Thanatos Kai Nous
by Pat Kelly
Rating: R

Disclaimer: All hail Joss and his army of Mutant Enemies. I don't own. I make no money. The song is "The Stone" and was written by Dave Matthews. Woo hoo, Dave!
Spoilers: Season 3 and 5. Previous two fics.
Author's Notes: Continuation of "A Mystical Experience" and "Facing Reality." Hope you like the episode. :-)

+1=2+

PART 1

The sun's heat was stifling, even though the trees blocked out almost any notice of blue sky that held it. A lone bird squawked from high above; the only other sounds to be heard were two people's breaths. Deep within the jungle, they seemed to meld into the wild environment as if they were part of it. If it weren't for the shorts, tank tops and sneakers they wore, anybody who happened to see them probably wouldn't be able to tell they were human.

The lesser species of the jungle sure couldn't tell, nor did they care. But the animals had stayed away; something was telling them to be afraid. And the two people were separated, making them hard to track. Sweat dripping down their foreheads, faces covered in dirt, clothes seemingly attached to their bodies and hair matted down, they moved stealthily, senses and reflexes honed. Under normal circumstances they would've felt extremely uncomfortable, but they were focused. Here, all traces of identity were forgotten.

When they had first let go it had been a frightening experience, but there was something very simplistic, very unburdening about shedding the higher processes of their evolved brains. They were on equal footing with the rest of nature, and with each other. The older, maneuvering on the ground, could feel that she was getting closer and closer to the younger.

A crunch mixed with a soft squishing noise, feeling the pebbles and muddied earth underneath her sneaker. Hopping over a stone and a fallen branch effortlessly, she dropped down into a crouch, hitting a puddle left behind from the previous night's rainfall. Digging her fingers into the ground, she could smell the scent of the trees, the bark...her. Inching forward silently, knowing the end was near, she looked upward and listened.

The younger was scaling branches a few hundred yards ahead, as easily as her quadruped ancestors did. Reaching the canopy, she sat, ready to spring. Eyes zeroing in on her other, she waited for the right moment to pounce. The other was coming nearer, and they found each other without even needing to see, but their eyes locked anyway. It was now a matter of who was going to be able to strike first. The chase was over. It was time for the confrontation part of the hunt.

But they were both instantly distracted, and their heads turned toward an area of bushes. There was movement in them. Something was challenging. The older slipped out of her sneakers, and stood tensed and barefoot. Going to investigate, her other waited to get confirmation on the threat. Making her way to the bushes, the older stayed low and peered through. She was met by eyes much more animal than her own.

She jumped back as the black panther revealed itself and growled. Instead of fear she felt an intense and overwhelming desire to show the creature which one of them was the better hunter. It didn't attack, but circled her, studied her as it had been doing for the past hour. It licked its jaws in a way meant to intimidate, and just as it hurled itself forward, the younger vaulted from the tree and landed on the intruder's back.

The panther was sprawled on the ground, but within a few seconds it made her pay for not taking the opportunity to get a hold. The younger went flying, back first, into a large stone when the panther launched itself up with an incredible amount of strength. The older got in the way of its offensive and kicked mud into its eyes. It howled and swiped blindly at her, and she narrowly dodged its paws while pulling her other up off the ground and breaking into a run.

They had to reach the cave. Had to reach the...the older tripped, twisting her ankle, and before she knew it, a heavy paw was crushing her throat. Relaxing her body, letting the tension leave, this was it, she was sure of it.

But it wasn't.

The younger grabbed the panther's tail angrily, and as it turned to face her, it cut the side of her face with its claws. She retaliated with an uppercut that would've shattered a human jaw, and punched its skull so hard she could hear bone break. Redness soaked the fur around the jaw, but still it came, not willing to lose the fight. The scent of blood gave the older an almost feral thrill, and a boost of energy. Ignoring her injury, she continued to the cave, knowing her other was following.

Inside, amidst the dark shade, she reached up into the small alcove and retrieved the book. She opened to the final page, and waited. The younger appeared at her side, and was silently told to go first. Placing her hand on the page, she vanished. Seeing the panther entering the cave, she was next. The book thudded to the floor of the cave, and as the animal reached the man-made object, it tore the pages to shreds with its claws, in one last act of desperation.

After a few moments, it laid itself down, and waited for its slow death to end.

It had lost.

*****

Falling to the mat, Buffy blinked, momentarily forgetting where and who she was. It was all coming back. She had linked through the book back to the training room of her Magic Box, and she hurt like hell. Most of the pain was coming from her ankle, however. Faith, who was sitting next to her, tossed her the towel, and she promptly bit down on it and allowed a stream of foul language to emerge from her mouth.

"We're back, Giles!" The brunette yelled, her head throbbing and her face stinging. "Bring the kit in here, will ya?"

Buffy removed the towel, wiped her face, noticed the blood on it and remembered Faith had been cut. "How bad did he get you?"

"Not as bad as I got him." Faith answered, hissing as she touched for marred flesh.

The amount of blood on her hands was staggering to her, meaning past and present. She knew she had doomed the animal, ended its life. But it was self-defense that time, and she was protecting her partner. They both had a shot, and the panther wasn't fast enough. She might not have been able to use this explanation here, the human world, but there they were playing by the law of the jungle. Kill or be killed, and they came out on top. Still, now that it was over, the blood caused guilt and remorse rear their ugly heads.

"You saved my life." Buffy told her with a delayed look of shock that said, 'I almost got my throat crushed.' Like she could read the other slayer's thoughts, she was saying it was okay. "My life was saved by you. 'Thanks' seems very lame."

Faith smiled. "Hey, you watch my back, I watch yours. Don't gotta say anything."

She had already said enough.

Buffy remembered her pain. "There's people in enormous amounts of pain here, Giles! Step on it!" She whimpered. "Why do we go there again?"

"Cause we told the G-man we needed more of a challenge so he went and talked to his chum." The brunette tried a British accent on that last word, which made the blonde snicker.

"No more challenges. I'll stick with the more clean, less deadly training routine." She muttered. "And how many people does Giles know, anyway? First it's a guy who writes magic books...what's next? The ghost of Fat Elvis?"

"Why not the young one? Talk about low down tickle..."

Buffy glared. "You didn't say that last part. And if he is a ghost, that's like Hell on Earth."

"No, B, Sunnydale is Hell on Earth." Faith smirked.

"If he's damned to haunt and do all that other ghost stuff, he wasn't allowed to come back and be good looking, that's all I'm saying."

"Got a point, but we could be off the mark. Who says he isn't still alive?"

Buffy shook her head, and Faith laughed. They continued to wait, and as the minutes passed, they both slipped into heavy thought mode. Buffy could take comfort in the fact that in dying the way she did, her mother was at rest. It had been her time, whether she liked it or not. Her 'almost death' experience in the jungle wasn't so scary at the time, but now she couldn't believe what she'd nearly done. She found herself having to justify why she continued to go there, to beat back the reason she wanted to ignore.

"I keep thinking if I let the slayer part of me out," Buffy began saying, "if I don't fight it and let it know that I know it exists, it'll start working with me instead of against me. But I feel like I shut down in that place, and it takes over. That's not what I'm going for. I don't want to lose myself."

"Maybe it needs to figure out that the Scoobs are your allies, that they aren't a threat to your survival. When they go on patrol with us, you should try it. Letting go in that jungle was good for awhile, but isolation only gets you so far. You have no reason to be 'you' there. Am I makin' sense?"

Buffy nodded slowly. "Why are you doing it?"

"You mean besides trying to get us so damn in tune we're unstoppable?" Faith grinned.

"Yeah, besides that."

"If my dark side comes from whatever makes us, ya know, what we are, I wanna turn that in the right direction. And even if it doesn't, the slayer in me might focus it. Get it down so it knows who the bad guys are, and who the good guys are." She got quiet. "It's gotta see the line so it doesn't make me cross it again."

Buffy slowly used her hands to push herself over to Faith, and was going to kiss her, but Giles finally decided to show up.

"I'm sorry. There was a customer out front who wanted to exchange her wolfsbane for a Neothan idol, and I tried to explain to her that we only exchange an item if the new item is the same price as the old one. Well, the idol was considerably more expensive, and not even in the same class as the wolfsbane. She just now stormed out, and I must say, I won't mind missing out on her business."

The slayers stared.

"Good Lord," He said, shocked, "you look horrible."

"Thanks for that." Buffy said sarcastically.

"How about you start patching, huh?" Faith asked.

"Before infection sets in and limbs have to be chopped off."

*****

Two weeks had gone by since Angel's visit, and that was how Buffy was keeping track of time now. By judging the time between events. She couldn't tell anyone exactly what month, what day of the week or what date it was, but she could generally figure out that it had been a month since her mother died. She also knew she had to pay the phone bill by tomorrow and that it had been a day since she twisted her ankle. Which was pretty much okay, except that the bruise was still obvious under the tape Giles had put around it.

Looking at her feet, she remembered that she needed new sneakers. Her legs were propped up on the sofa; Willow had made her swear to ice the bruised area for fifteen-minute intervals. Though she could actually walk on it, because Slayer healing worked wonders. The door was opening. Her classes must have ended for the day. Hurriedly, she grabbed the ice pack off the coffee table and put it over her ankle. The redhead walked in with a smile.

"How's my Buffy-shaped patient today?" Willow asked.

"Ready to be released."

"We'll just see about that. Let Dr. Willow have a look see." She took the pack off, and touched the tape gingerly. "Minimal or severe ankle ouchies?"

"Minimal."

"You barely made 'Wrinkly Pain Face', so I'll believe you." She nodded. "How long did you have the pack on for when I came in?"

"Uh, thirteen minutes?"

"Really? Cause your skin doesn't feel very chilly." Buffy smiled sheepishly, and Willow looked ready to scold her. "This is why us doctors get sued so much. Our patients don't listen to our instructions. It's malpatient not malpractice." She appeared genuinely angry.

"You're not...really a doctor, Will." The slayer said cautiously.

"Sure, not when I'm awake, but I will be soon. Very soon."

"Uh...huh." Buffy was frightened, so she backed away from pursuing that any further. "Am I free?"

