Rise from the Ashes
by Justchicky2bme
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The show and characters belong to J.W. and M.E. The
story is mine.
Spoilers: This is AU season 7, there are a few Chosen spoilers.
Notes: Again this hasn't been beta'd, not a surprise. Hope you
like. I'm not too happy about it but, well I can only hope it gets
better.
Feedback: I love it and crave it and need it.
The wind blew lightly at her hair causing a few strands to fall across her face. She wasn't sure whether she should feel happy or sad looking down into the crater that used to be her home and life. Maybe one day this won't feel so horrible and she'll be able to see the good they did here. It's hard knowing that not everyone made it out, but then again they made the ultimate sacrifice, one that she's had to make herself before. Still she couldn't suppress a smile at the new freedom she was feeling.
The earth seemed to spin in front of her, Buffy closed her eyes in an attempt to focus her vision but it didn't help. Looking down she noticed the blood soaking through her shirt and remembered that she'd been stabbed. Her adrenaline had carried her this far but the blood loss was beginning to get to her. She swayed a little and her knees began to buckle underneath her.
'Ummmm I think I need to sit.' She mumbled before blacking out.
Faith was immediately at Buffy's side, catching the slayer and picking her up into her arms. Turning around she walked quickly back to the bus, carrying her inside and laying her down in the last seat. The others had quickly followed behind.
'Shit.' She cursed under her breath as she lifted Buffy's shirt to expose the wound. 'We're gonna need to stitch her up and stop this bleeding.' Turning Buffy over on her side a little she cursed again. Faith grabbed the bandages Kennedy handed her and covered the wound on Buffy's back first. Gently she rolled Buffy onto her back and put pressure on the wound on her stomach. The others watched as Faith's guard dropped and her fingers trailed down Buffy's cheek gently. Her concern was evident and they were all a little taken aback.
'We should probably take them to the nearest hospital.' Giles spoke, breaking the silence.
'How far is that?' Dawn asked weakly, she was trying desperately not to cry.
'Well…. I'm not sure. I could take a look at the map.'
'Just start driving! Sitting here talking isn't gonna help her any. Get this fuckin thing moving.' Faith growled at them. She still had her back to them, one hand in Buffy's hair at the top of her head.
'Faith I think we should…….' Giles started.
'Just drive.' She wouldn't let him finish, she didn't want to hear anything he had to say. Giles stood there a moment before walking to the front of the bus and starting the engine. 'Xander go make sure everyone's on the bus.' He left without a hesitation. 'Red, you stay here, everyone else go sit down and make sure everyone's taken care of.'
'Faith you can't….'
'Go make sure the other girls are all bandaged up ok.' She cut off Dawn, but tried her best not to sound harsh. 'Please, there's nothing you can do for her right now.' Faith finally turned and looked at the younger girl. Dawn was trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. 'Don't worry she'll be ok.' The young girl looked at her a moment before finally deciding to do what Faith said.
'Think you can do anything. You know some kinda magic shit.' Faith turned and looked at Willow. The bus began to move and they jerked forward slightly.
'I…. I don't know Faith, I mean I don't know the extent of the wound. There could be organs and things and I don't know if I can heal something like this. I mean I've never tried to do it before and I'm no expert. She would really probably be better off at a hospital where they can make sure everything is ok. I'm not a doctor and again I've never done something like this…'
'Ok, ok just help me stop the bleeding would ya.' Faith sighed as Willow's babbling stopped. They cleaned Buffy's wound and attempted to stitch them. The unsteady ride made things difficult, but they managed to sew the wounds shut. 'You better go see about the others.' Faith said sitting down and putting Buffy's head in her lap. Willow looked at her a moment and could see something she hadn't seen before. There was love and concern in the brunette's eyes. Willow wondered what exactly had happened between the two slayers in the last couple of days.
Faith watched the witch walk away and sighed. Her fingers traced down Buffy's cheek, she felt like crying but wasn't going to let a single tear fall, it wouldn't help Buffy any. They really shouldn't go to a hospital, too many questions. And then she remembered. There was one place they could go.
'Hey someone give me a cell!'
