"Consequences"
Based on the Episode Written by Marti Noxon
The following story is copyright © 2022 by Mark Moore.
Buffy was underwater, frantically trying to get to the surface. Copious amounts of bubbles rose through the water, some larger, some smaller, as she did her best to hold her breath but couldn't continue for much longer. Below her, the man that Faith had killed grabbed her ankle and pulled her down. She kicked her legs and flailed her arms, desperately trying to shake loose. Eventually, she managed to break free of his grip and swam to the surface. She broke through and drew a deep breath. There, kneeling on the dock above, she saw Faith, who reached down and shoved her back underwater.
Buffy woke with a start from the nightmare and drew several deep breaths to calm herself as she realized it was all just a dream. She sat up in bed and looked around her room. Tara was still sleeping peacefully next to her. Careful to not wake her, she pushed the blankets back, got up, put on her robe, tied it, and walked out into the hall, where she could hear the news on the TV in her mother's room.
"We go now live to our field reporter, who is standing by at the waterfront with this breaking news about the murder that has shocked the mayor and residents of Sunnydale."
Buffy could see the TV from the hall. It was showing footage of a boat retrieving a body.
"Fishermen discovered the body today, the victim of a brutal stabbing. Authorities and citizens alike were shocked when the slain man was identified as Deputy Mayor Allan Finch."
Buffy couldn't believe that not only did they found the body, but that he was also a public figure.
"Still reeling from the news, Mayor Wilkins had this to say."
The news cut to the mayor at a press conference.
"Mr. Finch was not only my longtime aide and associate; he was a close personal friend. I promise you I will not rest until whoever did this is found and brought to justice. Thank you very much."
Joyce noticed Buffy standing behind her. "Oh, honey, you're up." She turned back to the TV. "Oh, it's just terrible, isn't it?"
Buffy didn't know what to say or how to react.
On Monday, in the Sunnydale High School library, Buffy was sitting on the study table, and Faith was sitting in a chair at the table. Wesley paced. Giles was sitting at the far end.
"I want you to look into this. Find out everything you can about the murder of the deputy mayor."
Buffy was nervous and confused. "But that's...I-I mean...that's..." She paused. "That's not really our jurisdiction, is it?"
"It's no big, B. We'll get into it if he wants."
Giles shook his head. "No, Buffy's right. The deputy mayor's murder was the result of human malice. There's nothing supernatural about it."
Wesley looked at him. "We don't know that for certain. I say it merits investigation."
Giles got up and walked around the table. "Which I'm sure the police are doing. Meantime, if you ask me, there are better uses for the Slayers' time."
"Ah. But I don't believe I did." Wesley held the daily paper out to him. "Ask you."
Giles yanked the paper away. "Considering the success of your previous adventure..."
Cordelia walked into the library. Giles looked over at her.
"Don't let me interrupt. Wait. Let me interrupt. I'm in a hurry." Cordelia raised her eyebrows.
"What did you need?" Giles asked her.
Wesley turned to see who had spoken and was immediately taken by her beauty. He stared at her with his mouth agape, looking her up and down.
"Uh, Psych class. Freud and Jung. Book me?" Cordelia requested.
"Happily."
Cordelia noticed Wesley and smiled. "Check out Giles: The Next Generation. What's your deal?"
"Uh, I, uh..." Wesley swallowed. "Well...I'm a..."
Faith was quite amused. She leaned forward on the table. "New Watcher."
"Oh."
Wesley turned to Buffy, irritated. "Does everybody know about you?"
"Pretty much." Buffy took out her wallet, opened it, and showed Wesley her police identification.
Wesley adjusted his glasses and read it. "Oh, bloody hell."
Buffy closed her wallet and pocketed it. "Hey, I gotta get paid somehow, considering you assholes are exploiting me as free labor."
Wesley huffed, summoned his poise, turned to Cordelia, and held out his hand. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."
Cordelia took it. "I'm Cordelia."
Wesley smiled. "And you teach Psychology."
"I take Psychology."
Giles walked behind Wesley with Cordelia's books. "She's a student."
Wesley immediately dropped Cordelia's hand. "Oh, well. I, uh..." He swallowed. "Yes." He squared his shoulders. "In fact, I am...here to watch...girls. Uh, uh, Buffy and Faith, to be specific."
At the checkout counter, Giles stamped the due date into the books. "Here we go."
Cordelia looked at Giles. "Thanks." She looked at Wesley. "So...welcome to Sunnydale." She went to retrieve her books.
Wesley watched her ass admiringly. "My. She is cheeky, isn't she?"
Faith was still amused. "Uh, first word: jail, second word: bait."
"Ahem." Wesley pulled out his handkerchief. "Well, uh..." He dabbed his mouth. "Where were we?"
Buffy slipped off the table. "Done. I mean...we were done, right?"
Faith stood up. "Uh, yep. Off to patrol. So we'll see ya."
Wesley drew himself up. "One moment, girls. I'm your commander now, and, on the matter of this murder, I am resolved. Natural or super, I want to know."