The hacker sighed. "I suppose. And cause you have the Rosenberg Medical F.I.P., you don't have to pay a single cent."

"F.I.P?"

"Friend Insurance Plan." Willow smiled.

"This is me relieved." Buffy smirked. "The less bills, the better."

"Are you handling everything okay? House-wise and everything?"

"I guess..." She shrugged. "I haven't gotten any of those warning or foreclosing envelopes in the mail yet."

"Don't wanna get those." Willow shook her head. "Just as long as you're not stressed out."

"Oh, I'm stressed out, just not over money. But who knows? In a week or two maybe." She paused. "Enough about me, what have you been up to?"

"Tara and I had a 'Ten Months Closer to Our One Year Anniversary' dinner last night."

Buffy smiled. "Did you go out to eat?" Willow nodded. "It doesn't...bother you?"

"It did, cause people staring usually makes for an unfun dinner. But it never bothered Tara, and I decided to get with the program. There's nothing wrong with us, why shouldn't we eat at a nice restaurant?"

"Good for you." She smiled again. That made her want to let everyone know, to get rid of some unnecessary weight. "I should call Faith. See how she's doing."

"She's up and moveable." Willow said. "I stopped by Giles' before I came here."

"Willow, have you been taking care of her too?"

"I told her how to take care of herself while we were on opposite sides of the living room, so in a distant and safe way, yes."

"Little by little?"

"Little by little." The wicca promised. "I do think she did the right thing, though. Nasty old cat got what he deserved."

*****

	'I've this creeping
	Suspicion that things here are not as they seem
	Reassure me
	Why do I feel as if I'm in too deep?

	'Now I've been praying
	For some way to show them
	I'm not what they see
	Yes, I have done wrong
	But what I did I thought needed be done
	I swear'

Sitting in the Bronze next to her girlfriend, Faith had to smile despite everything else weighing down on her. Buffy had been there for her, just like she said she would be when they were back on that island. That felt like a long time ago, considering she had technically still been in jail then. Now she was sitting in the remodeled club that actually looked half-decent, and her fantasy had become reality. Buffy was hers, she was Buffy's, and they had lip locked several amazing times.

Every single one gave her such a charge, a feeling that could only be described as mushy (which she wasn't used to), that she had to wonder what the sex would be like. She had changed, but some things never would. The visuals in her mind increased her body heat astronomically, and her partner looked over at her and blushed, trying to hide it from the two members of the group sitting with them. But all that, all she was feeling, brought her to a decision. She was ready. Ready to let her in on everything.

	'Unholy day
	If I leave now I might get away
	Oh, but this weighs on me
	As heavy as stone and as blue as I go

	'I was just wondering if you'd come along
	To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
	I'll do the same if the same's what you want
	But if not I'll go
	I will go alone'

Faith had been to four sessions with the shrink, and they were going well. The guy didn't push; he waited for her to say whatever she felt like saying. He did make a comment on the rage she seemed to have inside her, but she was making steady progress. Yet talking to someone in such an impersonal setting, especially when that someone probably didn't give a flying...who could care less about her mental health, was getting stale.

She wanted Buffy there to tell her those things. About the past. She wanted her to see that she trusted her, that she appreciated her. She needed to level the field, because she was confident enough in one area at least. Confident in the Chosen Two and what they had formed. Faith didn't think it would chase Buffy away. Now if she could just get her voice to work so she could ask her if she'd come to the next one.

	'I'm a long way
	From that fool's mistake
	And now forever pay
	No, run
	I will run and I'll be ok

	'I was just wondering if you'd come along
	To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
	I'll do the same if the same's what you want
	But if not I'll go
	I will go alone'

There was something holding her back, though. A vibe she had been getting from her partner ever since they returned from the jungle, and it was not a good vibe, not at all. She couldn't shake it.

"Faith, come in, Faith." Xander was trying to get her attention. "Song's not danceable, I know, but that's no excuse for you sitting here and developing a disgusting habit like this."

"Wanna run that by us again?" Buffy asked, seeing the same perplexed look on Faith's face that was on hers.

"Thinking." He made a gagging noise. "Bad for the health."

"Should try it." The brunette smirked. "Might find some intelligence in there."

"I'll find it when I wanna find it." He said, thinking that was some kind of comeback.

"She's right." Anya agreed. "The only thing the human race has going for them is the gray matter inside their skulls, and they don't use them. Don't be like the rest of your species. That would make you..."

"A moron." Buffy suggested.

"I woulda said..." Faith whispered, and the other slayer giggled.

"All right, I'll think." Xander surrendered. "But I hold you all responsible for any negative consequences. Like my head blowing up."

"There's this vein in his head, when we're having -" Anya began.

"Ladies! Man it's great to see you!" He interrupted his girlfriend when he saw the witches coming over with cups.

"You're only happy to see us cause we're refreshment delivery girls." Willow pouted.

"That's so very not true. I enjoy the pleasure of your company over any liquid." He stopped. "But seeing as you -"

"Here." The redhead grumbled, handing him a cup. "Don't choke or anything."

Buffy raised her hand. "Me too please?"

"Yeah, I'll take one." Faith accepted a cup from the blonde wicca. "Thanks, Tar."

Tara smiled.

	'I go a long way
	To bury the past for I don't want to pay
	Oh, how I wish this
	To turn back the clock and do over again

	'I was just wondering if you'd come along
	To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
	I'll do the same if the same's what you want
	But if not I'll go
	I will go alone'

"B, can I talk to you?" Faith said after a few minutes, setting her drink down and getting up.

She had to get this done.

The petite slayer nodded and followed her partner into the bathroom.

"What's up?"

Faith coughed. "Yesterday..."

"Hmm mm..." She was clueless as to what Faith was driving at. 'Yesterday' was a broad topic.

"When we talked about why we both kept goin' into that jungle..."

"What's wrong, Faith?"

"That was gonna be my question, and I hope everything's five by five..."

"Just say it."

Faith took a deep breath. "You haven't been cutting loose cause you're trying to punch your own ticket, right?" She paused, looking for a reaction. "Do you really not wanna lose yourself, or are doin' it so you don't care if you get taken out?"

"Why would you ask -?"

"Cause I've been gettin' this weird..." She sighed. "It's been throwing me off that you didn't put up much of a fight with the panther. You could've, but you just laid there and took it."

Buffy opened her mouth to retort, but then closed it. That hesitation was all Faith needed to see, because she backed her up against the sink, and brought their mouths and tongues in contact with each other. She ran her hands through the brownish-blonde hair, and Buffy was so overwhelmed, she had to reach her hands back and grasp the sink. A minute or so later, Faith pulled away slowly, and stared at her girlfriend who was opening her eyes back up.

"How could I not want to live after that?"

"Damn right." Faith said seriously. "I love you, but ya try and bail on us, and you don't wanna know what I'll do." She studied her, and saw there was an understanding. "Now, got another question."

	'I need so
	To stay in your arms, see you smile, hold you close
	And it weighs on me
	As heavy as stone and a bone chilling cold
	I was just wondering if you'd come along
	Tell me you will'

Tara backed away from the bathroom door, her suspicions happily confirmed.

*****

Glory removed her hands from the now insane woman's head, and fell back onto her bed with an exhausted sigh, closing her eyes. It was very depressing when she couldn't even enjoy draining someone of their life force anymore. Her daily activities were getting to be the same, day in and day out. Get brought some unsuspecting breakfast victim, shop, lunch victim, read the new magazines that came in the mail and drain the mailman if she felt like it, wait for Ben to get off work and then shower...dull.

Except this woman wasn't supposed to simply be a re-energizer, she was supposed to serve a purpose. Which failed. A key. One, lousy key. Was that too much to ask? And now she had the Knights of Byzantium trying to stop her efforts. She really didn't need their stubborn devotion to their "cause" getting in her way. The whiny slayer and her friends were bad enough.

"Dreg!" She bellowed.

The sniveling minion appeared in the doorway. "Yes, your Milk Chocolatiness?"

"She's going to start to drool soon." The god looked at him expectantly. "Hello? Get her out of here?"

"Oh, of course. Right away, your Smooth Hand-creaminess."

He scampered into the room, took hold of the mumbling woman by both her hands, and began dragging her from the room.

"I'm a butterfly...my wings...my wings tell a story...flap, flap...flap, flap..." The once person rambled.

Glory sat up. "No sweetie, as pitiful as it is, you're a human. And obviously, incompetence is a common trait of your whole miserable species." She threw her hands up in the air. "I don't get it; I'm at a complete loss here. If she had just gone in that pathetic shop and brought me that damn idol, a simple task if you ask me, I would've let her keep her sanity." She thought. "Probably." After a pause, she continued. "But no, she couldn't even do that." She wanted to scream. "That's the last time I waste an hour of my day kidnapping someone off the street and making them do my bidding. It's way too much work on my part, and crying is such a turn off." She made a disgusted noise.

"If I may ask, Oh Melted Buttery One," Dreg was huffing, the woman halfway out, "why did you not just give her the appropriate currency to purchase the item?"

"Do you have a hundred and fifty dollars hiding in your flea-infested robe? Cause there's no way in hell I'm going to inflate Neothan's ego. It's bad enough I'm reduced to chanting to get his attention, and I'm not sinking any lower. Besides, if that watcher knew the quality of the wolfsbane he sells; I wouldn't be as stressed and, " She massaged her neck, "tense as I am right now. Because he under-priced it, I suffer." She pouted, running her hands through her blond locks. "Is that fair?"

"Humans never appreciate the value of things." He smiled.

"Hey, who's the God around here and who's the minion? Only I get to trash the lesser beings."

"I'm lower than canine droppings, Wondrous Glory."

He had stopped his task to grovel.

"Why isn't she out of here yet? And...oh yeah, why wasn't I told about the slayer's mother sooner? I could've taken advantage of that in lots of fun ways, but her guard's back up. Which is why I need to go and do something more difficult. I hate it when things are difficult."

"Don't be upset..."

Before he knew it, Glory was touching his face and smiling.