Mumbling in the distance brings me slowly out of the darkness. Hesitantly I open my eyes, not wanting the sun to blind me, but there's no light. Ok, now I'm confused, I have no idea where I am. It takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust but I soon realize I'm in a hotel room. All my senses begin to focus again and I realize the mumbling was just the tv. It's blue light casts shadows everywhere.
'Grrrrrr.' Pain shoots through my side when I try to sit up, so I don't. 'God that hurts.' I mumble into the darkness.
'Huh wha?' Faith bolts upright next to me. I didn't even realize she was there asleep. 'Are you ok?' She asks with urgency. Her eyes seem to be glowing at me, but it's probably just the light from the tv.
'Ummm well I'm alive so I guess so.' She looks relieved. 'I am alive right?' Hey I'm not taking any chances.
'Yeah B you're alive.' Faith's trademark grin shows itself.
'Where are we, where's everyone else.' She helps me into a sitting position so I'm leaning against the headboard of the bed.
'We're in L.A. This is some swanky hotel Angel set up for us. Everyone's got rooms.' She's looking at me intently. 'You sure you're ok?'
'Yeah I think so, what happened?'
'Well let's see, you passed out and I caught ya before you hit the ground. Me and Red tried to fix you up best we could. Giles thought we should take you to a hospital but I thought it might kinda be a bad idea. So I called Angel, told him the deal and he said he'd take care of everything. We got you a real good doctor who fixed you up and the others.' She stopped a moment. 'Couldn't save Wood though. Angel paid for the hotel, food, clothes, anything else we need till we can get where we're goin. He also said he'd see what he could do about the cops, find a way to take care of the whole breaking outta prison thing.'
'Well……… a lot's happened, how long have I been out?'
'Five days.'
'What?'
'Yeah, scared us, didn't think you were gonna make.' I can see the pain in her eyes. I really did scare her.
'I'm sorry.'
'For what?'
'For scaring you.' Faith doesn't say anything, just looks away for a minute.
'Just don't do it again.' She says looking at me with a grin. I can't help but grin back.
'Ughhhhh.' I clutch my side. 'So much for slayer healing.' I also notice I have an IV in my arm. 'What's this for?'
'You lost a lot of blood and everything, it's fluids or some shit cus you know you've been ummm unconscious. It was pretty nasty, if you weren't a slayer you wouldn't have made it.' She leans forward and kisses my forehead. I smile slightly. So is this the real Faith? 'Hey lemme get you something to drink.' She gets up from the bed and opens a small fridge at one end of the room. After a second she closes it and returns, handing me a bottle of coke and then sits next to me.
I turn my eyes to the TV. It's Robin Williams, an old HBO special. We sit in silence for awhile. 'What happens now?' I ask and I'm actually a little afraid of the answer. If Angel takes care of the police I'm sure she wants to leave.
'I dunno, you're not going to be doing anything till you're healed.' She looks at me with a serious expression.
'Don't think I could if I wanted to.' Faith's eyes turn back to the TV and so do mine. 'What happens………….' I don't really know if I want to ask this. 'What happens with you, with….. us?' Are we really an us, I mean I don't know exactly what we are right now. There's a moment of silence and both of us keep our eyes on the TV.
'I guess that's up to you. If you want me around I'll stay, if you don't I can leave.' She breaths in deeply. 'But it'd be hard to leave.' I don't think I can let her run away from me again. I guess I should give this a chance now that we have so much more to live for, it's like we're free.
'I want you around.' I look over at her and she's grinning back at me.
'Good cus I don't think I'd leave anyway.' She leans forward and kisses my lips softly. It feels so good and I realize I miss her lips. Faith pulls away a little and looks at me. 'I think the others know about us.'
'Wait, did they really hear me scream?' Oh my god, I can't believe they heard me scream. Faith begins to laugh and she sits back. Why does she find this so funny? Of course she probably wouldn't care if anyone heard her, but this is me we're talking about.
'I don't think they heard, well no one's said anything. No they kinda looked at me weird when I was taking care of you and everything.'
'You took care of me?' I smile at her.
'Of course I did, you're kinda you know, my girl.' She looks back at the TV and I can tell she's blushing.
