True Love
by Slayer125
Rating: R

Disclaimer: These lovely characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. They rock and so does he..
Spoilers: Dawnie's here and Faith was bad but now she's gonna try the bein' good thing.
Feedback: Please...

Buffy looked over the edge of the building in shock. She had been sitting there since Faith had gone over the edge. Her hands would not stop shaking as she looked down at the knife. Buffy knew that she had been full of anger when she showed up but she did not know why she was angry. Faith was so strong and Buffy just realized that she let Buffy kill her.

Faith could have easily won that fight with her hands tied behind her back. She might have been younger but she had anger on her side. Buffy did not want to hurt Faith. She wanted to be her friend, she wanted.. "What do I want?" Buffy thought to herself. She fell to her knees as the tears started to fall. Her memory flashed of all the times she had with Faith, good and bad.

With every tear that fell Buffy felt her heart break some more.

"Faith, Why? Why did you make me do this?"

She felt her insides being ripped apart as she thought of Faith's final words

"Should have been there B. Quite a ride."

Buffy picked herself up off the ground. Angel was the innocent in this and he would be healed. Buffy walked towards the mansion and the rest of the night was a blur to her. She let Angel drink from her in hope of him ending her misery. Buffy wanted it to end, all of the pain she had in her. She understood how Faith felt now. When she killed Finch she must have felt this way inside. The only thing was Finch was a stranger, Faith was her other half. They were the Chosen Two. The next thing Buffy knew, she woke up in the hospital, and remembered the dream she had with Faith. She knew Faith was still alive. She sensed her presence overwhelming her. Buffy pulled herself off the bed and followed her instinct. Nothing prepared her for the sight of her lying in that bed. The machines hooked up to her beeped continuously. With every beep she felt her heart break a little more.

Buffy tenderly reached out to push some hair off of her bruised and battered face. She felt a slight hope in her at the knowledge Faith was still alive. Buffy knew she had to leave. They did have an Ascension to stop. Buffy would get revenge for Faith. Had it not been for the Mayor, Faith would have never went as evil as she did. Buffy thought to her self, if it weren't for me she would not have went evil on her at all.

Buffy bent over and kissed Faith on the forehead and nearly wept as she felt how cold her skin was. She walked out of the hospital with the Scooby's knowing her life had just changed forever. She learned from Giles she was in a coma. The doctors said she would not wake up but Buffy knew better. Faith would come out of this, she had to.

Buffy went and saw Faith every day. She talked to her and sat by her bedside until she went patrolling. Then she would go to school and back to the hospital to see her sister in slaying. Faith seemed to be withering away to nothing. Where there once was a vibrant girl there was now this skeleton of a person.

"Faith, I can not tell you how sorry I am. I should have been there for you. I know I accused you of a lot of things."

Buffy could feel the tears running down her face but she could not stop. Maybe it was the lack of sleep but she felt she was on a ledge about to fall.

"I really n n need you to wake up" Buffy's voice choked on a sob.

"Please Faith I do not want to have to do this alone. I will try to do things different. I want you to be there when I patrol. I guess I want you around a lot. Do not leave me here alone Faith. It is too much for me. Maybe I deserve it though considering you have been by yourself even when we were around. If it is what I deserve Faith just wake up for me and then you can leave and go where ever makes you happy. I need to know you're Ok Faith. Tell me you are OK please."

Buffy collapsed in the chair next to Faith's bed and was holding her fragile hand as sobs racked through her body.

Eventually she cried herself to sleep.
Hey sleepyhead, wake up...
Buffy felt someone gently touching her shoulder.

"First time you slept in a while huh B."

Buffy was in shock. Faith stood before her with not a scratch on her.

Buffy reached out with a shaky hand to touch her where the scar should be. Buffy collapsed on the floor by Faith crying and repeating that she was sorry over and over.

"B" Faith knelt down by her "you got to stop doin' this to yourself. I got what I deserved. I shouldn't have gone after you guys the way I did. I deserved what you gave me. I deserve to die B."

Buffy looked up in horror with the tears running down her face.

"No Faith don't say that you don't deserve to die." Faith pulled the now hysterical Buffy into her arms trying to offer her what comfort she could. Buffy clung to Faith and said "Don't Le Leave me Faith Please, I can't lose you. I'm sorr.. I am sorry" she cried "I did not mean it."

Faith pulled Buffy back and looked in her eyes.

"B, What is this?"

"What do you mean Faith?"