"Upset? I'm not upset." She shook her head. "Believe me, you'll know when I'm upset." She grabbed his chin. "I'm tired of playing by the rules of this crappy world. I wanna play by mine. So here's what you'll do for me. Get. That. Idol. I don't care how; die if you gotta, but after it's in my hands."

"I would gladly lay down my-my life to serve you."

"I know you would, Dreggy, I know." She smiled again, running her finger along his prominent nose. "Such a good, expendable minion."

"Expenda -?"

"Now listen carefully. I want it by tonight. If I don't...well, let's not think about that. Are you okay with this? Do you understand everything? Cause I don't feel like repeating it."

"Your words are as clear as your magnificent eyes with which you -"

She slapped his cheek. "Go fetch."

"But -"

Glory grabbed the woman by her shirt, and tossed her into the far wall of the next room.

"Better?"

*****

Dawn emerged from the school building, walked to Xander's car, and tried not to groan.

"Hey, Dawnster." He greeted.

"What fun facts did you learn today?" Anya said, a little too chipper.

"Where's Buffy?" The young Summers asked.

"Faith asked her to go to her...the place where she gets..." He wasn't sure how to say it.

"Therapy to help her not go crazy again?" She smirked. "I'm fourteen, not six."

He looked embarrassed. "Yeah, so it's just us today." She got in the backseat and put her bag on the floor. It figured. "Just three, wild, fun-seeking people out on the town." He started driving. "Wanna go anywhere? Ooh! Pitch-N'-Putt?"

"I've seen children going into a place that has large machines with buttons and sticks on them, which they use to destroy pictures on a screen. But first they put coins inside. Sometimes there's sweating. That looks like it might be enjoyable." Anya said.

"You mean the arcade?" Dawn asked.

"That's what it's called?" The ex-demon looked disappointed for some reason.

"Boys play in arcades. Not girls."

"Well maybe they should. Gender separation makes no sense to me. After all, you're eventually going to have physical contact with one another anyway, and if you sweat by pushing buttons and handling sticks now, it's good practice for later." She thought. "Unless you're gay." They were staring at her. "What?"

"Nothing, An." Xander shook his head. "My girlfriend. Gotta love her."

'Says who?'

"Can you drop me off at Christy's? She's having a sleepover, but everyone's going over now and I *really* wanna go." Dawn begged.

"I'd kinda be treading on big sister territory, wouldn't I?" He asked hesitantly. "If it was up to me... but Buffy should really make that call. You can wait till she gets back and ask her then, can't ya? They won't be long."

She sighed. "You know she won't let me go cause she's way too paranoid. Glory doesn't even know, and like, any other god would've figured it out already. She doesn't scare me."

"Buffy's overprotective of all of us, Dawn, we know how you feel, but you've got an evil Hell god searching for you, slow on the uptake or not."

"She hurt him. Very easily. I didn't like it." Anya frowned.

Xander smiled at her caring. "But besides that, she's your guardian. You would've asked -" He looked at the girl's sad eyes through the rearview mirror, and spoke softly. "You would've asked your mom, right?"

"She's not my mother. You can't be somebody's sister and then be their mother at the same time. It doesn't work."

"I don't think she's trying to take her pla -" Anya tried.

She took a deep breath. "Look, Kristy's parents are wicked rich, and they probably have one of those really expensive alarm systems."

"I'm sure if you tell all this to Buffy she'll let you go. And you've got our support." Xander said. "Uh...did you say 'wicked'?"

Dawn got shy. "O-only cause Buffy has Faith over the house like *all* the time. And that's another thing. She's *so* into Faith that she probably wouldn't be able to hear me ask anything. Why do you think she's where she is now?"

"To help -"

"I mean, Faith's awesome -"

"Hold it. Back the Faith train up." He said. "What do you mean, 'into'?"

"They're like Willow and Tara. But they haven't started the daily sex yet." Anya said. "I can't understand why not."

"Eww." The brunette said.

His face was paralyzed with shock.

"Didn't you know that?"

"They're totally in love. And the dumb thing is they don't think they're obvious about it. Um...duh?"

"They're obvious?" Xander asked, his voice squeaking.

Whew, he was at a red light. That was a relief.

*****

"Time's up." The doctor said quietly.

Buffy removed one arm from Faith's waist so she could wipe her tears away. The younger slayer turned so she could see her, and wordlessly asked if they could get up off the couch. She relented, removing her other arm and freeing the Bostonian. Buffy thought she was prepared for anything that was going to be said, but she wasn't. Not at all. How Faith could have lived through that...she knew now how her darkness got its start. They both knew it.

"Next week? Same bat time, same bat channel?" Faith asked.

He nodded with a smile. "Good session today."

She gave him a quick wave and exited the room. When she realized she was left, Buffy stood.

"It was nice to meet you. I'm glad you're helping her."

"No, I believe it's your being here that helped her more than I have in the past few weeks." The doctor said in response. "I know it may be hard to hear, but if you could make a regular habit of coming..."

"I'll...I'll try." She promised. "I want to."

"And also, feel free to speak. About whatever might be on your mind. It's Faith's time here, but I get the impression that the two of you are more intertwined than most. It would be to your benefit as well as hers, and sometimes it's healthy to -"

Was she that easy to figure out?

"Thanks for the offer." Buffy cut him off as politely as she could, and walked into the small waiting area, wanting to talk to her girlfriend, but saw her talking with someone already. "Faith?"

"B, this is Emily Ashton." The brunette introduced them. "Em, this is B."

"Hi." The older slayer said, shaking her hand.

"She wanted to talk to the doc and check up on how the brain sucks are goin'." Faith smirked.

Emily shook her head with a grin. "It's great to finally see you in person, Buffy. Heard a lot."

"From?" Buffy asked, looking at the other slayer questioningly.

"There's a whole bunch of people who have an interest in what you do." That made her slightly uncomfortable. "Don't worry, most of it's extremely positive."

"Oh...that's...yay me." She smiled weakly.

Emily's eyes widened as if she had just realized something. "Damn, I'm being very rude, aren't I?" She turned sympathetic. "I was sorry to hear about your mother. She was admired and respected more than you know, and she's...I just wish you the best."

"Thank you." Buffy cleared her throat, and felt Faith's hand on her back. "Thanks."

The young woman could pick up on the uneasiness.

"Well, I'm sure we've all got places to be, and I don't wanna keep you. Take care of each other, and hey, see if you can get her to start thinking about contributing to the economy." Emily winked.

"A job? Giles is actually looking for an extra person to do inventory at the shop." She looked in Faith's direction with raised eyebrows. "Which you knew."

"I thought you were gonna do that." Faith said evasively.

"Uh huh, before I just found out you were looking for a place to work. I've already got a cash flow, you don't."

"Yeah, but I don't have..." Faith trailed off, steering her towards the door. "We'll talk about this later."

"Okay, then let's talk about...um...you having a nickname for your *parole* officer?" Buffy whispered. "Like you're close pals or something?"

"So? I'm trying not to give people the automatic 'back the hell off' vibe; I'm trying this friendliness thing. That a problem?"

"Yes! I mean...no."

"And I told you she's tied in with the bigger picture. Last thing I wanna do is rub her the wrong way." Buffy shot her a look. "Too late to scratch that from the record?"

"You know the answer to that." The shorter slayer nearly growled. After the briefest of pauses, where they realized she was not only being jealous, but also marking her territory, the conversation went on, ignoring the fact that the animalistic side had come out. "How come you didn't tell me she was attractive?"

"You think she's attractive?" Faith grinned. "Why B, are you scopin' out other chicks besides me?"

"Don't turn this around..."

*****

The slayers arrived at the Magic Box, where Xander was sitting at the table and zoning out, Anya and Willow were behind the counter, Tara was doing Tarot, and Giles was trying to get a sale. Their "debate" had ended for the time being, which was a good thing, because Dawn came running up to them.

"Can I please, please, please, *please* go to Christy's sleepover?" Buffy's younger sister pleaded. "I packed. I have clothes, toothpaste, my toothbrush, and I swear we won't go wandering all over town being irresponsible and teenager-like. The crack house is closed tonight, anyway."

"Dawn!"

Faith had to cover her mouth to stop her laughter. She received a glare.

"What're you lookin' at me for? I didn't teach her that." Buffy sighed. "Let her go. She'll hang, have fun. Nothing wrong with that."

"Can you guarantee that you'll be safe?" Buffy asked.

"Safe like high security bank vault safe." Dawn nodded. "You know, the ones that scan your eyes?" Her sister stared. "Her parents have an alarm system, and they're gonna be there. Ask Xander."

All three girls turned in Xander's direction, and he noticed a few seconds later.

"Huh?" Dawn gave him a 'don't let me down look', and cleared her throat. "Oh. I'll make sure she gets there. Door to door service. No sweat."

"See?"

As Buffy was thinking about it, a question popped into Xander's head.

"Does Giles know?"

"Do I know what?" Giles asked, handing the new customer her bag with a smile. "Please come again."

"Cause I'm usually the last one to know about these things."

"What things?" Willow asked, not looking up from the text she was perusing.

"New relationship type things."

"Who's -?" Anya looked at Buffy and Faith. "Right. Them. It's not your fault, you're just not that perceptive."

"Thanks." Xander said sarcastically.

"Us?" Buffy asked innocently. When the person who had been browsing left the store, all eyes were on the two slayers, and they stood, frozen. It was several minutes before Buffy sucked it up, and decided to deal with it. "Giles knew before we did. That's why he set us up."

"I did not." The older man defended himself. "I merely had an avenue provided for you, and you chose to take it. If I had told you everything, what my motive was, would you have gone?"

"Probably not." She admitted.

"And aren't you glad you did?"

"Yeah. Most of the time." Faith glared and she just smiled sweetly.

"Who didn't know about me and B?" Xander started to raise his hand. "Besides the Xan-man."

No one's hands went up. That came as a shock.

"You knew, Red?"

"Kinda for awhile." Willow paused. "But I was pretending it was only my imagination. Then Tara saw you... and denial land threw me out."

"Saw us?" Buffy looked at the blonde witch. "Where? When?"

"A-at the Bronze. In the b-bathroom." Tara explained shyly. "I'm sorry. W-willow made me."