'You're too cute Faith.' I grin at her.
'Shut up.' She smiles a little but doesn't look at me. I turn my attention back to the TV. I feel Faith's hand slowly slide over to mine and grab hold of it. She squeezes it a little and I feel so safe right now here with her. Just me and Faith watching TV in the dark. Faith begins laughing hard at the TV and I'm trying my best not to laugh, it hurts just to breath right now. She's so happy and that just makes me even happier. I don't remember the last time I saw her like this, I'm not sure I ever saw her like this. She scoots a little closer and rests our hands on her thigh. Well I guess tonight is the beginning of my, no, our new life. I think I like how it's turning out already.
Notes: Again this hasn't been beta'd, not a surprise. Hope you like. This is for all the chicks at TCM, cus ya'll keep me writing.
A cool breeze drifts across my skin. I lean back into the chair and look out at the horizon where colors of purple, orange and red play across the hazy morning sky. As soon as the sun rises the air will heat up and it will be a typical L.A. day. But this is nice, sitting here not worrying about anything for a moment.
'It's pretty don't you think?' I turn and look at Faith who's taking a drag from her cigarette.
'Yeah spose.' She says quietly pulling her knees to her chest. I wonder what she's thinking about. Breathing in deeply, I fill my lungs with air then let it all out in a rush. My side isn't hurting as much now, I guess I got used to the pain or maybe there's the whole slayer healing thing. I don't really care I'm just glad it doesn't hurt so much anymore.
We sit in silence for awhile, nothing but the sounds of the city as it wakes up. I lay my head back and look over at Faith again. I can't help feeling a little, I dunno nervous I guess. I'm still scared and I wonder what the others will say. This is so not a normal relationship. Well not that the others were, but I mean……. We could have at least gone out on a date first.
I listen as police sirens wail below until it fades away into the distance. So this is what it feels like to wake up without demons and apocalypses on your mind. I almost want to cry because I don't know what to do now.
'We should get ya back in the room B.' Faith says as she flicks her cigarette down. She saunters over to me, grabbing my hands and helping me to stand. We're suddenly only inches from each other. Her eyes are gazing intently into mine. We stand there for a minute not moving. Maybe I should kiss her, maybe she's wondering the same thing. Or maybe I'm just an idiot and should stop thinking and just do. Faith wraps an arm around my waist then lifts my arm over her shoulder to help support me. Ok maybe no kiss then.
'You want some breakfast?' She asks as she helps me onto the bed.
'I'm starved.' We grin at each other.
'I'll order us up some room service and call everyone. I'm sure they'll wanna come see you.' I reach out and stop her hand as she reaches for the phone.
'Can you maybe wait on the calling everyone. I mean I want to see them just that I need some time before all the madness. You understand?'
'Yeah B I can understand.' She says smiling at me. Faith orders a huge amount of food, and even though I haven't eaten in like a week I'm sure she'll probably eat more than I do.
'I think I should take a shower before the food gets here.' It's a wonder I don't smell, she must have been washing me.
`I'll help you, I need one too.'
'Ummmmm ok.' I say. A shower together? As in me and Faith both in the shower at the same time with no clothes on. Oh wait we did have sex, more than once, I mean it can't be that awkward. Ok so maybe it can.
'Look if you're uncomfortable…….'
'No.' I cut her off. 'I was just wondering if there were any other clothes for me to put on.' Oooh that's a good lie, not.
'Yeah I picked up some for you.'
'Oh ok.' I can only imagine what she got, probably leather like her. She helps me to my feet again and we make our way to the bathroom. I just about pee myself at how huge it is. I mean it's like a dream bathroom. You know the one's you always see in magazines and wished that you had. Oh and the bathtub is a large Jacuzzi style one that looks like it can fit like 3 or 4 people. 'You know I think a bath would be a lot better.' She grins at me when I say this.
It's hard for me to take my eyes off the tub but then I see the shower. It has two shower heads and glass doors. There's also a seat cut into the wall. I can already imagine the possibilities. I wonder how long we can stay here. This is bad I shouldn't be thinking about these things.