"I am trying to be supportive here and all but I have heard you cry by my bed and stuff. I have felt you hold my hand. Yeah I am stuck in my own twisted head. But B. This is too much for you. Why don't you try to move on. I don't know if I will ever get out of this one. I mean it's not that I don't want to. I don't know if I can. I don't want to pull you down with me B. Let me go. Move on with Soulboy."

Buffy continued crying. Her inside felt like they were being ripped apart.

"You have to get out of this Faith. I can't live like this knowing that I did this."

"Is that what all this is about B. 'Guilt.' Cause if that's what this is don't worry about it. I deserved it. I don't blame you. I blame me but never you. I forced ya into that one. Sheesh, you blame yourself for everything don't ya. B, this ain't you. Come on. It's time to move on."

Faith put her hand on Buffy's cheek and said "it's time to move on. B."

Buffy felt her heart break as she felt Faith's hand, which was as cold as Angel's ever was.

"Faith, don't do this. Please. You can't. Do not leave me."

Buffy felt herself reaching for Faith with everything she had. She had to reach her.

"Buffy" Faith said, "just move on and keep me in your heart. I know I never told ya. But B, I love you. I have since the first time I saw you." And then Faith was gone.

"No" she screamed. There was such anguish in her voice that it would have made the dead weep.

Buffy woke up to the sound of the machine slowing until it was one steady beep.

"No Faith you can't do this" she screamed. "I won't let you. You are not leaving me to find another slayer to train. You and me the chosen two. Come on Faith. Please." The doctors came in and grabbed the crash cart. They worked on her as Buffy leaned against the wall crying.

"Please Faith, don't die."

Buffy repeated this over and over. She heard the doctors yelling. The beep stayed steady and Buffy heard the doctor say call it. Buffy fell to her knees sobbing.

"Oh god Faith I'm sorry. I love you. I do I can't do this." Just as she felt a resolve to end it she heard the nurse say "doctor, look."

Buffy jumped off of her knees and ran into the room to see Faith with her eyes open and she did not look happy. In fact she looked scared and that was something Buffy was not used to seeing from Faith. Faith looked at the door and saw Buffy standing there and held out her hand. The doctor was dumbstruck. Here this girl was never expected to wake up and now she was wide-awake with good vitals. The doctor stepped aside so Buffy could get to her bed. She grabbed Faith's hand and fell to the floor.

"I am so sorry Faith. I don't know why I did it."

The doctor was touched by the girls emotional state. But, the tube in her throat was agitating his patient.

"Miss" the doctor said as he touched Buffy's back "We will need you to leave the room. We have to take care of the patient and then you can come back in." Buffy made to move away reluctantly but Faith would not let go of her hand. She shook her head no at the doctor. The doctor shrugged and went to pull the tube out of Faith's throat. The doctor looked at Buffy and said "you may want to step back. She is likely to be sick as we pull out the tube."

Buffy looked at Faith and said "I will not leave her." As the doctor pulled out the tube Faith tried not to be sick but could not hold it back. Buffy held her hair as she leaned over the side of the bed. Faith pushed herself back on the bed and Buffy grabbed a washcloth to clean her face. Faith tried to talk but she more like croaked "B."

"I am here Faith. I will not leave you. I swear I will not leave you again."

Buffy made to sit down on the side of the bed. She needed to feel the warmth from the body that had been so cold. She needed to hear the voice she had missed for so long. Faith went to move over and give Buffy some room and her eyes widened in fear.

"Faith what is it?" Buffy leaned close to her and tried not to shiver as she felt the warmth of her breath as she whispered.

"Buffy, I can't move my legs."

Buffy felt the floor rush to meet her as she passed out. Faith was scared from the knowledge she could not feel her legs. She had tried to move them to let Buffy sit and they wouldn't move. Faith forgot all about that as Buffy's face became as white as a ghost. She felt panic grip her at the knowledge something was wrong with her B.

Faith pressed the nurses' buzzer over and over. She pulled the IV out of arm and threw herself off the bed. The pain she felt when she hit the floor was nothing compared to the emotions overwhelming her. The nurse ran in to find Buffy pulled onto Faith's lap. Her head was resting on Faith's thigh.

That is also where Buffy found herself when she awoke. Faith had just looked up at the nurse and Buffy saw the sorrow on her face. Buffy could not believe what Faith said. Her first thought was I did this to her. Buffy reached her hand up to touch Faith's face. Her pain almost too much to bear.

"Hey" Faith whispered.

