wasn't…argh." She looked up to see her best friend smirking at her, she sighed, "I wish she was here..." Buffy said simply, "I was angry…she was hurt…we were both…" she stopped to look at Willow, her friend was staring at her with amusement in her expression, "Oh, you are enjoying this way too much, Will." Buffy threw at her, chuckling a little.

"You're both very stubborn." Willow said, adding her two cents worth, "But I think you both need each other." Willow grew serious as she looked at Buffy, "When I…" she paused, not sure how to proceed, not sure she could call herself 'evil'. She took a breath and decided to just go for it, "When Faith and I were fighting, I could feel her emotions when we touched." She looked at Buffy, trying to gauge whether she was freaking the blonde Slayer out, they'd never really spoken about that dark period in Willow's past.

Buffy smiled reassuringly at Willow, letting the witch know she wasn't uncomfortable with the topic, "Let's just say, that even though she puts on this big tough girl exterior, Faith is really scared, and vulnerable…" Willow paused, trying to find the right words, "She is also truly sorry about what she put us through, but she doesn't know how to express it, and it's tearing her up inside, and…" she looked up at Buffy who was staring at the floor, tears forming in her eyes, "…she loves you Buffy, always has, from the day you met."

Buffy suddenly started sobbing, unable to control the emotions she was feeling. Willow got up quickly and went to embrace her best friend, "You love her too, don't you?" Willow said softly, comforting the Slayer, smiling as she felt Buffy nod into her shoulder.

Int: Maury's Occult Bookstore

Faith walked cautiously under the scaffolding, fully alert, trying to sense the vampire stalking her.

"I know how it feels—forced to be someone you're not. Hurts to the bone; you try to bury the pain, but you can't get the hole deep enough, can you? No matter how much you dig, it's still there: Broken shards stabbing every time you breathe, cutting you up inside. You know, there's only one way to make the pain stop." Angelus jumps down from the scaffolding, landing behind Faith, "Hurt someone else."

They continued to fight; Angelus slowly gaining the upper hand while Faith seemed to almost give up; almost.

"Come on, Faith, you're not even trying." He punches her, "Or is that why you really came back, huh? Not enough to punish yourself in prison? Is that it? Still looking for someone to help beat the bad out of you?" he punches her in the face again, "You know what the funny part is, darling? I could beat you to death, and it wouldn't make a difference. Nothing will ever change who you are, Faith." He kicks her in the face, "You're a murderer…"he punches her again, her head snaps back, "…an animal…" he smirks and punches her, then grabs her hair as he forces her to face him, "…and you enjoy it…just like me."

In that moment Faith loses it, she's fueled by anger, furious at Angelus, furious at Buffy, self-riotous Buffy, but mostly, she's angry at herself. Like a flash she's upon Angelus and throws a devastating combination of attacks at him, eventually bringing him to his knees. She straddles him and punches him in the face again and again until he can't take it anymore. Suddenly realizing what she's doing, what her anger fueled her to become once again she stops hitting him and steps back from him, "You're wrong, I'm different now, I'm nothing like you." She snarls at him.

Angelus is quick as he kicks her feet from under her and grabs her, exposing her neck, "You will be." He says maliciously as he bites down into her jugular.

Int: Basement at Buffy's House

Buffy stood in front of the punching bag hanging in the basement; she was still reeling from the dream that had woken her earlier. She absently rubbed her neck, the scar from Angel biting her before graduation was aching. Thinking about graduation dredged up so many unhappy memories, her heart ached with remorse over how they had all treated Faith back then. Buffy was especially distraught over her own behaviour towards the dark Slayer; the only other person in the world who understood what she went through daily.