'Angel is paying for this?' I ask as I stare in wonderment around me.
'Yeah he's taking care of it.'
'And how long can we stay here?' She laughs at me.
'As long as we need to B.'
'Ok.' This is about all I can say, I want to live in this bathroom. Well no, this whole hotel room is amazing. She's still laughing at me as I sit down on the toilet. Faith turns on the water in the tub, and it's one of those waterfall looking spouts. There's a little bottle of bubble bath stuff on the counter that she grabs and pours in. Then she gets up and walks back out into the room. There's also like this living room area just outside the bedroom area. Like I said this place is amazing.
Faith returns after a minute or so, I don't really how long she took I was paying too much attention to the bathroom. I might have been drooling.
'I'll have to make sure to get you a bathroom like this.' She says to me.
'Really?'
'Yeah baby really.' Why does she keep grinning at me like that?
'Don't get my hopes up.' If she's just saying that I'm going to have to get Willow to do some magiky stuff on her.
'I know how you girls like your bathrooms.'
'You're a girl.' Hello I could have sworn I saw all the girl parts when she stripped for me.
'Yeah but I don't need girl shit like an oversized bathroom.'
'But Faith it's so big.' It is big, it's very big in a big huge type way.
'Whatever floats your boat B.' Faith walks over to me. 'I'll help you take your shorts off.' She says bending down as I stand up. Oh my God is this a good idea? I don't know but I start to pull my shirt off anyway. In no time I'm standing in front of her completely naked. I cross my arms in front of my chest and try not to notice she hasn't stood up yet. I feel her hands slide up my thighs as she finally stands. Her hands come to my waist and she lifts me up and over into the tub. The hot water shocks me and I want to jump back out but it takes seconds for me to get used to it.
Faith's not looking at me thank god. I sit down in the mass of bubbles that have formed. Ahhhhhh, I love this bath tub. My eyes happen to fall on Faith's body by chance. I wasn't intentionally looking at her it just sorta happened that way. She pulled her shirt up over her head and tossed it behind her before reaching down to unzip her pants. I'm getting flashbacks now. Is this water getting hotter?
Faith slides her leather pants down her legs and steps out of them slowly. Her eyes meet mine as she straightens up.
'I think you're drooling B.' An evil grin plays across her lips. She is so very hot, can I say that now. I just want to clarify the extent of her hotness; it goes beyond regular hotness, it's like super hotness. She steps into the tub behind me and sits down. I feel her arms wrap around my waist and pull me closer to her. I give in and lean back. I've never been so comfortable in my life.
Faith reaches out grabs the sponge on the ledge by the wall. She dips it into the water leans me forward and rubs it across my back. My eyes close of their own accord. The gentle movement of the sponge across my skin makes my body tingle. She pulls me back against her and runs the sponge across my stomach and up my breasts. I feel her lips kiss softly at my neck. I slide my hands down her legs, and suddenly I can't help myself.
The water sloshes as I turn and straddle her waist. We're in the middle of the tub. Let me say one more time how much I love this thing. All I can hear is the water splashing and our harsh breathing. My face is against her cheek, I can feel her hot breath against my ear. I wrap my arms around her neck.
Her tongue flicks across my ear before she takes it in her mouth. I gasp, wrapping my legs tighter around her. Without hesitation I move my head and take her lips with mine. Our tongues meet, sliding against each others in a slow passionate kiss. Her hands slide up my back and we pull away gasping.
'You feel so good.' She whispers harshly into my ear. I slide one of my hands down her shoulder to her breast, rolling a nipple between my fingers. Faith does the same, mirroring my movements. I throw my head back as a moan escapes my lips. She takes the opportunity to slide her tongue up my neck. I can feel the fire building deep within me and begin to slowly grind myself against her. Faith begins to kiss down my chest so I lean into her more. I feel lips close in on my nipple. Her teeth graze across it before she starts sucking. Groaning, my hand leaves her breast and wraps back around her neck.