The redhead gasped.

"Well, our secrecy skills need work."

"*Our* secrecy skills?" Faith asked incredulously.

"Don't start." Buffy smirked. "Short and to the point. We're together; we want this." The brunette slayer rested her arms on her partner's shoulders. "It's completely mutual, we're happy, and I hope you're all okay with it." She was focusing on Willow. "If not, then -"

"Wait. You didn't tell *anybody* and they all still knew?" Xander asked. Faith nodded, and he sighed, putting his head in his hands. "Think there's a class I could take for this stuff?"

"Can we get back to me now?" Dawn asked, frustrated. "Seeing as this huge revelation wasn't one, and turned out to be really lame?"

The door to the shop opened just as she finished her question, and Dreg and another minion walked through it. Buffy saw them, and she and Faith got in front of Dawn.

"Get out before we throw you out." Buffy told them.

"I'm afraid we cannot. The Holy Glorificus requires an item from this establishment. We have come to ask that you give it to us." Dreg spoke.

"You do realize we could kick your asses, right?" Faith asked. "All of us?"

The rest of the gang had gotten up to stand by the slayers.

"We took that into consideration." They revealed the guns they were holding in their hands. "We do not wish to make this unpleasant, but are prepared to do so."

"What do you want?" Giles asked.

"The Idol of Neothan." The Englishman looked at the two girls. "Please decide quickly. She does not like to be kept waiting."

Buffy glanced at her partner, then nodded. It was too risky to do anything else.

"I'll get it for you." Giles told Dreg.

"Not necessary. If you'll point out the idol's location to Wret, he shall be most happy to retrieve it." He did, and the minion walked over cautiously to the indicated shelf, and snatched it. The two minions then backed out. "Her Supreme Brightness thanks you for your cooperation. I'm sure she will make your deaths... quite interesting when the time comes."

*****

"Okay, what do we know about Neothan?" Buffy asked the group, minus Xander, who was currently chauffeuring her sister.

She had decided that Dawn could go to her friend's, and that it was a good idea, considering Glory was reminding them she was still around.

"The name is Greek. And the statue was hand-crafted in Middle Ages." Giles said, looking at a piece of paper. "According to this file that was in the Federal Express package when I received it."

"You don't know anything else about it?"

"I recognize it. I'm sure it's in one of my volumes." He replied, embarrassed. She put her hands on her hips. "I sell these pieces, and ones similar, on a daily basis. Most people purchase them because they look interesting; it never occurred to me that Glory would ever have need of..."

"It's times like these I wonder if you've become too much of a capitalist. The American kind. Cause I'll tell you right now, we suck. Mindless spending machines." She said. "A part of me hoped when I made Quentin give you your job back you'd become tweedy again and worship the Crown Jewels."

Giles' face was expressionless. "I'll begin researching."

She looked guilty. "Sorry. I just get all twitchy when it comes to Glory." She swayed back and forth, giving him her puppy dog eyes. "You love me."

Giles shook his head, smiling, as he went to grab some books.

"I'll help." Willow volunteered.

"Me too." Tara added.

"Try and be fast?" Buffy asked.

"Any particular speed?" Her watcher asked sarcastically.

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm shutting up." Heading over to Faith, who was standing by the door, she sighed. "You've gotta stop me when I get like that."

"I had to see how you were gonna get yourself outta the hole, B." Faith grinned at her. "Not too bad. Seen worse. Points for the 'two year old, don't be mad at me cause I'm cute' tactic."

"Are you saying I'm immature?" The older slayer gave her a grin.

The younger shook her head, stepping close to her partner. "No, you're *all* grown up. Definitely matured nicely." Buffy blushed, and the two witches watching, did the same thing. "So what do we do while they're reading the words? She's gotta want that thing for some sort of ritual, right? That's all the Big E uses old junk for. The Boss always..."

When she realized what she was saying, she immediately trailed off. She bit her lip, holding back her anger; that was directed entirely at herself. She had let that go. It was behind her. Then why the hell had she just brought him up?

"You're right. We should go make sure she doesn’t get a chance to do her...ritualing." Buffy continued as if it had never been said.

Faith responded after she took a moment to calm herself. "Know where her digs are?"

"Not specifically, but she likes fancy places. We could check out -"

"Let's hit it."

"Uh, we'll be back guys." She looked unsure. "Hopefully."

"Watch yourselves." Giles advised.

When they walked out, Tara and Willow looked at one another. Biting her lip, the redhead refocused, and turned to the next page.

*****

They combed the swanky side of town, but their internal alarms never went off, and Willy's was conveniently closed for the day, so they couldn't grill him for information. It occurred to them that Glory probably counted on them trying to track her down. If she did, then she wouldn't be calling forth anything from where she normally lived, as that would be too obvious. And then came the realization that they were wasting their time, and that was the way the god wanted it.

"We're just gonna have to deal with whatever she throws at us." Buffy sighed. "If Giles found something, we have a chance."

Faith sat on the curb. "I hate bein' played. She could've done it face to face; that I woulda respected."

("May I say something?" Buffy asked as she pulled her hands free of the chains attached to the mansion wall. "Psych!"

"You played me. You played me!" Faith yelled.)

"So you respected me when Angel and I -?" She sat beside her.

"Why bring that up?" The brunette said softly. "Leave it alone."

"Don't you know where we are?"

Faith turned and looked up. It was her building. The one with her loft. The loft with the roof that they...where it all came to a head. She had led them here, not realizing it.

("You did it." Faith's voice was strained, but she smiled. Pushing the other slayer away. She looked at the knife in her stomach. "You killed me." She got on the low edge of the roof. "Still won't help your boy, though. Shoulda been there, B. Quite a ride.")

"Aren't we ever gonna talk about it?"

"We're five by five, B. We dealt with us."

"With us, not with him and what he had you do. I get that he was good to you; he gave you what I couldn't cause I was so wrapped up with my own problems. It was hard to tell what was up and what was down."

The younger slayer nodded. She understood, because she had been feeling the same way at the time.

"I knew what he was, I knew it was wrong. But he cared about me. Nobody had ever given a shit about me before him. And if they did, I couldn't tell." They knew what she meant. "When I went there the first time, I don't know what I was...think I was gonna earn his trust and then take him out, make it up to everyone. But he treated me like his daughter, so I did what he wanted to keep getting praise and encouragement. Real twisted, I know, but he was the parent I never had. Too bad he encouraged the wrong part and it all went to hell, huh?"

"Yeah." Buffy said softly. "It is."

"That I hate him for; he needed to be put down."

"And you helped me." Her partner smiled.

"Comas make things wicked clear." Buffy flinched, and again, she had said something without thinking. "I -"

"It's fine." The older slayer said quickly. "Or not. It's one of those things that won't go away, no matter how many times you forgive me."

They sat there thinking for awhile.

"I did respect you. It was clever, smart, well executed. That's why I was drawn to ya. You were the first person to best me, to beat me. Now it goes back and forth, keeps us on our game. Course, while it was goin' on respect was the last thing I felt, but you gotta love hindsight." She got quiet. "About today, going way back on my timeline? Let it stay in that room, okay? I'm talkin' about it there, where I'm supposed to. No reason to rehash it. I had a screwed up childhood, plain and simple."

"Can I say one thing?" Faith looked at her. "I respect you cause you were able to survive that. Whatever your parents put in your head, it's not true. Any of it."

"That's nice to hear, B, but it doesn't erase anything." She stood up and started heading back to the Magic Box.

"I never said it would. Just remember that for me." Buffy said, following her. "I wanna try to explain something."

"Explain what?"

"I wanted to in the bathroom, but I wasn't expecting you to find out, and words weren't coming. I should've, though." She took a deep breath. "I'd...I'd never intentionally go out and say to a vampire, 'Free dinner! Come and get it!' If it happens like it did with the panther, where I'm in a position where I might...that's when I say 'It's over'."

"Shouldn't even cross your mind."

"I know I have a lot to live for, but what I'm afraid of is, that I'll lose that 'a lot' and it'll shrink to 'nothing'. What if my mom was just the first, and it's all downhill from here?" She laughed sadly. "I can't believe I'm trying to help you when I've turned into 'Doom and Gloom Buffy'. We're in the same flawed boat, at least. Somebody told me I've gotta look for the silver lining. Think that's it?"

This wasn't like her at all.

"Speaking of putting things in people's heads...where's this coming from?"

"Spike's an obsessive wacko, but he was right. I've got a death wish."

Faith had stopped. "See what he got. I'll...be by later."

PART 2

Spike entered his crypt, and threw off the blanket that protected him from the sun.

"Out for a stroll?"

He turned toward the stone coffin, and saw Faith sitting on it, the legs dangling off the side. Making a surprised yell, he became angry, shrugging off his jacket.

"Jesus Christ, woman! Anybody ever tell you it's rude to break into people's *private* homes?" He asked her.

"I don't see a deed around here." Her eyes scanned the crypt. "Can't believe I'm getting lectured by a guy who played voyeur in my girl's bedroom. Got a pair. Careful, might rip 'em off."

The vampire coughed. "Hey, I was invited."

Faith hopped off her seat, and walked up to him. "You're a vampire, I'm aware. But...one, an invite doesn't entitle you to a peep show. Two, way I understand it, you ain't allowed in anymore. Good thing, cause if you tried it again, I'd get some wood, a bow, then test out my aim. After I beat the crap outta you."

"Never saw beneath the sheets, all right?" Spike's eyes bugged out. "Your girl?"

"Just caught that? And where do you get off using the 'J word'?"

"Aw, did I sin?" Spike's expression was one of mock fear. "Well, if he shows up, I'll say I'm sorry. Confess, the whole bit. But I'm not holding my breath." He smirked.

"You're funny." She glared.

The smirk faltered. "So, what's this about you and Buffy now?"

"What do you wanna know?" Faith smiled. "If I touched her? If she screams when she reaches that high and releases all that pent up energy?" Spike's eyes were glazed over. "Sorry, givin' details, 'specially to you, not my thing. It's gotta eat at you, huh? It should."

"Why are you here?" He growled.

