Women's Locker Room, SGC, forty minutes after sparring sessions.
"Hey Willow" said Sam as she opened her locker which happened to be right across from Willow's.
"Hi ma'am" said Willow as she put on a pair of jeans.
"I'm sorry about how Riley acted" said Sam as she proceeded to remove her BDU's and put on her civilian clothes.
"It's alright ma'am" said Willow as she took out a yellow shirt from her locker and put it on.
"Are you free tonight?" asked Sam, "maybe we could go for some dinner? Riley would like to reconnect with you, he was actually worried when you disappeared from Sunnydale."
"Sorry, ma'am" said Willow, "but I'm afraid I have plans with friends tonight, how about the day after tomorrow? I think it's a Sunday."
"I guess that should be fine" said Sam, "our two weeks of training for gate travel doesn't start until next week so we've got the entire weekend free."
"That's great" said Willow as she put on her socks and sneakers, "so Riley was worried about me?"
"Yes" said Sam, "So you can imagine his surprise when he learnt you were attending the Air Force Academy in a completely different major than Psychology. Or that you had actually joined the Air Force."
"When Colonel Carter showed me the entire selection of cool tech at the SGC, I decided to take up engineering instead" said Willow with a smile.
"How far have you gotten?" asked Sam as she grabbed her handbag from the locker, "I mean if you don't mind me asking."
"I'm still getting my dissertation for my PhD done" said Willow.
"Oh" said Sam smiling, "So we'll soon be calling you Dr. Rosenberg huh?"
"No, please" said Willow with a smile, "Dr. Rosenberg would be my mom and dad, just Willow will be fine."
"Very Well" said the Colonel.
"So have you been to Sunnydale?" asked Willow as the two women left the locker room.
"Yes" said Sam, "Riley and I had to go and investigate some incident at Sunnydale, even had to ask Buffy for help."
"Ah" said Willow.
"He introduced me to the others; Xander, Dawn, Anya and Tara. But meeting Buffy, at least for me, was the coolest experience ever" said Sam excitedly.
"Really, ma'am?" asked Willow.
"I mean, she's the Slayer" said Sam, "what could be cooler than that?"
"I still think nothing beats going through the Stargate, ma'am" said Willow smiling.
"That's true" said Sam, "I mean don't get me wrong, when the General told us about this place we were stunned. But Buffy's actually part of a larger destiny."
"Yea" replied Willow, "I've had the 'I'm Buffy and I'm the Slayer and everything I say goes' experience. I'm not really looking forward to experiencing that again."
"Have you been back to Sunnydale?" asked Sam as she looked strangely at Willow after she heard what she said about Buffy.
"Yep" said Willow, "been back a few times, and I've had bad experiences all those times."
"Really?" asked Sam.
"I guess you haven't finished reading all of the mission reports, ma'am?" asked Willow.
"Not yet" said the Colonel confused.
"You should, ma'am" said Willow as the both of them got into the main elevator.
"Colonel Carter indicated some things happened in Sunnydale" said Sam, "but she never told me or Riley what they were."
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am" said Willow as she looked at Sam.
"Yes" said the Colonel,
"Leaving Sunnydale was the best thing that ever happened to me; I have absolutely no regrets" said Willow, "well, to be honest I used to want to go back and visit Buffy nad the others especially after I left the Academy. When I finally did go back to visit them, Buffy and the others held me against my will."
"What?" said Sam, "When? Why?"
"You should read the reports, ma'am" said Willow as she turned back to look at the elevator dial before turning back to the Colonel, "the Cliff's notes version is that I refused to give them secrets about my job and the held me for it. They violated my mind to get what they needed but they still weren't successful, they then used a truth spell on me and tried to use another spell to make everyone forget, including me, what they were trying to do, ma'am."
"That can't be right, Captain" said Sam as the elevator reached the eleventh floor and they switched to the second one which would bring them to the surface.
"All my reports are accurate ma'am" said Willow, "I haven't lied on any of them."