Faith shrugged. "Fine by me. Always ready to kick a little bad guy ass."
Faith touched her hand to Buffy's shoulder, and the two of them walked out of the library.
"Faith, we need to have a discussion. Now."
Faith eyed Buffy.
Buffy opened the door to an empty classroom. The Slayers walked in. Buffy pulled the door closed behind her. Faith checked the other door to make sure it was closed, which it was. They met in the center of the room.
"So...you gonna rat me out? Is that it?" Faith asked Buffy challengingly.
Buffy looked into Faith's eyes imploringly. "Faith, we have to tell. I can't pretend to investigate this. I can't pretend that I don't know. I am trying to protect you. Look, if - if we don't do the right thing, it's only gonna make things worse for you."
"Worse than jail for the rest of my young life? No way!" Faith countered.
"Faith, what you did was-"
"What we did. Yeah. We. You were right there beside me when this whole thing went down. Anything I have to answer for, you do, too. Especially the part about you freeing me from those cuffs. You're a part of this, B. All the way."
Faith walked out of the classroom, leaving a shocked Buffy behind.
After a moment, Buffy walked out of the classroom and walked toward the student lounge.
There, she saw Tara sitting alone on a couch and went to her. Tara noticed her coming, looked up from her book, and took a deep breath.
"Hey."
"Hey." Tara scooted over.
Buffy sat to Tara's right and kissed her on the lips.
"Where's Faith?" Tara asked. "I-I saw her around. Figured you two were gonna go kill some more nasty shit."
"Not right now. I-I, um, I think she bailed." Buffy let out a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" Tara asked her.
Buffy took hold of Tara's hand and laid her head on Tara's shoulder. Neither of them said anything for a long moment.
That night, Faith and Buffy broke into Allan's office in Sunnydale City Hall. Buffy closed the door behind them, checking to make sure they weren't seen. She turned on the light. They both looked around the office.
"I'm telling you, we did the world a favor." Faith went to his chair. "This guy was about as interesting as watching paint dry."
"Faith..."
"I'm joking. Jeez, lighten up a little, B." Faith looked across his desk and noticed a picture of him with the mayor.
Buffy went through the papers in his inbox.
Faith picked up the picture and stared at it, cradling it gently. "He came out of nowhere."
Buffy felt sympathetic toward Faith. "I know."
"Whatever." Faith put down the picture. "I'm not lookin' to hug and cry and learn and grow. I'm just saying it happened quick, you know?"
She pulled open his drawer. Everything inside was neat and in place. Buffy started to go through some papers lying on top of his filing cabinets.
Faith lost her patience. "You know what? Let's just blow. Who cares what this guy was about? It's kind of moot now, don't you think?"
"I don't think he was in that alley by chance. I think he was looking for us. I'd like to know why."
Buffy opened a file drawer. It was empty.
"So, what, you think there's some big conspiracy?" Faith asked her.
Buffy closed the drawer and opened another. All of the folders in it were also empty.
"You were saying?" Buffy asked her.
"So his papers are gone. That doesn't prove anything."
"Except that somebody didn't want us to prove anything."
Faith began to get it.
Buffy walked over to the door, opened it, and peeked out into the hall. The hall was clear, so she stepped out into it. Just then, the mayor's door opened further down the hall, and a black man stepped out. Buffy recognized him from the SlayerFest '98 video. The mayor was right behind him. Buffy looked back at Faith, and they both scrambled back into Allan's office and closed the door quietly. They could still hear them talking out in the hall.
"Get as many men on it as you can."
"Yeah. We'll be wanting to turn up the heat."
When she was confident that they were gone, Buffy opened the door, and she and Faith left the office and carefully made their way to the front entrance. They left the building and walked down the steps.
Buffy and Faith stepped off the sidewalk and into the street.
"So the Mayor of Sunnydale is a Black Hat. That's a shocker, huh?" Faith asked.
"Actually, yeah. I didn't get the bad guy vibe off of him."
Faith was exasperated. "When are you gonna learn, B? It doesn't matter what kind of vibe you get off a person. 'Cause nine times out of ten, the face they're showing you is not the real one."
They stepped up onto the opposite sidewalk.
"I guess you know a lot about that."
Faith stopped and faced Buffy. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's just...look at you, Faith. Less than forty-eight hours ago, you killed a man. A-And now it's all zip-a-dee-doo-dah? It's not your real face, and I know it. Look, I know what you're feeling, because I felt it, too."
"Do you?" Faith asked insolently. "So fill me in, 'cause I'd like to hear this."
"Dirty. Like something sick creeped inside you, and you can't get it out. And you keep hoping that it was just some nightmare, but it wasn't. And we are gonna have to figure out-"
"Is there gonna be an intermission in this?"
"Just let me talk to Giles, okay? I swear-"
"No! We're not bringing anybody else into this. You gotta keep your head, B. This is all gonna blow over in a few days."
"And if it doesn't?"