"To do this." She round housed the side of his head, and he fell to the floor. "We're gonna get a few things straight, Billy. Gonna be real open and share."

"Ow!" He grabbed his head. "You're a real bitch, you know that? Bloody hell."

"You're a perverted bastard, do you know that?" She shot back at him.

"No fair making judgments when you don't even know me, pet."

"Any guy who fixes up a mannequin to look like somebody and steals their clothes...yeah, I'll stick with my label."

"Buffy say that? Don't forget, she has a tendency to be overly dramatic. Exaggerates things and all that."

She kicked him in the stomach, shaking her head. "Mistake after mistake." She bent down. "Wanna know why I came here? Isn't cause of your obsession; she's got that under control. No, we're gonna discuss death wishes, and why the hell you told her she had one."

"Cause it's the truth." Faith raised her fist. "Her mum set it off, right? Damn, she's at the end of her line and I can't add to my record."

She punched him. "Shut the fuck up."

"Such language." He grimaced, and sneered. "I had nothing against Joyce. She always lent a kind ear. Always knew how to put the marshmallows in the cocoa just right. Sodding tragedy is what it was." He sounded sincere, and it threw her off temporarily. "It isn't just her. Every slayer has their time."

(Faith sobbed as she stood in the alley, rain soaking her.

"Angel, please, just do it! Angel...just do it! Please, just do it! Just kill me. Just kill me."

But he wouldn't.)

"And in case you're wonderin', ask to be killed and it doesn't count. Only a cry for help, then."

"What makes you an expert?" Faith challenged.

"Sit on a couch, hand over the bills, any good head doc'll tell you the same thing." He sat up. "Besides, you know how wishes work. Say 'em out loud, they don't come true."

*****

"Where's Faith?" Willow asked as her friend sat down at the table.

"She had something she needed to do." Buffy said simply.

"Do you know what she's doing?"

"I can take a guess." The slayer grinned to herself.

Faith was looking out for her; doing the 'protect the girlfriend' thing. And just imagining what she was doing to Spike was filling her with large amounts of glee. It was so sweet. Maybe she could get past this 'death wish' mentality. Maybe Spike just did it to psych her out. If he couldn't have her the way he wanted, her bring dead would be the next best thing. But it wasn't leaving.

"But you're not super positive." The redhead continued. "So she could be out there doing...tons of unlawful stuff and..."

"I trust her, Will." She sighed. "Taking a couple steps back?"

Willow looked at her hands. "It's just -"

"I know what it is." Buffy interrupted. "Didn't I support you?"

"Yeah. You did." And the guilt came.

"All I needed to see was that you were happy, and as long as people can find other people to do that for them, it doesn't matter who those people are. You teach me that every time I watch you and Tara, and it's a good lesson, cause there's more important things to worry about."

"That's for sure."

"I didn't lose my mind. Being with Faith is a decision I made on my own, and I don't regret it. It's not gonna be a Hallmark relationship, that's pretty much a given, but we both think it's worth trying. I love her, she loves me; there isn't much more to say. It's a change, and I thought you'd be the most understanding of everyone."

Willow frowned. "Buffy..."

"Obviously, I was wrong. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt." She left the table, leaving the hacker, and walking over to Xander and Tara, who were reading behind the counter. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Tara told her sadly.

"Dawn's okay?" She asked Xander.

"Grooving to that guy who has the same name as that scrumptious candy." He answered.

"What is it with her generation?" Buffy shook her head.

"Remember Vanilla Ice?" She blushed. "It's a sad, sad phase." He paused. "I hope she's the one. You deserve it."

She smiled. "What do we know?"

Giles and Anya entered the main area of the store, and the watcher spoke.

"He's one of Glory's fellow Hell Gods. Neothan is Greek, a combined, butchered version of two words. Neos and Thanatos. Translated and used together, they mean 'New Death.' Unfortunately, that's as specific as we can get right now. I realize it's rather vague."

"Can you just tell me how to stop him? Is it the standard, 'break the statue' method?"

"No, actually." Anya said. "The other thing we know, is the summoning ritual. She has to repeat a few words, light a few candles...the usual. But she has to finish it by destroying the statue. Which fits, really. Hell and destruction go together like..."

"Complete that simile with anything remotely related to intimacy, and you don't get a raise." Giles said, in all seriousness.

Anya was taken aback. "Like...like Disney Land and ugly children?"

*****

The stone shattered on the sewer floor. She hated having to come down here, but it was the closest spot to the Hellmouth. You got better reception that way. It was still disgusting. As she felt a chill sweep past her, she knew he was here, even though she couldn't see him. What she wouldn't give to be formless again. Unfortunately, she'd have to wait.

"You waste my time. I will not do what you ask." Neothan's voice, scratchy and ominous, said.

She was furious. "No, you're the one wasting my time! I did every single step right, so don't pull this crap with me, Neo!" Glory angrily told him. "Pick a body and let's do this god to god. Or are you afraid?"

"I am not yours to command, Glory, nor are we equals. Not any longer. You made a fatal error, and we were right to banish you."

"I've said it again, and again, and *again*. I'm not the one who broke the rules. He did."

"But he is *your* brother. You had a responsibility to deal with him, and that was something you failed to do."

"I couldn't control him! He did what he wanted! Now we're," She gritted her teeth, "stuck together, no thanks to all of you, and guess what? I still can't, and he works against me every damn chance he gets!"

"Then you should not be allowed access to the Key if things remain unchanged. I am not going to help you attain it."

She stomped her foot, which caused a minor tremor. The minions coughed on the dust that had gathered.

"Fine! Go ahead and blame me for his problems!" She screamed, causing Dreg and Wret to cover their ears. She yanked on a few strands of her hair, causing her to jerk her head from side to side. "Very far from pleased! Shoes ruined! Smell won't ever wash out -" She sounded like she was about to snap.

"I find it fragrant and pleasantly intoxicating." Dreg said.

"Can it!"

"You're unstable." Neothan observed.

"Try being confined to mortal flesh for over a year, and see how stable you are!" She wouldn't have two failures in one day; she wouldn't. Suddenly, she smiled, looking around. "Oh Neo...remember that," She brought her thumb and finger together, "little favor you owe me? Think real hard, baby."

"How dare you!"

"Temper, temper." Glory walked around the small space. "Who covered for you when you had that tiny accident and all those big, dumb lizards caught that nasty virus?"

"We both know you did." The invisible god wasn't happy.

"That's right. A couple nice quakes split this insignificant planet, the small-brained creatures fell through the cracks, volcanoes erupted...some of my best work. And the all mighty Neothan's track record remained unblemished. Mine, on the other hand -"

"We had to deal with man after that."

"Whoa, you started that chain of events, not me."

"It was evolution's doing."

"Please." Her expression became one of annoyance. "Don't hide behind their logic. Even for you, that's low. Anyway, Darwin was a fool; he wasn't even close to the answers."

"Enough. What do you want?"

She halted. "The slayer. On her deathbed. Forces her to give me the Key. If she wants to live, that is. And she better not sacrifice herself to protect it, cause besides the fact that martyrs never accomplish anything, I turn the world into my playground if she does." She grinned. "Promise me you'll make it good."

"I'll take care of it. But I need to know which one you want incapacitated."

"What do you mean which one?"

"There are two slayers active at this location." Glory looked shocked. "Were you not aware of this?"

"Apparently." She nodded, her lips pressed together tightly. "And it makes me wonder. Know what it makes me wonder? Why I'm always," She stared at her minions, a dark look in her eyes, "the last to know." She scratched her head. "Tell me. I'm confused."

"You," Wret coughed, "never asked."

Dreg moved away from his fellow minion, shaking his head.

"Didn't ask? Didn't ask?" She yelled, stalking closer to the idiotic minion. "It's kind of important news, don't you think?"

"Y-yes. For-forgive me." Wret bowed.

"And we're supposed to inform the god we worship of important news whether she asks or not, aren't we?"

"It won't happen again, your Magnificence. You see, uh, Master Ben is very persuasive, and I lost my focus temporarily. Though Dreg is innocent of any -"

"Ben? Ben's trying to steal my help away from me? This is what I mean!" She twisted his head clean off, and tossed it to the floor. Seeing the body still upright, she pushed it with her finger, and it collapsed. "Family sucks." She turned to Dreg. "I'll deal with you later."

He cowered. "Thank you for sparing me, oh Merciful One."

"Who says I did?" She thought to herself for a minute. "K. Change of plans."

*****

Spike was sitting up, but Faith wasn't letting him move any more than that.

"She isn't ready to give in yet, but she's on that road." The brunette told him.

"And that's my fault?"

"You got her thinking about it, so even if you aren't lying, still sped the process up. I get to wail on you for that. Whenever I want."

"Uh, could do that. What would be stopping you, right?" He stuttered. "But maybe, instead, you could do something more productive. Like get her over it. Hasn't happened yet, but they say there's a first time for everything."

"Open to suggestions."

"Get a camera, shag her until she forgets all about it, and then give me the tape." Spike smirked. "You wouldn't believe what a film of two slayers in heat would go for on the underground market. Financially secure for the next two centuries, and that's just for starters. John Paul, the overrated, big hat-wearin' guy? God's bitch? I could have his Popely blood shipped here direct from the Old World. First class, next night delivery. We got guys on the inside, you know."

"And you can't figure out why she didn't fall for you." Faith grabbed his arm, flipped him over, and brought it behind his back, pulling with all her strength. She could break it off if she wanted to. "You're just askin' for a staking."

"So do it. Kill the vampire." He hissed from the pain. She didn't move. "Chip holding you back? Pity for Ol' Spike? Is it wrong? Sorry, doesn't make the grade. I see you and Blondie have one thing in common already. You're both weak."

"Weak?" She threw him into the side of the couch. "I got no problem with getting the job done, fangless or not. But you're pathetic, which seems to give me a warm feeling all over. Not sure why that is, but it's why you're not dead."

"Pathetic?" He snarled. "You -"

"Oh, and cause if there's anyone in this town with a death wish, it's you. I'm not surprised. I mean, damn, look at what you've been reduced to. So no way am I givin' you what you want. It's an out you don't deserve."