Tears welled in Buffy's eyes, the dark Slayer had been in another serious fight, she could feel how broken Faith was; their Slayer bond was so strong now. At first Buffy thought it had all just been a bad dream, but then she had tried to reach out to the dark Slayer, just to check up on her, and that was how she knew Faith had been bitten and that was something no Slayer should ever have to go through. Buffy had tried again to connect with her sister Slayer, hoping to reassure her, but it was in vain, all she could feel were confusing and conflicting emotions. None of it made sense and it was these irrational emotions that had caused Buffy to come down to the basement for some quiet, alone time.

Buffy was also feeling a conflict of emotions within herself; she didn't know whether to be relieved that the dark Slayer was alive or furious with her for getting herself into another dangerous situation. At the moment she was feeling both emotions but her anger was slowly winning. She had come up with only one reason why Faith's emotions were so erratic and weird; the other Slayer was obviously high. But what infuriated Buffy even more was that the dark Slayer was so reckless as to get stoned and then almost get herself killed by a vampire.

Willow walked down the stairs to the basement looking for Buffy. It was too early in the morning for the blonde to be up yet here she was, pummeling the punching bag as if her life depended on it. Willow winced as she watched her friend lay in to the bag, watched her strike it with such fury. Willow could hazard a guess as to what was bothering the blonde Slayer, she knew Faith was in a bad way and she knew that Buffy would probably be feeling Faith's pain through their Slayer connection; the blonde Slayer had mentioned that she could connect with Faith through their Slayer bond.

Willow tentatively walked towards the Slayer, she didn't get too close to her, not wanting to surprise her friend and provoke an unexpected attack. She cleared her throat, the small noise having the desired effect as Buffy whipped around, defensive, hands ready to block or attack.

Buffy smiled apologetically at her friend as she relaxed her stance and dropped her hands, "Will?" her voice was rough from crying.

"Buffy? Hey, I, uh, just got a phone call. I'm gonna have to take off for a while. Maybe a day or two?"

Buffy frowned at Willow, concern in her expression, "What's wrong?" dread filling her being.

Willow felt bad about lying to her friend, but she knew, in the long run, Buffy would be grateful, "Nothing you need to worry about. I'll give you the full scoop later. Maybe I'll even bring back some good news?" She sincerely hoped that she would be bringing some good news, as much as the blonde wouldn't admit it, she needed Faith. She needed the dark Slayer fighting by her side; needed her back in her life.

Buffy sighed, "Could use a little of that. OK. I guess now is as good a time as we're likely to see for a while."

Willow pauses before heading up the stairs, "Will you be alright?" she asked softly, not happy about leaving her friend so upset.

Buffy looked up at the red head and smiled, "Yeah, I'll be fine, just hurry back." She said sadly.

"Will do." Willow replied, running up the stairs.

Int: Lobby, Angel Investigations

Willow stopped outside the door to the lobby, hand paused on the door handle, she heard shouting inside, "It's simple. Angelus is all that's left. First he slaughtered Lilah, now he's killed Faith." Conner yelled.

Willow's heart sank as she heard that, Faith couldn't be dead, not now.

"She's not dead yet." Willow heard Wesley reprimand, relief filling her.

"You're lying to yourselves. You all think that I'm taking this personally so that you don't have to, but inside you know I'm right. We need to put Angelus down." Conner yelled again, becoming agitated.

Willow took this as her cue to enter the lobby, no-one noticed her as she stepped inside, they were all too busy arguing.

"I don't think so." Everyone turned to look at her, she smiled, "I think you need a witch."

Ext: Alleyway in Faith and Angel's Dream

Faith lay against the wall in the alley struggling to maintain her grasp on consciousness; her broken, beaten body was crying out for some relief from the pain, desperate for darkness to take over.

"Faith, get up! Are you listening?" Angel yelled to the fallen Slayer.

Faith was too weak, barely even able to open her eyes to acknowledge the vampire, "Angel, I'm dying."

"Yeah? It's a lot easier than redemption, huh?"