'Ohhh Faith.' I moan as I feel her fingers slide down my stomach and across my clit. I move my hips against her more. 'Please.' I gasp, I don't want to be teased I just want to feel her inside of me. Slowly her fingers slide down and inside of me. Electricity fires through my veins as I move my hips against her fingers. My breathing is coming in gasps and hers is just as harsh. Her head is still buried in my chest, her tongue working expertly with my nipples.
Then Faith's head moves back up to my neck. I feel her tongue slide against my pulse point. 'I love you.' She whispers harshly as her fingers begin to pump more in and out of me. I begin groaning and try to speed up the movement of her fingers. The water is sloshing all over the place. 'I need you, I need more.' She whispers pulling her fingers out.
'Please.' I beg her, I can't stand the loss of her fingers inside of me. Faith pulls me in kissing deeply, sucking my tongue into her mouth. Then suddenly she's lifting me up and sitting me on the large edge of the tub. My back leans against the cold wall as I watch her turn the water on and fill a cup. She turns to me and pours the water down my stomach and down between my legs. I shiver uncontrollably as goosebumps form on my skin.
Moving closer she spreads my legs wider, lifting them up over her shoulders. I grasp the edge of the tub, my knuckles begin turning white. She slides her hands under my thighs then grasps my hips, pulling herself closer. Her breath hits my clit causing me to shudder.
'Oh God!' I groan as she slides her tongue up and down the length of me. Her nose bumps against my clit as her tongue slides inside me. My body arches into her as her tongue moves in and out. Little bolts of electricity are firing all over my body. I think I'm screaming her name but I don't know what's going on past her thrusting tongue that's filling me.
'Come on baby.' She whispers against me in a husky tone. My hips are jerking against her face, I know I'm so close. Her tongue moves out only to be replaced by her fingers. She moves up and sucks on my clit bringing right over the edge. Stars explode in front of me as I scream her name. I'm only barely aware of her wrapping her arms around me and pulling me back into the tub. My body is shivering uncontrollably as the hot water washes over me.
'You alright?' Faith asks kissing my cheek as she pulls me tighter against her.
'Ahuh.' I can barely say anything, I'm just trying to get my eyes to focus again. We sit there cuddling for a little bit before I realize it's been awhile. 'We're going to get all pruney.' I tell her, I can see my handles are all wrinkly. Faith starts laughing at me. 'Well it's true.' At this point my stomach grumbles loudly.
'Looks like it's time to eat anyway B.' She's still laughing at me, I don't see what's so funny. We get out of the tub, Faith helps me into a robe and I make my way to the bed laying down. It's so big and soft. Faith hands me some clothes. It's a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. 'You're stayin in bed today, doctors orders.' She informs me. Before I can protest she disappears again. Well it's not like it's that bad, I mean as long as Faith stays I might just be able to bare it.
I can smell the food before I see it. Faith wheels in a cart piled with food. She's changed into a pair of cut off shorts and a tank top. Again with the hotness. There's so much food I indulge my hungries and get all piggish. Faith seems to be thinking the same thing, although I'm kind of making a mess. Of course she just laughs at me. She seems to do that a lot.
'Mmmmm I'm stuffed.' I say licking syrup off my fingers. Faith is giving me this look, I'm afraid of what she's thinking. She has such a dirty mind you know.
'I can think of a few things to do with that extra syrup.' I'm trying to respond, but I can't, I mean the visuals alone on that comment. She starts crawling across the bed towards me with an evil grin plastered on her face, when I can hear someone knocking on the door. Faith growls and drops her head before getting up and walking out of the bedroom. I seriously hope that's just more room service or something. Yeah with extra syrup or something because I really wanna know what Faith wants to do with it. As I watch Faith walk in with a frown and a smiling Dawn following, I know my fantasies have been crushed.
'Oh my god Buffy, you're awake!' Dawn yells and jumps on the bed hugging me.
'Yeah Dawnie.' I hug her back smiling.
'Oh my God I have to go tell everyone.' She gets up and runs out of the room before anyone else can speak.
'I guess that syrup thing will have to wait.' I say smiling at Faith. She grins at me.
'I'll make sure that syrup thing happens sooner rather than later.'
'Is that a promise.' I tease as she steps between my legs.
'Of course.' I really can't wait for everyone to get here and leave.
...to be continued...