"You've overstayed your bloody welcome, Slayer." Spike struggled to his feet, and that sat on the couch.

"I don't think I have." She came and sat on the couch just to piss him off. "*I* decide when I leave, got it?"

"I don't get her. You play the good guy, you preach to me, but we all know you're just as tainted as I am. Least I have a reason nobody can argue with. What's yours?"

She backhanded him. "Not gonna pretend I have one good enough, but if you're wonderin' why I beat ya, easy."

"Don't feed me that soul crap. Heard it, doesn't stick." He grumbled.

"I can make my way over to the good side of the fence, and I'm workin' on it. Still pretty high, but I'm scaling. Months, years...whatever it takes. I've seen evil. It's cushy for awhile, and then it falls through, leaves ya stranded. Not looking to go back. Especially with her pushing for me. Couldn't tell you why she is, but I'm just taking it and hoping it lasts. Cause she makes me wanna climb faster. Love's wicked strange; I feel like the luckiest girl alive."

"Luckiest slut alive is more like it." He said softly.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"You, Billy? You're stuck on the bad side. Evil to the core, damned, eternal membership. You might not be able to do the deeds, but that doesn't change anything. You're disturbed. Why? Cause you're a demon. You forgotten that or something? You steal her photos, draw her, the clothes...that pushed her over the edge. Before, she just didn't like you. Now...she hates you more than she ever hated me. Congrats. I tried to ruin her life, but I never did the stuff you did. That really gets to people. Hell, I dunno, there could be good in you somewhere, but it doesn't balance out. It never will. Don't know what kinda guy you were with a pulse, but you gave that up for this. Deal and move on."

"More preaching. You should devote yourself to the church. Vow of celibacy be perfect for you." He hid the impression that made on him, well. "And how do you even know -?"

"She's said it. You know her at all, you'd know she just doesn't throw those words around."

Spike was quiet.

"I'm not the spokesperson for all things good, here, and I ain't lookin' to be. Somebody gave me a chance, and I wanna weigh my karmic scale so it's leaning heavy in the direction the light guys want me to go. Haven't ever really been I'm pure, though. Destroyed most of what I had left after I came here."

"Not interested in your tale."

"Too bad." Another backhand. "I wanted 'em to like me; appreciate me, but I didn't give them a chance to, so I went searching for someone who'd move a little faster. Happened to be evil. Sucked me in, and soon it wasn't so evil anymore. I was danglin' on the edge. If I had told her I loved her then, I woulda gotten the same reaction you got. Wouldn't matter if she returned the feelings. Psychotic behavior doesn't attract anybody, and I was pretty far gone.

"Evil tricks ya. May try to do it again, but this time I'm gonna see it for what it is. Compared to yours, my kill rate is nothing, but it hurts like we're even. Feels like I have something branded on me, and everyone knows, and it'll never go away. Makes me sick, what I did, but I have to live with the guilt and rebuild. Generally, I'm likin' it. Lets you like yourself. And I'm sorry for every death I caused, but you're not. Even when I didn't think I cared, I cared."

"I'm a demon!" Spike insisted.

"Good, you do remember. Which is exactly why you don't have a shot." She reminded him. "I'm just hotter, anyway."

"Hey!"

"I wasn't trying to bond, just gettin' that clear."

"I was gonna kill for her." He muttered.

"And I'd die for her. Guess I win."

"I'd say you lose, luv. You're a survivor, not the self-sacrificing type. Who are you kidding?"

Faith wasn't going to let her herself get dragged back into it. She knew what she was willing to do, and she was done with the conversation. "Mess with her mind again, or do any..." She felt real dizzy all of the sudden. The room was spinning. "Any..."

"What is it?"

Now she was sweating. Knowing she was about to pass out, she didn't bother trying to hear him.

*****

Bam.

Bam.

Bam.

Buffy assaulted the punching bag in the training room quickly, and with force. It was times like this she just wanted to let go and be that predator again. She didn't want to have to think about how empty a part of her felt without her mother around, or about Glory's plans, or about Spike, or about her best friend's total lack of support. If Willow still couldn't like Faith, the least she could do was try and be happy for her. But she couldn't let go. It was something she had to get under control.

Usually thinking about Faith would make everything better temporarily, but that made her uncomfortable at the moment, because she had a really bad feeling. Normally she'd dismiss it, but the other slayer wasn't back yet. Hearing a knock at the back door, she hurried to it, not dwelling on the fact that someone knocking on the back door was odd. As she opened it, she became disappointed.

"Miss Ashton?" Buffy asked. "Do you normally avoid front doors?"

She let the woman through.

"I was running." Emily answered, breathing heavily. "And this was the closest entrance."

The color began to leave her face. "Running?"

"I'd explain, but there isn't much...where's Faith? It's important."

"Not here. Is she in trouble?"

"Buffy, you better get out here!" Xander called.

The slayer took off with Emily behind her, into the main area of the store. What she saw was her partner lying on the floor, eyes closed, and Tara leaning over her.

"She's burning up." The blonde witch said worriedly.

Giles picked Faith up from where Spike had haphazardly dropped her, and glared at the vampire.

"We need to get her some place more comfortable. We can tend to her best at my flat, because something tells me common medical procedure won't help her."

Buffy focused on her enemy. "Get her in the car." She looked at Emily out of the corner of her eye. "You're going too. I'll be right there."

Everyone except Xander filed out, and Willow looked very upset.

"I'm staying." Her friend said, the rage he felt towards Spike coming across clear as day.

Spike held his hands up. "Now, now, I didn't lay a hand on her. I brought her here for you, cause I know how you two feel about one another. Let's not do anything we might regret, children."

"Do you hear something?" Xander asked.

"No, you?" Buffy questioned, walking closer to the frightened, undead Englishman. "Xander, shut the door."

*****

"Did you stake him?" The now concerned redhead asked Xander later, as he got off the telephone at Giles'.

"Where's the fun in that, Will?" He responded rhetorically.

"Who did you call?"

"Pickup guy."

She thought she was better off remaining in the dark.

Buffy knelt by the couch, which they had laid Faith on, and soaked the rag again so she could sit it on the brunette's forehead and break the fever. She stroked her hair soothingly.

"You're not the one who's supposed to go. I am. So don't skip out on me, okay? Hang on. You've got people to save, good things to do. People want you here; I want you here. We're just getting started, and you don't wanna miss out, do you? Think of all the things we could try." She said in a choked whisper, while trying to smile. "I love you, and if that counts for anything..." She trailed off, her eyes going wide. Faith's face was - "Giles! She's breaking out in...I don't know what they are." She started to shake.

No. No. This was just a dream, right? She'd wake up any second, because the universe wouldn't take someone else from her so soon after...

'Calm down. You listening? Calm down, damn it! You're no good to her crazed.'

"It's safe to say that no doctor would either." The watcher said, putting the book he was reading down, and coming to look at the dark blotches appearing on the sickened slayer's skin. "Neothan apparently creates new illnesses to inflict on mankind, and then allows the illnesses to mutate on their own over time. There are sketchy writings that hold him responsible for the Black Plague, among other diseases. He never recycles a virus; he always invents another completely different from his last."

"Does that mean what she has...it's not curable?" Willow asked.

She had kind of eavesdropped on what her friend had said to Faith, and it broke her heart. The dark-haired slayer had gone to Spike and threatened him to protect Buffy. Stood up for her. She hadn't known that until ten minutes ago; she had simply jumped to conclusions. The old Faith wouldn't have done that, even before she went evil. It was love, all right.

He nodded reluctantly. "She's getting worse. Rapidly. If something isn't done -"

"Stop." Buffy held up her hand, she wouldn't hear it. "He's targeting her. He's speeding it up cause Glory's trying to get me to give her Dawn." She took hold of Faith's left hand, not caring about catching anything.

"You're not considering that as an option, are you?"

"No, of course not. But it means he's here somewhere, making sure he gets the job done. How do I fight him?"

"Buffy," Giles said sympathetically, "he's a God, not in physical form, and not even in the 'space' we're all occupying. There is no way I know of to -"

"I'm not losing her. I just got her back."

She looked at her girlfriend, not hiding her tears, and wishing the Bostonian would open her eyes so she could look into them, get lost in them. Or she could open her mouth and say her nickname, joke with her, make her laugh. That'd be good too. She continued gazing for several seconds, but eventually turned to the witches.

"What about magick?"

They shook their heads. "He has power we don't even come close to matching. Even together." Tara said helplessly.

"Dead in seconds." Willow added, feeling horrible. "I'm so sorry."

There was a double meaning, and it wasn't lost on Buffy, but she couldn't acknowledge it just then.

She found Anya. "They're right. He's in his element; it's too dangerous."

No one knew what to do. Xander thought it was unfair to give Faith another chance and then take it away; much like he had felt when Joyce passed. He liked Faith, and she wanted so badly to change her life around. As a whole, they felt sorry for both slayers, but besides that, the actions available to them were limited. If they had any doubts about how close the girls were, they were erased. As Willow's had been.

"There might be a way." Emily interjected.

They all stared at her.

"Then we're talking." Buffy told her. "Outside."

*****

The two women went out into the courtyard, and Buffy sat on the steps, waiting for Emily to speak.

"I could've talked in there." She told the slayer.

"I know, but when everyone tells me it's hopeless, and then somebody tells me it's not, the odds are that whatever I have to do is pretty risky if they haven't heard of it. That means objections and arguing, which I don't have time for. She doesn't have time, period."

"You're right. It is risky. You could break the grip he has on her, but there's a good chance you'll die. And if you're not here, her future gets cloudier."

"You don't think I know I'm walking a really thin line? I bet my future's pretty cloudy if she goes, right?" Emily nodded. "We need each other. Get to the part where I help her."

"The general feeling is that you're not prepared for this. Some of my more important bosses think you'll fail, and both end up dead. The world doesn't have time to wait and hope that another slayer will get to the level you reached. And there won't ever be a second slayer again, so yours and Faith's ability to function together..." She sighed. "The Watcher's Council will put a short leash on the new one, she'll follow their rules, and in six months another girl will give it a shot. Do you understand what could happen?"