Faith shrugged. "If it doesn't, they got a freighter leaving the docks at least twice a day. It ain't fancy, but it gets you gone."
"And that's it? You just live with it? You see the dead guy in your head every day for the rest of your life?" Buffy asked her in disbelief.
Faith stepped closer. "Buffy, I'm not gonna see anything. I missed the mark Saturday night, and I'm sorry about the guy. I really am! But it happens! Anyway, how many people do you think we've saved by now? Thousands? And didn't you stop the world from ending? Because in my book, that puts you and me in the plus column."
"We help people! It doesn't mean we can do whatever we want."
"Why not? The guy I offed was no Gandhi. I mean...we just saw he was mixed up in dirty dealings."
"Maybe, but what if he was coming to us for help?"
"What if he was? You're still not seeing the big picture, B. Something made us different. We're warriors. We're built to kill."
"To kill demons!" Buffy hesitated briefly. "But it does not mean that we get to pass judgment on people like we're better than everybody else!"
"We are better!"
Buffy was taken aback.
Faith was exhilarated. "That's right, better. People need us to survive. In the balance, nobody's gonna cry over some random bystander who got caught in the crossfire."
Buffy felt sad. "I am."
Faith looked at her with disdain. "Well, that's your loss." She turned her back on Buffy and walked away.
Buffy walked up to the front porch of her house. Her mother met her at the door. When she opened it, Buffy could see Detective Stein standing behind her.
Joyce didn't look happy. "Buffy."
Buffy looked at him, eyes widening. "Detective Stein."
"Ms. Summers, I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Buffy paused for a moment. "Not without my lawyer present."
Joyce looked at her in shock.
Buffy looked at her. "I didn't do it." She looked at Detective Stein. "But I know who did. But I need to get my lawyer here."
"How long will that take?"
Buffy looked at her mother.
Joyce looked at Detective Stein. "Maybe four hours?"
"All right. Come to the station at that time."
There was a knock on Jenny's apartment door. She walked over to it, looked through the peephole, and unlocked and opened the door. Detective Stein was standing there.
"Yes?" Jenny asked.
"Jenny Calendar?"
"Yes, and you are?"
Detective Stein took out his identification and showed it to her. "Detective Paul Stein, Sunnydale PD. Does Faith Lehane live here?"
Jenny turned in worry just as Faith arrived behind her.
A while later, Jenny sat on an armrest of the couch with her feet together and her hands folded in her lap, listening to the detective question Faith. Faith sat on the couch.
"Tell me again. You got home at what time Saturday night?"
"Late. Um, a-a little past 1:00, I guess."
"Maybe you can explain to me what a girl your age is doing out all night."
"Just hanging."
"Hanging. By yourself?"
"No. I was with my friend, Buffy. We were at B's, watching TV."
Jenny listened anxiously to them.
"What did you watch?"
"Some old movie."
"Hmm." Stein nodded. "That's funny, 'cause I got a couple of witnesses who put you near the alley."
"Witnesses?" Faith asked innocently.
He walked around her, eyeing her suspiciously. "Somebody stabbed this guy through the heart. Strange thing is...the weapon, it was made out of wood. Any of this mean anything to you?"
"Yeah. That whoever did it wasn't hip to the Bronze Age."
Detective Stein inhaled deeply and sighed.
"Is that it? I'm kinda beat."
"Yeah, I have enough for now. Faith, if you know something, if you're protecting someone, I promise you it'll be better for everyone if you just come clean."
"You mean am I covering for someone? Hardly. I'm not the throw-myself-on-the-sword type."
"Well, call me if you remember anything." Detective Stein handed her his card.
Later, at the police station, Buffy was sitting in the interrogation room with her lawyer, Lilah Morgan, and Detective Stein.
"Who killed Deputy Mayor Allan Finch?" Detective Stein asked.
"To be clear, my client, Buffy Anne Summers, will receive immunity in exchange for her cooperation, correct?" Lilah asked, then gestured at the tape recorder.
Detective Stein rolled his eyes and then lowered his head toward the tape recorder. "That is correct." He straightened. "Ms. Summers?"
"It was Faith Lehane, the other Slayer. We were in an alley near the packing warehouse. Mr. Finch just came out of nowhere, surprising us. Faith thought he was a vampire, and, in the heat of the moment, she staked him. It was an honest mistake. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it was too much. She fled the scene and pressured me to do so as well. Later, I went to her place to try to talk to her, but she told me that she'd weighted the body and dumped it. She wants to forget it ever happened."
"Is Ms. Lehane the person that was responsible for the break-in at Meyer's Sport and Tackle and the subsequent assault on two police officers on Friday night?" Detective Stein asked her.
"Yes, sir. I was with her when she decided to go into the store to get weapons, but I did not join her." Buffy paused and thought for a moment. "I freed her from her handcuffs."
"Buffy!" Lilah admonished.
"You did what?" Detective Stein asked Buffy.