"But" said the Colonel stunned as the elevator doors opened again once they reached the surface.
Willow had walked out and opened the main doors, which let in a very cold wind into the main lobby just as Sam ran out behind Willow.
"Willow" said Sam as she stopped in front of her, "that's not true."
"Ma'am" said Willow as she closed her eyes, "you should read the mission reports, its all in there. I've already told you the truth. If you don't believe me, or the mission reports, then there really isn't anything I can do or say that will convince you."
"Willow?" said Colonel Carter who was walking towards Willow and Sam, "everything alright?"
"Yes ma'am" said Willow softly as she zipped up her jacket and put her hands into the pockets.
"Colonel?" said Colonel Carter.
"Ummmm…. Ahhhhh…." said Sam, still unable to process what Willow was saying could even be true, "I should go."
"Ma'am" said Willow as she looked into Sam's eyes, "I really am sorry."
"I'll…. I'll see you, Captain" said a stunned Sam as Willow walked past her. Sam turned around and looked as Willow got into Colonel Carter's car through her passenger side door before driving off.
"Hey Sam" said Riley as he walked up slowly behind her.
"Riley" said Sam.
"Hey" said Riley as he noticed the tremor in her voice, "what's wrong?"
"We need to go back" said Sam.
"Back, where?" asked Riley as Sam turned around and pulled Riley with her.
"We need to finish reading those mission reports" said Sam as she opened the main doors and pressed the button for the elevator, "Especially the ones after Willow joined the SGC."
"What's going on?" asked Riley, "is everything alright?"
"That's what I want to find out" said Sam.
Gateroom, SGC
"Alright Dr. J" said Faith as she and Daniel walked down the ramp and handed their weapons to the awaiting airmen, "thanks for letting me tag along with you, it was quite…. Educational."
"It was, wasn't it?" said Daniel with a grin, "I told you the Mayan type constructs on that planet was a sight to behold."
"They were" said Faith, "Too bad I can't put that in my class report."
"True" said Daniel as the both of them exited the Gateroom.
"Dr. Jackson" said Walter as the both of them passed the control room entrance, "General O'Neill would like to see you in his office."
"Sure" said Daniel before turning around to face Faith, "see you on Monday."
"Sure Doc" said Faith.
"Faith" said Daniel, "just call me Daniel, will you? Doc, make me sound like I'm some kind of an insane scientist."
"How about Dr. J?" asked Faith smiling.
"Nope" replied Daniel as he ran up the stairs.
"Danny-boy?" asked Faith.
"No!" said Daniel.
"Alright" said Faith smiling to herself as she walked towards the women's locker room.
Upon entering the women's locker room she found an envelope taped to her locker door.
"That's interesting" thought Faith to herself as she opened the envelope. All she found inside the enveloped was Willow's car keys and a letter saying that Willow had left early with Colonel Carter to get Cassie and some food for the girl's night out they were having that night. Willow had also let her know that Riley and Sam had joined the SGC.
"Great" said Faith as she opened her locker and put the key and the envelope back inside before going for her shower.
It was forty five minutes later that Faith had left the women's locker room after having showered and changed. She had taken the car keys and gone to the elevator landing which would lead up to the surface.
"Faith" said a very familiar voice from behind her.
"Great" thought Faith to herself before she turned around and faced Riley.
"Hey Soldier-boy" said Faith, "how's it going?"
"You know" said Riley with his arms folded around his chest, "I really don't know what you did to trick your way onto this base."
"Excuse me?" said Faith.
"You heard me" replied Riley.
"I didn't have to trick anyone to get in" said Faith, "Red stood up for me and recommended me for this job."
"She took pity on you" said Riley, "You're just a pity case that she wanted to help."
"You know" said Faith, "ordinarily I would have throttled you, but that's not me now. For one thing, Red would be upset at me if I tried to harm you. Secondly, you're not really worth my time."