Buffy pondered. "How did you know there was something wrong?"

"I was beeped." Emily answered, and under any other circumstances, she would've laughed at Buffy's expression. "Good's more traditional than Evil, but we are catching up. Somebody had the vision, they faxed the guy with access to the information, it was debated, and it eventually got to me, since I'm Faith's guide. I was in such a hurry because I had to tell you what I'm going to tell you, but I hoped they were wrong. It happens. But not this time."

"So tell."

"You have to open your mind."

"Less vague."

"As a slayer, the only thing you've been taught, been shown, is how to hone your physical skills. To tap into thousands of years of strength and instinct. But you're only half a slayer that way. Faith too. There's a balance in everything, and you two don't have it."

"Okay..." Buffy trailed off. "Why am I just hearing about this now?"

"Because Mr. Giles, the Watchers, don't know about it. They have volumes and volumes on demons, ancient lore, prophecies...but all their information on slayers was collected through experience. No other slayer has lived long enough for them to find out that they all had enhanced mental abilities as well as the physical ones. But the Powers are more informed."

"And they should be. They've been around long enough. Not to mention the omnipotence thing. Keep explaining."

"They've been growing in you for years, dormant, waiting for you to build up your strength. You have, and you can't get much better than you are now. They've wanted to come out, take you to the next level, make you complete. But you're not letting them, and it's why you've felt off. It's been gradually happening for years, just been more noticeable recently."

"With my inner beast coming out."

"It's dominating too much, but that's not all your fault. The First Slayer's spirit affected you more than we thought." Buffy opened her mouth. "Research. You're part of Faith's life, so I needed to know about you. Necessity for my job." She paused. "You think you're Buffy Summers and a slayer. You *are* a slayer. There's no separation; Buffy, slayer...same thing. And since you have a hard time realizing that, you're fighting against -"

"I didn't even know I was."

"Maybe not, but you're still suppressing who you are. Have you noticed that as the years have gone by, you've gotten more and more distant? Your abilities were trying to grow with you little by little, and because being a slayer affects every part of you, trying to stop it, consciously or not, affected your relationships with everyone around you, your mood...you're a slayer all the time. It's not something you can switch on and off."

"Great. Slayer Puberty." Buffy sighed.

"If you can get your physical and mental sides evened out, things will be better. You'll find that balance, be a better fighter, and be happier. She'll be better too, if she starts now. Anyone who's able to feel whole would change their outlook on life. It could be quick, could be slow.

"Those other slayers, the ones who died? They lost because they weren't, and because they were taken from their family and friends. All those people in there got you this far, but it's up to you to take this step by yourself. And soon. Or that death wish -"

"I get it." Wow, she could start being an actual person? One that was fun to be around? And she'd enjoy her life? The possibilities were staggering. "But this knowing everything about me? Deep thoughts? Huge creep factor. I don't think you're lying or anything; you're likeable. I just had to say that."

"I'm not trying to seduce her away from you." Emily swore, and Buffy blushed. "This is the dangerous part. Neothan's keeping Faith in that condition, and no amount of punching or kicking is going to send him away, because you can't touch him. He's a different, stronger enemy than a vampire, and you need a new way to fight. Because your enemies are going to get more powerful, and strike at you in ways your body can't defend against."

"Is this where the brain stuff comes in?"

"I'm not talking about your brain; I'm talking about your mind. The brain runs the body. While the mind can work through the brain, and starts there, it branches out and connects more to the soul and the things we can't see." That went right over her head. "It's confusing to me too, but I've learned not to trust language and definitions. Very abstract stuff. The mind is energy. And yours has a lot more than most people's. Plus, unlike them, you can use it."

"Like teleken...uh, like making objects move cause I want them to?"

"I don't know. You'll have to find that out. What I do know, is that Neothan isn't totally in our dimension, or totally in his. That means he's energy. I was told all this, by the way. I'm not as smart as I sound, and I don't have all the answers. I just want her alive."

"That's good, cause so do I." Buffy smiled. There was hope. "I can send him packing if I can overpower him, right?"

"Yeah, but the problem is, you're not developed in that area. It'll take awhile, and it'll take Faith even longer, because she's not as strong as you are yet. Jumping right into battle with an ancient god -"

"She's not gonna have a chance unless I try. I'm getting her, we're both gonna be fine, and then we'll train and practice. I'm ready to open my mind. It's probably buried deep though, cause I ignored it for so long. How do I unlock it?"

"Figured you'd be here." Dawn said, walking up. "Kirsty was there, and I didn't know she was coming, so when I saw her I said I couldn’t stay. She's such a biotch." She hissed. "Anyway, I had Christy's dad drop me off. Is everything okay now?" She saw the stranger. "And, um, hi."

Emily and Buffy looked at one another.

*****

Buffy lied down on the floor of Giles' bedroom, and inhaled the incense from the candles she had lit. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do, but she figured she'd enter into a trance state like she did when she found out about Dawn, but take it further. Then, she had still been able to move around in her body; now she wanted to separate from it. Though even if she was able to do that, the rest of her plan was dependant upon a hunch.

She had assured everyone that it would be all right, only telling Giles and Dawn the details of what Emily said to her. Who she had told to go home. She didn't want to tell her sister, but she had to, considering Dawn was an integral part of what she was going to do. Despite having no idea what the consequences would be, the young girl agreed because she wanted Faith to get better. Dawn didn't have to do anything really, except be prepared if something happened.

The apprehension and fear on her friends' faces had been obvious, but she headed upstairs with a brave smile for them. So here she was, closing her eyes, ready to do this.

Her mind had to be clear.

Deep breath. Deep breath. Deep breath.

All thoughts faded away, and she felt something begin to release.

Her chest rose and fell. The silence was calming, relaxing. Very relaxing...

Then she couldn't feel her feet. Her legs, her arms. One body part at a time.

A brief feeling of disorientation, and then she was out, looking down at her body.

She was formless. She was energy.

It was all tinted, as if she was staring out a car window.

Pure freedom.

But she still couldn't fight him. Desiring to be in the living room, she was there in an instant. She could see all the people she cared about, as they were, but not as the energy they carried inside. Not yet. Xander was drumming his fingers on the table nervously, Giles was making tea, Anya was looking at the Comics section of the newspaper, and Tara was staring out the window.

Moving over to Faith, she saw Willow sitting by her. The brunette's eyelids were fluttering, and small moans of pain were escaping her lips. But she couldn't talk.

"Buffy's going...help...keep...fight..." The redhead's words came in and out, and they sounded far away.

Next to her, she could see one person's energy, because it was much more prominent than in the others. It was so bright and strong, that she could see it clearly in this state. Being related probably didn't hurt either. Her sister's human form had been replaced by her true one; a large, pulsing ripple of green energy. Buffy hurtled herself towards it.

*****

Dawn felt her entire nervous system go into overload, stars in her eyes, and she couldn't remember where she was. She began to stumble. Just as she felt like she was going to short-circuit, it was all over, and she had apparently begun to fall, because Xander was holding her.

"Almost lost it there." He said. "You okay?"

She sighed. He was *so* strong.

"I'm...not sure. Don't let go yet." She smiled secretly to herself.

*****

Gone were the familiar faces, the furniture, the matter. It was all energy. Everything was a muted gray, except for the gang. Blue, purple, white, two pinks...she could only tell who three people were. Dawn, the green. Faith, a flickering gold. And wrapped around like tentacles, was the evil red and black energy of Neothan, the being responsible for trying to kill her girlfriend. He sensed her, and unlike the group's energies, his had a face. If she could've screamed, she would've.

Fire for eyes, and a gaping mouth that seemed as if it was ready to consume her.

"Come to rescue her? I do not know how it is possible, but you do not understand what you have gotten yourself into. We know the Key. If you lose here, all is lost for them."

"I don't intend to lose. "

There was an immense amount of power building, and it wanted release. Not understanding how she was doing it, she let the stream go, and it clashed with his. Reddish-black fought against gold. The energy of slayers.

*****

"Buffy..." Faith forced the name out. The first word she had said all night.

That meant Buffy was doing it.

Willow smiled. "Soon. She'll be here soon."

Her forehead creased. "Strong...he's...too..."

The wicca's eyes widened. "Save your strength." She went over to her girlfriend. "We're helping. Buffy can't...not alone. We can distract him for her."

"We could, but -" Tara tried.

"They're *not* going to die." Willow said forcefully. "I need to do this. Help me." The blonde nodded slowly. "Make a protective circle."

*****

There was no way she could keep this up. She was giving it all she had, but he knew what he was doing. It was like playing tug of war against a team filled with weight lifters, but on top of that, the harder he pushed, the harder he hurt her. She was still waiting to gain an advantage, but it didn't look like she was going to. At least she had kept it fairly even.

Suddenly, a burst of energy shot out from the two combined pink ones, and Buffy knew who they were. It hit Neothan dead on, catching him by surprise. She struck at him with full force again, pushing him back. Slowly, his hold on Faith became no more.

"We have your mother." He said in the middle of the onslaught.

Buffy automatically stopped, and because of that mistake, he hit her with all the power he had. Turning towards the agitators, he hurled a counterattack much stronger than their offense. Satisfied that his threats were taken care of, he looked to re-establish his hold on the target. But it had moved.

*****

Faith, even though she couldn't see the attack with her eyes, knew it was coming and pulled the witches out of the way. In one second, it was like nothing had ever happened. But Tara and Willow weren't moving.

"Damn it!" Had she been too late?

Giles, Xander and Anya rushed over.

"Hey, she's not disgusting-looking anymore." Anya noticed.

"What happened to them?" Xander asked.

"I think they simply fainted." Giles said.

"Thinkin' isn't good enough. Gotta be sure." Faith told him. "Get some water."

He rushed and filled a cup.

"Can I pour it on them?" The ex-demon asked.

Handing her the cup, Giles sighed, and Anya splashed the water all over their faces. Within moments, they were sputtering and coughing. Getting up, they immediately hugged, planting small kisses on each other's lips.

"Got an audience, you know." Faith reminded them with a smirk.