Buffy noticed that there was blood dripping out of her arm where the IV had been. Then she noticed Faith was on the floor. She had a pretty good idea how she got there. "Faith, what are you doing?"

"Had to rescue you." She mumbled.

"Thank you very much now lets get you into bed." Faith lifted her eyebrow on that note. "Gee B didn't know you cared."

"You don't know how much" Buffy whispered. The nurse helped Buffy up and then went to help Faith. Then the nurse who tried to help Faith up, Faith shook her head no. Buffy spoke up for her "She can't move her legs."

"Oh dear" the nurse said, "can you help me get her on the bed then I will get the doctor." Buffy helped the nurse. After the nurse left Faith asked Buffy to get her some water. She gulped it down in two swallows.

"A little more?" Buffy said she was not sure that was a good idea.

Faith pouted a little and Buffy said "how could I resist that." They sat beside each other while they waited for the doctor to come in. "You look tired B."

"I'm fine. I am just so glad you're okay."

"I don't know Buffy I think that's kind of debatable." Faith said as she pointed to her legs. Buffy's eyes teared up and Faith said, "No B. I did not mean that to upset you." Faith knew Buffy had tried to be strong for so long and she had to let it out.

"B, None of this was your fault." Buffy started crying, "it is. I was the one with the knife." Faith gently pulled her to her and held her close.

"And I was the one who jumped. I was the one who tried to kill Soul Boy. I kidnapped Willow." Faith sighed "I was the one that hurt you."

"That does not make it right, Faith. We are not talking your everyday fight. I put a knife in you."

"Don't worry B I remember. You are not to blame and I want you to stop now." That was when the doctor walked in.

"So what is going on with the patient."

"My legs are like kinda numb" as an after thought Faith blurted out "and my throat hurts."

She made it sound like the leg thing was no big deal.The doctor grabbed Faith's toes and asked her if she felt it. "No" Faith said. He touched her on her thigh. "And that."

"Again with the no Doc."

He said "move your toes.

"Dammit" Faith said "I can not move the Damn things or I would."

Buffy jumped as Faith shouted that. She grabbed Faith's hand and said "we'll get this figured out. You're not alone." The doctor left and said something about running some test.

Buffy looked at Faith and wondered what she was thinking. "B, what am I gonna do. I can't not walk."

"You will walk again. We will do whatever it takes." Buffy said. Faith looked at her and saw the tears forming in her eyes. "Faith I swear we will get you on those feet again. I am going to be with you every step of the way." She pulled Faith to her and told her it would be Ok. Buffy could tell Faith was getting tired.

"I should let you get some sleep." Buffy started to get up from the bed but Faith held her hand and pulled her down next to her. "Please Buffy, just stay a while. I've been alone for a long time. I don't want to be anymore." Buffy laid back on the bed and leaned againt the wall. Faith started to move away from Buffy but winced in pain.

"Are you okay?"

Faith gave her Five by Five answer that Buffy had missed hearing. "My head is kinda like in mega pain here though."

Buffy said "I am sorry Faith."

"Gees B I know already." Faith snapped. "I'm sorry B I am just kinda tired I guess."

Buffy pulled Faith next to her on the bed and pulled her head against her chest. She started to stroke Faith's hair and before long the young slayer had fallen asleep. Buffy felt her exhaustion catch up with her.

She put her arm around Faith and her last thought before she fell into a deep sleep, was how right that it felt being there. Buffy awoke to a startled gasp and became aware of two things at the same time. One her hand was on Faith's breast and two Willow and Giles were at Faith's door. Buffy pulled her hand away like she was touching fire. Faith jerked awake as she felt Buffy pull away. She rolled over and saw that Buffy had moved next to the door. Giles said "Buffy, I do believe you have training today if you would care to come with me, we can get started." Buffy looked at Giles and then Faith. She had gotten that closed off look in her eyes. She did not want things to be like they were but she did have responsibilities. From the look of hatred on Willow's face Buffy saw a long road ahead of her.

"Ahem, shall we go Buffy." Buffy looked at Faith and said "I will go with you in just a minute." The doctor walked in while Buffy had moved towards Faith's bed.

"Okay, we have you scheduled for tests most of the afternoon and hopefully we'll find out what's going on with those lovely little legs of yours."

"Ready when you are, Doc." Buffy looked at the doctor and started to ask a question when she realized Giles and Willow were still in the room. She knew they would know soon enough what was going on but she wanted Faith to be the one to tell them.