"She had gotten a hold of the keys after the crash, and she called me over to uncuff her. I...I'm sorry."
Detective Stein shook his head and wrote something down. Lilah glared at Buffy.
After they had finished, Buffy, Tara, and Joyce left the police station and headed toward the Jeep.
"And Faith acts like she doesn't even care. The way she talks, it's like she didn't even make a mistake."
Tara took it all in. "Do you think she's, like, i-in shock?"
Buffy sighed. "I don't know. Now, I'm gonna tell Giles. He might know what to do."
Buffy walked into the library quietly and walked past the counter. "Giles?"
She stopped when she saw him come out of his office.
"Buffy."
"Uh..." Buffy sighed. "I don't really know how to say this, so I'm - I'm...I'm just gonna say it. I know I've kept things from you before, but..."
Giles turned his head slightly as Faith walked out of his office, too. Faith gave her a steely look, having expected Buffy to keep things quiet. Buffy was at a loss for words, surprised at seeing Faith still free.
"It's okay, Buffy. I told him."
Buffy was surprised. "You told him?"
"I had to. He had to know what you did."
Buffy was confused. "What I did?" She realized Faith had told Giles a bold-faced lie. "Giles, no. Tha-That's just not what happened."
"I don't want to hear it, Buffy."
Buffy was shocked. "No! It-"
"I don't want to hear any more lies."
Buffy frantically looked at Faith. "You can't be serious! You're setting me up?"
"Get in my office, now. Faith, I'll talk to you in the morning."
Buffy looked at Giles imploringly. "Giles, please, you have to-"
"Now!" Giles yelled sternly.
Buffy couldn't believe what was happening. Faith walked around Giles. Buffy went into his office.
Faith stopped and faced him. "Um..." She paused, trying to think of something to say. "Sorry." She left at a brisk pace.
Giles looked down for a moment, then went into his office.
Buffy faced him. "Giles, I didn't do this. I swear. The killing, i-it...it was-"
"Faith. I know."
Stunned, Buffy realized he was just playing Faith's game.
"She may have many talents, Buffy, but, fortunately, lying is not one of them."
"Oh. Oh, God." Buffy sat in his chair. "I thought-"
"I'm sorry. I needed her to think that I was on her side. I don't know how far she'll take this charade."
"Try far. Like, all the way."
"You should have come to me right off." Giles sat facing her.
"I know. Well, I-I wanted to."
"But Faith wouldn't hear of it?"
"It's not all her fault, Giles. We both thought it was a vampire. I-I only realized it a second before."
"Buffy, this is not the first time something like this has happened."
Buffy was confused. "It's not?"
"The Slayer is on the front line of a nightly war. Now, it's - it's tragic, but accidents have happened."
"W-What do you do?"
"Well, the Council investigates, um, metes out punishment if punishment is due. But I...I have no plans to involve them. I mean...it's the last thing Faith needs at the moment. She's unstable, Buffy. I mean...she's utterly unable to accept responsibility."
"She's freaking. So - So then we just have to help her deal, right?"
"She's in denial. There is no help for her until she admits what happened."
Buffy was uncertain. "I-I could talk to her."
Giles sighed. "Perhaps."
"Or maybe I'm too close. Maybe - Maybe one of the others could."
"We should meet. It - It may be that they're seeing a different side of her."
"Okay."
"In the meantime, no one else is to know. Understood?"
Buffy made a guilty face.
"I mean...this is...extremely delicate. If we scare her off now, we may lose her forever." Giles paused when he noticed her expression. "What?"
"I already told the police."
Giles sighed.
"They came to my house, Giles."
"Well, then you did the right thing, of course. Who else knows?"
"My mom, Tara, and my lawyer."
Giles nodded.
Later, Buffy, Tara, Cordelia, Harmony, and Giles met at Buffy's house and sat at the dining room table, eating a late dinner of a large supreme pizza.
Tara looked at Buffy. "Well, maybe we should all talk to Faith together."
"You mean...like an intervention?" Buffy asked.
Giles shook his head. "No, Faith is too defensive for a confrontation like that. She'll respond better to a one-on-one approach."
Harmony smiled. "Well, I can be the one...on her one."
The others gave her confused looks.
"Let's rephrase. I think she might listen to me. We kind of have, um, a connection."
"A connection?" Buffy asked her. "Why would you think that-"
"I'm just saying it's worth a shot. That's all."
Buffy and Tara exchanged a look.
Giles shook his head. "No, I don't - I don't see it, Harmony. I mean...of - of all of us, you're the one person, arguably, that Faith has had the least contact with."
"Yeah, but we hung out a little...recently, and she seemed to be, um...responsive."
Tara picked up on that and figured it out. She twiddled her thumbs.
"When did you guys hang out?" Buffy asked Harmony.
"Oh, she was fighting one of those, uh, apocalypse demon things, and I helped her. Gave her a ride home."
"And you guys talked?" Buffy asked her.
Harmony shook her head. "Not extensively. No."