"Faith? You're..." Willow hugged her next, realized what she was doing, and then pulled away. "Whew. Did you see that? If it hit us...too close."

"I didn't see anything." Xander remarked.

"You weren't in on the spell and the trance."

"Oh." He said. "How wrong is that? Something could be after me and I wouldn't even know. This place really, 'insert television censor beeps here' sometimes."

They all smirked.

"You saved our lives." Tara said gratefully to Faith, nudging her girlfriend.

"Um...right." She rubbed her arm. "Thanks. I mean that. Sincerely and everything." She smiled.

Dawn came and stood in front of Faith.

"What about Buffy?"

*****

No, this wasn't right. The Key was blocking the slayer. Neothan couldn't go through it, nor did he want to. Because the Key wasn't on their side, it was a real threat to him, and he was afraid of it. All the gods were, though they'd never say it. It was a powerful tool to good and evil, but it wasn't theirs to control. Not yet. There was nothing he could do but admit silent defeat.

Glory wasn't going to like this, and it was no surprise to him that he didn't care.

*****

Bursting into the bedroom, Faith dropped to her knees beside Buffy, and sat her up against the foot of the bed. She felt her wrist for a pulse. And felt for it again. And again. How come there was no pulse? There had to be a pulse. CPR? No, that was just a waste of time; there was nothing wrong with her body. She gripped her girlfriend's shoulders, as the group had come in behind her.

"Snap out of it, B. You're not gonna let that poor excuse for a god get the better of you, are ya? You're tougher than he is. You're tougher than his hell bitch partner too. You don't give up. And I thought you weren't gonna bail on us? If you do, I'll come kick your ass somehow. I warned ya. Shoulda taken me seriously."

She was getting nothing. And she was crying. She hated crying.

"Come on, this isn't funny. Whatever you did, you've got a new focus now. Something to work on. We'll do it together. We'll do lots of stuff together, just like you said. Plenty to try." She grinned. "I know you didn't come after me just to take my place, so get back here. Look at all the people who're waitin' on you."

Xander was shaking his head in disbelief, and Willow's lip was trembling. Giles was numb. Dawn couldn't handle it; she had her eyes closed. Tara and Anya held their respective others, a sadness welled up inside them.

"I'm not sentimental, so I'm not gonna make an attempt. I love you, they love you, and if that counts for anything..." She got closer to her. "I can't find my way without you, and I know, deep down, you wouldn't die on me and leave me alone. So I'm gonna wait right here, till you wake up." She whispered next. "Need some help?"

Faith brought her lips to Buffy's.

*****

Her light was just about out. She wasn't in control anymore, and it was taking every ounce she had left to stay. It would be so easy just to stop fighting it. She was so tired. Then somehow, she started moving, but she wasn't doing it. Something was pulling her, but she didn't pay much attention. Soon she was surrounded by all these colors. These lights. She knew what those lights were.

Didn't she?

She was getting closer to the gold light. She knew what that light was too. She was attracted to it. All the lights seemed to be pulling her, but the gold was the strongest. What was going on? Just as she reached the source of the energy, everything became bright white, and she could make out an outline. Of someone familiar. Someone she missed. A smile.

It was her. This was the point where she'd usually smile back, but she couldn't. Nevertheless, as things vanished, she was happily relieved.

She knew they didn't have her.

*****

The first thing Buffy felt when she came back to the physical world, was Faith's mouth. Mind energy and all that was involved with it was amazing, but there were definitely some great things you could do with flesh. She began kissing her back and smiling. Faith realized this and pulled back in surprise. The brunette looked at her with disbelief, but the biggest smile Buffy had ever seen formed on her face.

"Son of a -" Faith gripped her in a hug and pulled her away from the bed and onto her back. "For the record? I hate suspense, B. I hate it."

Buffy gave her a mock glare. "You were on the verge of death before I was. You did it first; I get angry first. That's the rules."

"I hate the rules too."

They started kissing again, and Giles had to clear his throat.

"Don't worry. We d-did the same, um..." Tara blushed.

The slayers got up, and Buffy had a sheepish grin on her face. She was embraced by Willow and Xander tightly.

"Try not to scare us like that too often, okay Buff?" Xander asked. "We're too fond of you."

"Yeah. We're...easily frightened. Emotions run high." Willow said. "Thanks for not going away. I don't wanna lose my best friend."

"If I have anything to say about it, you won't." Buffy smiled. "And thank you."

She finally had the chance to respond to Willow's earlier words, and both knew what they meant. It was Giles' turn.

"I was in over my head." She told him.

"The two of you are standing here. That's all that matters." He said warmly. "This will be new for all of us, but we'll perfect it. I'm very proud." He hugged her, and then looked at Faith. "Of you both. You're a better person than you think you are."

Faith stared at her feet self-consciously.

"He's right." Willow chimed in. "I...well..."

The slayer met her eyes. That was for another time. Dawn crushed her sister in a hug when she and Giles separated.

"I guess it worked." The young girl said.

"Yeah." Buffy smiled. "It worked cause of you."

"You saw mom." She nodded. "Is she happy?"

"I think she is."

Faith came up beside her fellow slayer, but looked at Dawn.

"I owe you one, kiddo."

Xander watched as Buffy snaked an arm around Faith's waist, and Tara stroked Willow's hair.

"I'm the luckiest guy on the planet."

"Cause you're dating me, right?" Anya smiled brightly.

"Yes!" Xander exclaimed, nodding quickly. "Exactly."

Anya narrowed her eyes. "Do you think I'm stupid? You're picturing them naked!" She stormed out of the room.

"You're in it too! Really! Super naked!" He chased after her. "An!"

*****

Ben shook the cobwebs away, and he soon realized they he wasn't wearing a dress this time. He was on the couch, wearing baggy sweats, and there was a carton of ice cream on the table. Dreg was watching him.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Your sister had a disappointment." The minion answered.

"The Key?"

"Neothan discovered nothing, and she has been rather depressed." Dreg frowned.

"That's such a shame." Ben smiled, picking up the carton. "You look like you were run over by a truck, and I really don't wanna lose my appetite. Get the hell out of here."

"As you wish."

*****

Buffy stared inside the cage a week later. The same cage Kendra locked Angel up in three years ago. Her face was hardened; her expression was one of pure hatred. She turned away for a moment, and reached inside her pocket.

"Here you go, Willy." She handed the owner the hundred dollars she promised him. "Thanks for holding him."

"He was loud for awhile, but...he quieted down." Willy grimaced. "Ever need anything else, don't hesitate to ask."

"You can excuse yourself now."

"Customer's always right."

The owner of the bar backed out of the room, and Buffy kicked in the cage door. She walked over to the darkened corner where Spike was avoiding the sun. He wasn't doing too well. Then again, that's what she had expected. After all, he hadn't eaten for a week. She could see his bones, his face was sunken, and there were dark circles under his eyes. Some of the bruises and holywater burns were still there, from when she and Xander beat him. If he stayed in this condition any longer, he'd die.

"Spike, you're wasting away." Buffy said, bending down. "And eww." She paused. "So am I still weak? Say it to my face."

"It was..." He coughed. "Wrong. Defenseless."

"Wrong?" She laughed. "There were bruises on Faith when you brought her to the shop. Her lip was bleeding. There was no way you could've done it when she was conscious. That means you hit her when she couldn't even move, and I bet it was worse than what she did to you. That was wrong."

"The pain was worth it." He smiled.

"You never stop. You're too pitiful to hit again, though." She shook her head. "Well, this is how it's gonna be. I'm sick of going easy on you, and thinking of you as a harmless animal. You're not. You're an asshole and a vampire, who does more psychological damage than anything else. And sometimes that's more dangerous, cause let's face it, when it came to one on one, you were never any good. The Big Bad? Ooh. I'm quivering."

"Go rot in a hole." Spike spat. Blood came out.

"It doesn't look that fun to me."

"Don't knock it till you...try it."

"Oh, right. Whole death-wish thing? Getting over it." She smiled. "What we did to you? It was for Faith, all the people I never stopped you from hurting, and it was for all those times I should've kicked your ass, but walked away. You don't get rights. You're not a human being. When it comes to you, there is no right and wrong. I get that now, and in my opinion, you deserve a lot more pain than we dished out."

"I still brought...her to you."

"You did." She stood up, bringing him with her. "Which is why I'm letting you exist. But if I ever, *ever* see you again, you're dead. I'm not even gonna wait for you to do anything. Chip or no chip, I'm done messing around. It's not an empty threat, so if you have any brain cells at, you won't test me. "

They walked slowly out of the cage, and Spike's hand entered the sunlight's path.

"Sizzling!" He howled.

She sidestepped. "Tsk, tsk. Careful." She reached down to the floor, and removed the manhole. "Oh, it's not too big a drop. Have a safe trip."

She tossed him down, and the vampire landed in the sewer with a thud. He had to drink soon, then go check with someone. His version would be a huge improvement over the first model.

*****

"Then you'll start tomorrow." Giles said.

"I'm thrilled." Faith said sarcastically. "Nah, I'm...grateful. Really am."

"I think you'll make a wonderful employee."

"That makes one of us." The phone began to ring, and she went and picked it up. "Yeah?" She waited. "One sec." She handed the phone over with a shrug.

"Hello?" Giles greeted the person. "I see...no, I'm afraid that's not possible. They want nothing to do with you, and she has everything well in hand...you've been out of their lives...you don't even know them anymore...she's the one in control. If you have any gripes, you should call her. I'm the secondary figure in all of this...I suggest you respect her wishes, crawl back under that rock in which you've isolated yourself, and never call here again. Stay out of it." He hung up the phone.

"Giles?" Faith asked curiously.

"That was Buffy's father." She gaped. "He wants to get involved now. Strange."

"Very impressive." She praised him. "Think he'll listen?"

"Not a chance."

"Then she's gotta know that her dick of a father is tryin' to pick at the bones." Something occurred to her. The worst scenario of them all. "If he brings suits into it..."

"Lawyers, you mean."

She nodded. "It's gonna get complicated, whatever he does. Especially if he goes with lawyers and can afford the best. When they find out that they're related, cause of who she is...watch out."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever been to LA?"

...to be continued...