Faith squeezed her eyes shut; Angel was right, giving up right here, right now was more appealing than redemption. She was so tired of it all, tired of fighting, tired of trying to forgive herself, but mostly just tired of running away from her feelings. Apologize to me and I will beat you to death. Buffy's harsh words caused more pain than any physical injury inflicted on the dark Slayer. She would never be able to make it up to the blonde Slayer; she had caused her too much pain and heartache; it would be easier on everyone if she just wasn't around anymore.

"Faith, wake up!"

She opened her eyes partially, she couldn't focus, she just wanted to lie back and sleep, let the darkness take over her, "I've rolled the bones; you for me." She said to Angel weakly, willing to sacrifice herself for him, figuring Buffy would prefer it that way.

Angel crouched before the dark Slayer, "I used to think that. That there'd be a point when

I'd paid my dues..."

Angelus came from behind and hit him, "Anybody notice a battle with your alter-ego going on?"

Angel managed to gain the upper hand again and he quickly returned to Faith's side, holding the weakened Slayer up in his arms, "Faith, listen to me. You saw me drink. It doesn't get much lower than that. And I thought I could make up for it by disappearing."

"I did my time." Faith's eyes glazed over.

Angel shook her, "Our time is never up, Faith. We pay for everything."

Faith looked at Angel, a pained expression on her face, "It hurts." She says to him, "I had my chance and I threw it away."

"Get up! You have to get up now. Faith, you have to fight. I need you to fight. Do you understand what I'm saying?" She looks at him, confused, "You need to fight if you want to see her again." Angel manages before Angelus knocks him out with a metal pipe.

"What won't I miss? The moralizing. Soul's already in the ether, boyo. I can smell it. How 'bout I send it off to that big puppy rescue in the sky."

"Arf arf, psycho." Faith was standing behind Angelus, head tilted, characteristic smirk on her face.

"Faith! Getting back into the game?" Angelus seemed impressed.

Faith smirked at him, "I guess I am."

Ext: Balcony Angel Investigations

Angel was standing outside on the balcony, Faith came outside and stood next to him, "Hey." she leant forward on the rail.

Angel turned to her, "How're you feeling?"

"Like I did mushrooms and got eaten by a bear." Faith's voice was raspy.

Angel looked out over the city and nodded, "That about sums it up."

"Yep." Faith follows his gaze, taking in the sight.

"And now you're going to Sunnydale."

Faith raises her eyebrow as she looks at Angel, "I think I prefer the bear, but the way Willow talks it up, that's where I'm needed."

"Never stop fighting." Angel was leaning on the rail beside Faith. The double entendre in that sentence not lost on her as she glanced at him.

"Hey, I was gonna, but someone got all pep-talky on me." She said, making light of the situation.

"Tell her how you feel, Faith." Angel said, turning to face the Slayer, his expression serious, "Don't wait too long or you may be too late."

Faith blew out her breathe slowly tilting her head toward Angel, "How did you know?"

He looked at her as if to say, 'are you serious?', "I could tell from when you two first met." He smiled at her, "I think the only people it wasn't obvious to were Buffy and Faith." He said, humour in his voice. He looked at Faith again, "You both need this to happen." He said softly, placing his hand on the Slayer's shoulder, "I know there's a lot of…messy history between you two, but if it's what you want you'll find a way to work through it…"

Faith looked at him and smiled slightly, "I wish it was that simple." She said softly.

Angel stood; sensing this part of their conversation is over, "I have a lot to thank you for."

"Well, that vice is plenty versa. I even start, it's only gonna lead to hugging, and..." she shrugs and smiles at the Vampire, relieved at the change of topic.

Angel chuckles, "Right. We can't have that."

"No." Faith is also chuckling as they both make their way inside.

After saying their goodbyes to everyone, Willow and Faith head for the front door, eager to hit the road. Willow turns around just before they leave, "Oh, um, next time you guys resurrect Angelus, call me first, OK?" and with that they're both gone, heading back to Sunnydale.