"Then why would you..." Buffy figured it out also and widened her eyes with surprise. "Oh."
Giles got it, surprised. "Oh!"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yes, they fucked. God, you dumbasses."
Giles shook his head. "Fine, fine, let's - let's - let's move on."
Buffy nodded. "All right. Look, I-I know that you mean well, Harmony, but, um, I-I just don't see Faith opening up to you. She doesn't take the people that she has a...'connection' with very seriously. And they're - they're kind of a big joke to her. No offense."
"Oh, no! I mean...why would I be offended by that?" Harmony asked her sarcastically.
Giles nodded. "However, i-if you still want to be of assistance, I-I-I need some help with research. There's still the business of the mayor and Mr. Trick to attend to."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, they - they seemed pretty cozy that night."
"Yes. Uh, Tara, c-c-can you, um, access the mayor's files?" Giles asked.
"I can try."
"Good, yes, because clearly we, uh, we need to take a harder look at him. He's - He's, um, he's obviously up to something."
"What about Faith?" Buffy asked.
Giles sighed. "I don't know. I need time."
"She needs help now."
Giles looked at her.
"I owe her that."
Later, in Jenny's apartment, Faith was lying on the couch, idly watching TV. She heard a knock at her door. She rolled off the couch and went to answer it. Harmony was standing outside.
Faith was bored. "What?"
"I just, uh, came by to see how you are, actually."
"I'm sick of people asking me that, for one thing."
A long moment of silence ensued.
"Can I come in?" Harmony asked. "Just to talk. I promise."
Faith was skeptical. "Like you could make something happen, if I didn't want it to?"
"Hey, yeah. Got me there. Pretty much not gonna try to...take you under any circumstances." Harmony held out her arm. "See, here, feel that." She pointed to her biceps. "Probably like a wet noodle to you, huh?"
Faith stepped aside. "Five minutes."
"That's all I need." Harmony walked into the apartment.
Faith closed the door.
"I'm, um, quick as a bunny and poetic as a unicorn."
Faith looked at her in confusion and turned off the TV. "Clock is running."
"It's just, uh...I heard about what happened, and I thought you might need a friend."
"So then go talk to Buffy. She's the one who killed a guy."
"Yeah. I heard that version."
Faith was not amused. "Version?"
Harmony sighed. "Either way, i-it sounds like it was an accident, and that's the important part."
Faith got angry. "No, the important part is that Buffy is the 'accidental murderer'."
"Faith, you may not think so, but I sort of know you. And I've seen you post-battle. And I know firsthand that you're, um...like a wild thing. And half the time, you don't know what you're doing."
"And you're living proof of that, aren't you?" Faith asked her snidely.
"See, you're trying to hurt me. But right now, you need someone on your side. What happened wasn't your fault."
Faith gave her a sexy look. "I know what this is all about." She stepped closer and ran her fingertips all around her face. "You just came by here, 'cause you want another taste, don't you?"
"No!" Harmony yelled. "I mean...it was nice. It was great. It was kind of a blur. But, okay, someday, sure, yay, but not now. Not like this."
Faith grabbed hold of her head. "More like how then? Lights on or off? Kinks or vanilla?"
Harmony jerked away. "Faith, come on. I came here to help you." She looked her in the eyes. "I thought we had a connection."
Faith couldn't help but think that was funny and laughed at her gullibility. Harmony started to cry.
Faith heard a noise behind her and looked over just in time to be knocked unconscious by Angel.
Harmony yelled as Faith fell to the floor. She looked at Angel.
"Harmony, could you...could you help me chain her up, please?"
Harmony wiped away her tears and nodded. "Gladly."
Upon regaining consciousness, Faith found herself chained to the fireplace mantle. She rubbed her wrists. "Finally decided to tie me up, huh? I always knew you weren't really a one-woman guy."
Angel played with a bat. "I'm sorry about the chains. It's not that I don't trust you..." He paused. "Actually, it is that I don't trust you." He set the bat aside, walked over to her, and crouched before her. "I bet you're not big on trust games, now, are you, Faith?"
"You gonna shrink me now? Is that it?"
"No, I just wanna talk to you."
"That's what they all say. And then it's just 'Lemme stay the night. Won't try anything.'"
"You wanna go the long way around, hey, I can do that." Angel stood up. "I'm not getting any older." He turned his back on her and walked out into the atrium.
Buffy was waiting there and stood up when she saw him. "How's she doing?"
"It's like talking to a wall. Only you get more from a wall."
"But you'll keep trying, right?" Buffy asked him.
"Sure. We're just getting started."
"So...what do I do?" Buffy asked, eager to help.
"Look, right now, there's nothing that you can do."
"Well, this could take a while, right?" Buffy went to the stairs. "So...I'll just go to Faith's, and I'll get some of her stuff. That way, she'll see that we're on her side."
"That's a good idea."
"Okay." Buffy glanced at Faith. "I'll be back."
"Look, I...I don't want you to get your hopes up, Buffy. She may not want us to help her."