"I'll get you kicked off SG-1" said Riley, "You don't deserve to be in the SGC's premier team, especially after what you did to me."
"Oh" said Faith, "that's what this show you're putting out is all about? Because I had sex with you while I was in Buffy's body?"
Faith smirked as Riley looked at her furiously.
"You know, soldier boy" said Faith, "you shouldn't really be talking much right now because if I remember correctly, you liked it and wanted more."
"Does Willow know that?" said Riley as he stared at Faith when he suddenly smiled at her expression, "Oh, she doesn't does she? You said she recommended you but she doesn't know the truth does she?"
Faith could only angrily step back and turn around as she pressed the call button again, before turning back around and facing Riley.
"She doesn't know what you did?" said Riley as he stepped towards her and leaned into her ear, "what did you tell her? That you hit on me? That you just propositioned me but nothing happened?"
"Shut up" said Faith.
"I want you gone from the SGC or else I'll tell Willow" said Riley.
"Don't you dare" said Faith, "and anyway, my contract is with Home World Security. I'm technically on loan to the SGC."
"You can't be trusted, Faith" said Riley as he ignored what Faith had said, "I want you to resign by tomorrow from your position, whatever it is."
"No" said Faith.
"No?" said Riley, "how about this? You have twenty four hours to resign or else I air your dirty laundry to General O'Neill and everyone in SG-1."
"You do that and I'll tell Big-G everything that you did at the Initiative" said Faith, "you know, like the illegal experiments on vampires, demons and other assorted monsters; how about your little human hybrid that went mad and almost killed everyone in the base? B told me everything. So.. If you tell Red anything, then I'll air all of your dirty laundry, and I have a copy of all the files to prove it locked away in a safe place. B gave me a copy after I came back to Sunnydale, so please.. Tell Red what you know."
"Fine" said Riley between clenched teeth, "you win. But I know you Faith, you'll cause the people here problems, and eventually you'll get SG-1 killed. You'll resign then anyway. I'll be right there laughing in your face when you do."
"Get out of my sight, Soldier-boy" whispered Faith angrily.
"You don't deserve to be here at the SGC when so many other people should have had the chance" continued Riley as he stepped back, "you're doing what you do best, taking away other people's chances."
"Faith Lehane" said Teal'c who was walking down the corridor with Daniel when he noticed Riley talking to her.
"Faith?" said Daniel as he looked at her expression.
"Dr. Jackson, I presume" said Riley as he smiled and excitedly extended his hand towards the archaeologist, "I'm Riley Finn, commander of SG-25."
"Oh" said Daniel as he shook his hand, "Yeah, Jack… I mean General O'Neill told me that you and your wife joined the SGC. Congratulations."
"Oh, it's an honour" said Riley as he looked at Faith, "I really hope that my team gets to work with SG-1 soon."
"I'm sure you will" said Daniel, "especially after you've finished training for Gate travel."
"I can't wait" said Riley as he stepped back, "Well, I gotta go back and finish up on reading the mission reports. We're already up to Willow's first day at the SGC. Interesting reading."
"Yeah" said Daniel, "Was a surprising day for all of us."
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "But extremely beneficial as well. She has become an important part of the SGC, as has Faith Lehane."
Faith glanced at Teal'c and gave a small smile.
"Well" said Riley, "I'll see you later then, just came by to say hello to Faith here. We've known each other since Sunnydale, quite closely if I may add."
"Have a goodnight Colonel Finn" said Teal'c as he gave the man a small bow.
"Goodnight" said Riley as the elevators opened and Faith and the others walked in.
Faith looked at Riley expressionless as the elevator doors closed and she pressed the button for the eleventh floor.
"Girls night?" said Daniel as he smiled at Faith.
"Yea" said Faith quietly.
"Tomorrow shall be Team night at your residence" said Teal'c, "I shall be bringing the movies."
"OK" replied Faith quietly as Teal'c and Daniel looked at each other.