"Giles can I meet you at the Magic Shop in about an hour?"

"Well Buffy."

"No Giles. Give me one hour."

"All right" he said as he escorted Willow out the door. Willow turned around and looked from Buffy to Faith and said "Buffy we need to talk later."

"I know Wills we will talk."

Faith had noticed how Buffy had distanced herself the minute that the Scoobs walked in the door. She did not really blame her but it hurt just the same. She did not want to make things hard on Buffy. If she could she would just get up and leave town. Sure it would hurt but it would be better than her hurting Buffy.

Buffy saw the brief look of pain on Faith's face and put her hand on Faith's cheek. Faith leaned into her touch for a brief moment then jerked away. "You better go B. Don't want to keep the Scoobs waiting." Buffy said "are you going to be ok."

"You know me B I am always 5 by 5."

"Actually Faith I know you always say you're 5 by 5 but usually that is not the truth. I want to be here for your test."

"B, you gotta go be the white knight, save the day, be the hero." She saw Faith's anger building up.

"There can only be one slayer. The chosen one. That is you now. I'm not a slayer. Never was compared to you. But now I ain't shit. Some lame ass crippled who won't ever walk again. So just get the hell out of here. You don't need me to screw up your life."

Buffy knew this was something Faith had to get out of her system but it still hurt her to here Faith talk that way about herself.

"You still are a slayer and you still have slayer healing and you will walk again. We just have to work at it. Now I would like to be here for your tests but I need to go see Giles and then my mom. I will do a trip through the graveyard on my way back here." Faith just nodded her head and said "Go on B I'll be allright. I always am." Buffy just looked at her and said "no you're not but you will be I promise." She bent over and kissed Faith on the forehead. "I'll be back later." Faith nodded and rolled over.

Buffy should have known when she showed up at the magic shop there would have been a group of Scoobies there including Dawn. "Okay Dawn how did you get involved in this?" Dawn just glanced at Willow nervously and shrugged her shoulders. "Okay guys I know Faith did a lot."

"A lot" Xander shouted "she has tried to turn your life upside down. Kidnapped Willow, tried to kill Deadboy."

Willow popped off "Yeah," then got behind Xander.

"Which of those has you most upset Xander. Was it one of those things or the fact you just did not bond 'in that way'. Willow you have a very justifiable reason for not being very forgiving about Faith but she is suffering for what she did. Probably a hell of a lot more than she deserves." Buffy said and she saw Giles standing in the corner.

"Giles, I need your support on this one. I have let her down too many times. I can't do it this time. I have to be there for her. This is all my fault." She saw Willow about to speak up and said "It is my fault. I have my mom and you guys and she had no one. we left her locked up in her hotel room unless there was a big bad in town. When we went bronzing we did not ask her to go. When we had girls nights we didn't ask her." Xander popped off "she's not that kinda girl."

Buffy, losing her temper with him said "How would you know? How would anyone know? We never asked, we never cared. Faith lightened the load for us and we let her." Buffy was yelling now, but then the fight left her and she sat down shaking her head.

"I used her and did not think of her feelings once, that night.." She paused "I realized that night what I had done to her. She wanted friends, acceptance, a hero. Instead she got me. Screwed up Buffy who can save the world a million times" tears were running downs Buffy's face "but can not save a friend. When I put that knife into her I saw such a relief in her eyes. She thought she had finnally escaped this screwed up life we have. I saw every mistake I had made with her in that instant.

"I am fixing to leave and me and Dawnie are gonna go home. I am going to give the 411 to my mom. I will slay, which is my duty, then I will be at the hospital. I do not want to hurt any of you guys. But, I have a lot of problems to rectify where Faith is concerned. I did not think I would ever get the chance. I did and I am not throwing away one of the most valuable things of my life. I love ya'll but none of you understand the slaying thing. Faith needs me now probably more than she has ever needed anyone. If any of you mention I told you this I will hurt you. Faith may never walk again. She has no feeling below the waist. That is more than she ever did to one of you so please if you can't accept this just stay away until you can." Buffy was crying again at the thought of losing her friends but she could not let Faith down. "Buffy" Willow said, "it will take time" and then walked out.

"Giles I will patrol the cemetery on the way to the hospital. Call me there if you need me." He just nodded his head. She glanced at Xander who was sulking in the corner "Let's go Dawnie." Buffy walked her home and gave her mom the information to Faith's room. Joyce just nodded her head and said Faith needed someone to stand up for her.

...continued in Agony and Ecstasy...