"She does. She just doesn't know how to say it."
"She killed a man. That changes everything for her."
"I...I know." Buffy shook her head. "But Giles said, with counseling, they might not even need to lock her up."
"That's not what I mean. She's taken a life."
"I know."
"She's got a taste for it now."
"That's bullshit. I took a life, and I have no desire to do so again." Buffy turned and left.
Later, Angel paced past Faith. "I know what's goin' on with you."
"Join the club. Everybody seems to have a theory."
"Hmm." Angel faced her. "But I know what it's like to take a life. To feel a future, a world of possibilities, snuffed out by your own hand. I know the power in it. The exhilaration. It was like a drug for me."
Faith looked up at him. "Yeah? Sounds like you need some help. A professional, maybe."
"Hmm." Angel went to the coffee table. "A professional couldn't have helped me." He sat on it. "It stopped when I got my soul back."
"Goody for you. If we're gonna party, let's get on with it." Faith held out her wrists. "Otherwise, could you let me out of these things?"
"Faith, you have a choice. You've tasted something few ever do." Angel stood up and paced. "I mean...to kill without remorse is to feel like a god."
Faith struggled angrily, yanking at the chains impatiently. "Right now, all I feel is a cramp in my wrist, so let me go!"
Angel crouched. "But you're not a god. You're not much more than a child. Going down this path will ruin you. You can't imagine the price for true evil."
"Yeah?" Faith sneered. "I hope evil takes MasterCard."
Angel smiled and straightened up. "You and me, Faith, we're a lot alike. Time was...I thought humans existed just to hurt each other." He sat next to her. "But then I came here. And I found out that there are other types of people. People who genuinely wanted to do right." He looked at her. "And they make mistakes. And they fall down. You know, but they keep caring. Keep trying. If you can trust us, Faith, this can all change. You don't have to disappear into the darkness."
Suddenly, there was a loud pounding on the door. It was broken in, and Wesley strode straight toward them, holding a large cross and flanked by three others. Angel rushed to head them off but had to step back from Wesley, who nervously held the cross in his face. One of his cronies blindsided Angel with a right hook, and he fell to the floor. Another quickly threw a net over him, and the third started to beat him with a crowbar while the others tied Angel up. Wesley went over to Faith and removed the shackles from her wrists. While she rubbed them and watched Angel get whaled on, Wesley pulled out a set of heavy cuffs and chains, and, before she knew it, her wrists were bound once again.
Faith was confused. "What?"
Wesley lifted her up and guided her out. "By the order of the Watchers Council of Britain...I am exercising my authority and removing you to England, where you will accept the judgment of the disciplinary committee."
One of the men helped hold Faith, and they all left the mansion, leaving Angel behind, entangled in a mass of net and rope.
Faith was put into the back of a stepvan, and they were soon driving down a boulevard. Faith was chained to a bench on one side. Wesley and one of his men sat on the bench opposite her.
"I'm sorry for the extreme measures. Unfortunately, this is a rather extreme circumstance."
"Whatever."
"Please believe nobody is rushing to judgment. The first priority of both myself and the Council is to help you."
Faith pulled at the ring holding her to the bench.
"Ah, now, none of that." Wesley looked at his crony. "Tighten her restraints." He looked at Faith. "Faith, there's no point in fighting this."
Faith kicked the man in the knee, and he fell to the floor.
Faith pressed down on his face with her boot. "Have to disagree with you on that one. Now, unlock these, or I'll pop this guy's head like a grape."
Wesley hesitated, then spied a wrench on the floor.
Faith saw it, too. "Don't even think about it." She held up her cuffed wrists for him to unlock.
Wesley gave in, stood up, pulled the keys from his pocket, and stepped over to set her free. "Faith, you can't keep running."
She punched him hard in the jaw, and he fell onto the wrench. He grabbed it and tried to swing at her with it, but she grabbed his wrist.
"Wrong again, Wes." Faith grabbed his jacket with her other hand and headbutted him hard.
He fell down, unconscious. She went to the doors, kicked them open, and jumped out onto the street. She rolled a few times before coming to a stop and watched the van drive away. She looked around to get her bearings and made her getaway.
Buffy arrived at Angel's mansion with some of Faith's things. Once inside, she noticed Faith was gone, and then she saw Angel still struggling to get out of the ropes. She rushed over to help him out.
Later, in the library, Tara, Cordelia, Harmony, Jenny, and Giles were all there with Buffy and Angel. All of them were sitting at the table except Angel, who stood.
Angel looked at them. "It was the new Watcher. He had a couple of guys helping him."
"Then he figured it out?" Jenny asked.
Giles nodded. "Which means that Faith will be soon on her way back to England to face the Watchers Council."
"And then what?" Buffy asked him.
"Most likely, they'll lock her away for a good long while."
"So we head them off at the airport and stop them."
"Can I...?" Cordelia paused. "I-I'm just wondering. Why?"
Buffy gave her a look.