"Are you well, Faith Lehane?" asked Teal'c as the elevator reached the eleventh floor and they all walked out.
"Yes" said Faith.
"Faith?" said Daniel, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Daniel" said Faith.
"Faith" said Daniel, "we're your friends, you don't have anything to hide from us."
"I gotta go, Daniel" said Faith as she walked out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened.
"Faith" said Daniel as he walked quickly after her along with Teal'c, "was it something that Colonel Finn told you?"
Faith suddenly stopped as Daniel and Teal'c saw her tremble a bit, but they couldn't tell if it was because of the cold.. or something else.
"Daniel" said Faith as she turned around and tightly hugged the surprised archaeologist, "you're the best."
After hugging Daniel, Faith tightly hugged an equally surprised Teal'c; "see you around, Big Guy."
"Indeed" said Teal'c as Faith released him from her hug, "we shall be seeing each other tomorrow for Team night."
Faith nodded as she turned around and ran to Willow's car and opened the driver door and went in.
"Ok" said Daniel, "What just happened?"
"I do not know Daniel Jackson" said Teal'c.
"We need to talk to Jack" said Daniel, "I don't like the way she was acting, seemed as if… I don't know… like she's trying to say goodbye or something.. but that's ridiculous."
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "Faith Lehane is aware that we are all her comrades and that we trust her."
"Still" said Daniel, "maybe Jack knows what's going on. Come on, we need to get the beers before going to his place."
"Very well" said Teal'c as he followed Daniel to his car.
Faith sat in the car watching as Teal'c and Daniel walked off before she laid her head back on her seat and closed her eyes as tears started to run down.
"I guess the shit I caused back then is finally going to hit the fan" thought Faith to herself, "what the hell do I do? How do I tell Red that I lied about what I did in Buffy's body? What will she think of me? What will Sam think of me? She and Red have been friends even before I joined the SGC, oh God, they're going to hate me."
"Damn it!" shouted Faith as she swung her hand at the passenger side head rest, breaking it.
"Oh great" thought Faith as she looked at the broken head rest that was lying on the back seat, "I gotta fix that."
Faith then started the car and headed back home, wondering how she was going to tell Willow and Colonel Carter about what really happened between her and Riley.
Willow's Apartment.
"Hey Faith" said Willow as Faith walked into the apartment and closed the door behind her.
"Hey Red" said Faith as she squeezed the red heads hand.
"Sam… Hey Cassie" said Faith as she hugged the other red head, "how are you?"
"I'm good" said Cassie, "Sam said she had an important announcement to make and she wouldn't even give us a hint of was it was until you came back."
"Oh?" smiled Faith as she tried to steady her emotions. She didn't want to tip off her empathic girlfriend that something was wrong, that she was still unnerved after meeting Riley.
"Faith?" said Willow, "is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, Red" said Faith as she looked at Willow before turning back to Colonel Carter.
"So Sam" said Faith as she rubbed her hands excitedly. "What's the important announcement?"
"Well" said a smiling Colonel Carter as she looked at the three girls in front of her, "how about we drink something first?"
"Come on" said Faith with a smile as she glanced back at Willow, "that's not fair you know."
"Yea, Sam" said Cassie, "anyway, since this is supposed to be a very important announcement, can I drink some wine? Or beer? I mean Uncle Jack doesn't have to know."
"No" said the Colonel, Willow and Faith together.
"Spoil-sports" said Cassie pouting.
"Come on, Sam" said Faith as she sat beside her on the floor, "What's the announcement?"
"Well" said the Colonel as she stood up and went to the dining table and poured two glasses of wine and two glasses of grape juice.
"Ma'am?" said Willow.
"You guys know that Pete asked me to marry him, right?" asked Colonel Carter as she handed the two cups of grape juice to Willow and Cassie, while handing one cup of wine to Faith who had stood next to Cassie and taking another cup for herself.
"Yes" said Cassie as she glanced at Willow.