"She murdered someone and accused Buffy. Then she hurt Harmony. I hate to say it, but maybe she belongs behind bars."
Giles thought about that.
Tara hesitated. "Because she loves her."
Buffy looked at her, mildly surprised and a bit defensive.
Tara looked her girlfriend in the eyes. "I can see it. The way that you are around her. The way that she makes you feel."
Buffy struggled for words. "Tara-"
Tara gently pressed her index finger to Buffy's lips. "We'll talk later. Right now, our friend needs our help."
Buffy gathered herself and looked at all of them. "She's out of control, I know. But Angel was getting somewhere with her. She was opening up. If we could just stop Wesley."
Wesley walked into the library. "That's no longer an issue."
"You let her get away?" Giles asked him.
"'Let' wouldn't be the way I'd phrase it, but..." Wesley hesitated. "Yes, she escaped."
Giles rolled his eyes and took off his glasses.
"That's good work. First, you terrorize her, then you put her back in the streets." Angel sat on the table.
"That was hardly my plan. I was trying to save her."
Buffy looked at him accusingly. "But you didn't! You probably destroyed her, you fucking asshole!"
"Buffy, that's enough." Giles put his glasses back on.
"I better find her before she does any more damage." Buffy stood up. "We're gonna need to split up. I'll check the docks. That's probably where she is. Giles, why don't you go to the stores? Maybe she's stocking up on food or...other things before she skips town. Ms. Calendar, the bus stops. Tara, Cordy, Harm, her haunts, and be careful."
Harmony made a face, upset.
Buffy softened a bit and looked at her sympathetically. "Are you up to it?"
Harmony hesitated.
Cordelia put her arm around Harmony. "We'll team up. I won't let anything bad happen to you."
Harmony gave her a small smile. "Thank you."
Cordelia smiled back at her.
They all got up to leave.
"I'll try the airport." Angel left.
Everyone walked past Wesley on their way out.
"What can I do?" Wesley asked Buffy. "I want to help."
Buffy looked at him resentfully. "You still got your ticket back to the mother country?"
She followed the others out, leaving him standing there alone.
Buffy walked along a dock, watching for Faith. There was an old, rusty cargo ship docked there. She passed underneath the gangplank and stopped when she heard Faith behind her.
"You don't give up, do you?" Faith was on the ship, at the top of the gangplank.
Buffy looked at her. "Not on my friends, no."
"Yeah, because you and me are such solid buds, right?" Faith walked down the gangplank.
"We could be. It's not too late."
Faith was disgusted. "For me to change and be more like you, you mean? Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes?" She stopped halfway and leaned on the railing. "It ain't gonna happen, B."
"I'm a long way from Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes, Faith, and nobody is asking you to be like me, but you can't go on like this."
Faith grinned evilly. "Scares you, doesn't it?" She climbed over the railing and hopped down to the dock.
"Yeah, it scares me. Faith, you're hurting people. You're hurting yourself."
Faith approached Buffy. "But that's not it. That's not what bothers you so much. What bugs you is you know I'm right. You know in your gut we don't need the law. We are the law."
'No." Buffy turned her back and walked away.
Faith followed right behind. "Yes. You know exactly what I'm about, 'cause you have it in you, too."
"No, Faith."
"I've seen it, B. You've got the lust."
Buffy stopped in her tracks.
"It was good, wasn't it? The killing?" Faith asked, taunting her.
"No!" Buffy continued walking.
Faith followed. "See, you need me to toe the line, because you're afraid you'll go over it again, aren't you, B? You can't handle watching me living my own way, having a blast, because it tempts you! You know it could be you!"
Buffy had had enough. She stopped, faced her, and backhand-punched her in the jaw.
Faith stood up, smiling wickedly. "There's my girl."
Buffy tried to get away. "No. I'm not gonna do this."
Faith didn't let her go. "Why not? It feels good. Blood rising."
Buffy heard a noise above, looked up, and noticed a pallet of crates above them, falling directly at Faith. She shoved her out of the way but got struck herself and went down. She was dazed but not out.
Faith got up and went to help Buffy, when Mr. Trick and three other vampires suddenly attacked. Faith spun around when she heard them roar but was soundly punched in the face by Trick, forcing her body to snap to the side. He and another one grabbed her by her jacket and threw her to the ground. As Faith tried to get to her feet, the second vampire roundhouse-kicked her in the face. She blocked it and dropped a bit but managed to get up and block an uppercut from the third one by grabbing his hand. She backhand-punched him in the face, making him step back to keep his balance, and turned to face the second vampire. She high-blocked a wide swing from him and punched him, making him fall, but the third one behind her flat-handed her in the back, and she stumbled.
Buffy started to come out of her daze. "Oh, God..."
The third vampire held Faith with her arms behind her back. She tried to get free by snapping her heel backwards and striking his kneecap. That had no effect, so she snapped her head back and butted him dead in the nose, but the vampire still didn't let go of her. The second vampire launched into a half spinning hook kick intended for Faith, but she ducked it, and the demon holding her took the blow, let go of her, and went down. Faith flew into a full spinning, jumping, out-to-in crescent kick, hitting the second vampire hard in the face and sending him spinning to the ground. The first vampire ran at her, but she sidestepped him and shoved him into the third, who was just getting up. He wasn't knocked down, though, and came at her. She grabbed him and pulled him with her toward the water and threw him off the dock.
Buffy was out of her daze now and, with difficulty, pulled her legs out from under the pallet of crates that fell on her. She got to her feet but was immediately punched by Mr. Trick. She fell, spinning, onto the crates and rolled off onto the concrete. She got to her feet as Trick approached and tried to backhand-punch him, but he middle-blocked it, so she punched him in the gut instead. Her jab was weak, though, and had no effect on him. Trick did a painful right hook to her face. Buffy stumbled backward. Trick advanced and swung again, this time snapping her head back with a powerful uppercut, making her fall onto another pile of crates.
Faith did a half-spinning hook kick, connecting with the second vampire's jaw. He fell onto an open barrel and struggled not to fall in. The first one came at her again, but she had her stake out now and jammed it home. He fell over, dead. She looked over and saw Buffy struggling with Mr. Trick. He wrapped a cord around her neck and began to choke her. But Faith wasn't finished with her fight yet. The second vampire threw off the barrel, only to become intimate with her stake and die.
Faith saw Trick yank at the cord around Buffy's neck and pull her off the crates. He pulled her up and swung her around into a pallet leaning against still more crates. She hit it hard and fell to the pavement. Faith looked around, trying to decide what to do. She saw Trick pick Buffy up again and slam her against the huge crates. Buffy struggled to get loose, but the cord around her neck was too tight.
"I hear, once you've tasted a Slayer, you never wanna go back." Trick opened his fang-filled mouth wide and moved in for the bite.
Buffy struggled to keep him away but couldn't.
Suddenly, Mr. Trick stopped and looked up in wide-eyed shock. "Oh, no." He shook his head. "No, this is no good at all."
He began to fall as Faith pulled her stake back. The two Slayers looked at each other uncertainly for a long while. Faith lowered her stake. Buffy massaged her neck.
"Need a ride home?" Buffy finally offered.
Faith stared at her for a moment longer. "Yeah."
Faith sat in silence as Buffy parked her van and shut off the engine.
"Remember what we talked about, Faith."
Faith looked at Buffy and nodded. She unfastened her seatbelt.
"All right, you better get in there. If Ms. Calendar's home already, she's probably worried sick about you."
"Right." Faith unlocked the passenger door. She hesitated. She looked back at Buffy. Then Faith leaned over and kissed Buffy on the lips.
Buffy was caught by surprise. Hesitating for a moment, which she ended up hating herself for, Buffy pushed Faith away. "No."
"No?" Faith asked. "C'mon, B."
Buffy shook her head. "I'm in love with Tara." She was about to bring up Faith's treatment of Harmony but then stopped herself, not wanting to push Faith away.
Faith shrugged. "Whatever. Your loss." She opened the door and got out of the van. She closed the door.
Buffy started the engine, looked at Faith, put the van in Drive, and drove off.
Later, at home, Buffy sat at the island in the kitchen. Tara poured some hot water into Buffy's mug from the kettle. Buffy inhaled the aroma of peppermint tea.
"So she saved you." Tara poured water into her own mug.
"She could have left me there to die, Tara, but she didn't."
"She agreed to come back to town with you. That..." Tara paused as she put the kettle back on the stove. "That's a good first step." Tara returned to the island and sat to Buffy's right. "She still has a lot to face before she can put this behind her."
"I'm not gonna give up on her."
Tara smiled. "Then I think she stands a chance."
Buffy hesitated. "Babe-"
"It's okay. She's a Slayer. I get it." Tara put her hand on top of Buffy's hand.
"It just...happened. It's not that I don't love you - or that you're not enough for me." Buffy stared into Tara's eyes. "You know that, right?"
"Have you ever...wondered what it would be like...if we'd never gotten together?" Tara asked her.
"Never!" Buffy adamantly replied. "Have you...ever wondered what it would be like...if you and Amy had gotten together?"
"Of course. She's my friend. I'd often fantasized about her."
Buffy frowned.
"But I didn't know she was gay, sweetie, and then I met you, and you told me that you loved me, and you kissed me, and I wouldn't trade that for anything."
Buffy stared into Tara's eyes and smiled. They interlaced their fingers. Tara stared into Buffy's eyes and smiled back at her, then she kissed Buffy on the lips.
Faith knocked on the door to the mayor's office and then stood there, arms crossed. Eventually, the door opened, and the mayor was standing there. He looked surprised to see Faith.
"You sent your boy to kill me."
"That's right, I did."
"He's dead."
"I thought he might be. What with you standing here and all."
Faith stepped brazenly into the doorway. "I guess that means you have a job opening."
The mayor stepped back to let her enter and closed the door.