"Well" said the Colonel as she smiled at the three young women in front of her, "I said yes."
"Wow!" said Faith as she gave the Colonel a tight hug, "congratulations, Sam."
"Thanks, Faith" said Colonel Carter as she returned the hug.
"Congratulations, Sam" said Cassie as she too gave the Colonel a hug while looking worriedly at Willow.
"Thanks, Cass" said the Colonel, "it means so much that you're happy for me."
"Colonel" said Willow as she hugged the Colonel, "I'm so happy for you, ma'am."
"Thank you, Willow" said the Colonel as she held on tightly to Willow, "I know you meant what you told me about him, but he gave me the reasons on why he did what he did."
"I was just concerned, ma'am" whispered Willow, "but make no mistake Colonel, I'm very happy for you."
"Means a lot to me" said the Colonel as she stepped away from Willow.
"The ring" said Faith, "you haven't shown us the ring."
"Its right here" said the Colonel as she reached under her shirt and took out a silver chain that had a gold ring attached to it.
"Whoa" said Cassie, "that's a big ass diamond."
"Language, young lady" said the Colonel smiling at Cassie as she took off the ring from the chain and put it on her finger.
"It's beautiful ma'am" said Willow.
"I guess Pete's compensating for something with such a huge diamond" thought Willow to herself.
"Thank you, Willow" said Colonel Carter.
"Hey!" shouted Faith, "what the hell are we doing here?"
"Huh?" said Willow.
"Come on" said Faith, "bachelorette party!"
"No!" said Colonel Carter.
"Sam" said Faith, "you're getting married, it's like a rite of passage among most cultures. I'm sure even P5X… or whatever has bachelorette parties as well."
"Faith has a point" said Willow as she stood beside her girlfriend.
"Of course I do" said Faith as she looked at the Colonel, "you and I are going to get wasted."
"No.. no.. no…" said Colonel Carter laughing as she waved her hands and stepped back.
"Oh yes.. yes. yes.." said Faith as she looked at Willow and Cassie.
"I agree" said Willow with a grin.
"Me too" said Cassie, "so, strip club?"
"No" said Faith, Willow and the Colonel together as they stared at Cassie.
"Isn't that the customary thing to do for a bachelorette party?" asked Cassie.
"You, young lady, are too young" said the Colonel, "plus the General would kill me."
"How about we all dress up to the nines? I mean sexy, but classy dresses; high heels and the whole nine yards" said Willow "and go out to one of the high end restaurants before coming back here and drinking the night away?"
"You planning to give men a heart attack?" said the Colonel smiling.
"Not really my fault if they have one" laughed Willow.
"But I don't have anything to wear" said Cassie, "everything is in D.C."
"Come on, Cass" said Willow as she grabbed her car keys, "I'll buy you something."
"Nothing too revealing" said Colonel Carter as Willow and Cassie opened the door.
"Yes ma'am" said Willow as she smiled at Faith.
Willow: "Are you really alright?"
Faith: "Yes."
Willow: "You can tell me anything, you know that right?"
Faith: "Yes"
Willow: "I love you."
Faith: "I love you too."
Faith: "Oh, I kinda accidently broke your passenger side head rest."
Willow: "You're paying for that young lady."
Faith: "How?"
Willow: "You'll see tonight, if you're not too drunk that is. Well, if you're not drunk. IF you're drunk then I'll just sit back and make fun of you."
Faith: "Very funny. Ha ha."
Willow: "See you soon."
Faith: "See you."
"Come on, Sam" said Faith as she led the Colonel to her room and opened her closet.
"Whoa" said the Colonel as she looked what Faith's closet contained.
"Yes" said Faith, "bought some of this stuff with my first few pay checks. Bought the evening wear stuff for… well…. You know…"
"Yes" said Colonel Carter with a grin as she softly nudged Faith on her arm.
"Let's go paint the town red, Sam" said Faith as the both of them started to go through all of the clothes.
TBC.