Two's Company
by Slayer Tash
Rating: PG-13

"Two girls walk through the darkened cemetery, slowly, cautiously, watching each other's back. The vampires of Sunnydale don't know it yet but they are The Chosen Two. Slayers called by The Watcher's Council to fight for the greater good side by side forever...well until one of them gets killed and another is called...Hang on the next slayer won't be called until the second one is killed Buff-"

"Xander shut up!" The blonde slayer spits at her friend "God if they didn't know we were here before they do now." She slaps him softly over the back of the head.

"What? I just want to know how it works. I mean is there some other super chippie running around since your most recent death, plus it is so quiet I needed to do something to pass time."

"It doesn't work like that. I passed the line on when the Master killed me it went through Kendra and now it lies with Faith."

"Oh, lucky the Council's plans to kill her while she was in jail failed or there would be The Chosen Three and it would get way too complicated."

"Yeah it would" Faith says quietly.

"Sorry I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"It's fine." She walks ahead of them.

Buffy glares at her friend "Kill it with the commentary Xander."

"I am sorry, anyway it seems dead I am gonna head home. Try and get some sleep before work tomorrow."

"Sure thanks for coming." She hugs him.

"No worries Buff."

She watches as he heads out of the cemetery then runs off to catch the younger slayer.

"You okay?" She asks her.

"Five by Five." She gives her a halfhearted smile.

"I know what happened still hurts to talk about it and they all have questions if you want I can talk to them ask them to back off a little."

"No it is fine, it is my problem I will deal with it."

"Sure, just remember I am here Faith."

"How can I forget you remind me every 2 minutes." She smiles at her older counterpart.

"Ah making with the jokes must be feeling better" Buffy takes her hand and they head off into the night.

7 Months Ago

"Hey Hewitt, you have a visitor." A guard stands in front of Faith's cell.

She gets up off her bunk and follows through to the visiting area. He points out the visitor. Faith stands still just looking at her guest in shock. It had been a good 3 years since she had seen this person. It had taken her ages to come to grips with what she had done and finally start to begin to feel good about who she was and in 5 seconds every awful thing they did to each other came flooding back to her.

She looks behind her but the guard had gone and the door locked behind her, she guesses she has no choice but to go over and talk to her. She wanders over and silently sits across from Buffy.

"How are you." The blonde one starts the conversation.

"Just peachy."

"Orange really suits you." She smiles weakly.

"Don't knock it B, better than those pastels you love to call fashion."

Buffy looks down at her clothes then back at Faith.

"Sorry B." She looks down at the table.

It is silent for a while.

"So is this a social visit?"

"Not really, kinda come with bad news."

Faith looks at Buffy "What other kind is there when you are us."

Buffy nods at Faith's comment "Tell me about it."

"Well don't keep me in suspense B, spit it out."

"Giles called me last night, he tells me that the council intend on calling the new slayer."

"What Super Buffy ain't enough?"

"Buffy refuses to work for the council in the way they want her to. They are fed up with sitting around doing sweet fuck all so they thought calling a new slayer would help them all get over the supreme case of boredom they have had since the last visit to Sunnydale."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Well you know the rule, the new slayer can't be called until the current one dies."

"Oh and they sent you here to do the job?"

"No, I have come here to get you out."

"And you plan on doing that how?"

"Here is a bit you aren't going to like. Not long after you were sentenced I received a package from Wolfram and Hart. Turns out they were executors for the mayor's will he left you everything Faith. Wolfram and Hart also outline that they can get you out of here. I don't know how but all we have to do is call them."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Yeah I got a package as well."

"And you are still here?"

"I committed those crimes, I have to serve my time."

Buffy is silent, Faith knows she is processing the information.

"That night on the roof...the look on your face. It killed me inside and I wanted to pay for what I did the proper way, I turned myself in knowing it was the only way. I realised that I didn't want to die either and if I kept running that would be what would happen eventually." Tears slide down her face "I know I asked Angel to end it but that wouldn't have been fair, it would have been the easy way out." She wipes her eyes.

"Faith we have to use that information to get you out of here. I don't know when or how but the council are going to try to have you killed in here."

"I would love to B...but I have a penance I have to pay."

"By dying? How does that help us."

"You get a new slayer out of it."

"Yeah one that will be ruled by the council who will take orders and-"

"B they aren't the bad guys, they are trying to save the world just like you."

"I know but they do it devoid of humanity Faith. They treat us like instruments, robots it isn't fair. Do you really want to die in here Faith?"

"I just want to be left alone. Things happen for a reason B. If I die in here I die in here."

"So that's it you just give up?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"I don't want you to die in here like this, I want to help you."

"So you don't want to kill me anymore?"

She shakes her head slowly "Things have changed Faith, I have changed... so have you and we need you on the outside not in here."

Faith is silent but repeats three small words over and over in her head 'we need you.'

"All you have to do is say the word Faith and I will be on the phone with them."

"We can't deal with Wolfram and Hart, they are evil."

"I know but we don't have any other choice Faith."

"Soul boy won't like it."

"I know but this is about you Faith and I plan on talking to Angel and I am pretty sure he would rather get you out than let the council do this."

"B this isn't easy for me. I need to process this. I have known for a while now that I can get out of here but I choose not to. It is just so much easier for me if I am in here."

"I get that Faith but you need to deal with your emotions, hiding here in jail won't help with that."

"Who said it had anything to do with emotions."

"I can read you like a book Faith, always hiding behind some false bravado when really inside you are shitting yourself god for once just let me help you no questions asked, no thinking I want something in return from you."

"Just let me think about it please. Don't do the Buffy Summers I want to save every sorry soul on this earth speech."

"Okay" Buffy reaches over and takes Faith hand and gently squeezes it "Trust me Faith."

Faith nods while looking at the table "I will call you okay." She lets go of the hand and walks away from the table not looking back.

Present Day

Faith stares at the food on her plate.

"Faith?" Buffy says waving a hand in front of her.

"Hmm?" She looks up.

"What are you thinking about?"

"The first day you came to see me in jail."

"Oh, so what Xander said has got you thinking?"

She nods.

"Good so that means you won't want your burger?" She smiles reaching for it.

Faith slaps her hand away "Piss off, nothing gets in the way of me and my double cheeseburger with bacon."

Buffy leans across the table "Not even a little sugar?"

Faith kisses her.

"See wasn't that worth it?" Buffy raises her eyebrows.

"Not really!" Faith takes a bite smiling at the other slayer who scowls for about 5 seconds then smiles back.

"Have you two finished making gooey eyes at each other?" Dawn, Buffy's sister interjects sliding into the booth next to Faith.

"Hey Squirt" Faith says.

"How was patrol?"

"Uneventful" Faith says, "Although comic relief was provided by Xander."

"Since Anya left he has be-"

"A pathetic excuse for a Xander" Dawn finishes for Buffy.

"No, Dawn! I was going for lonely."

"Same difference." She says eating the fries off Faith's plate.

Buffy's cell phone rings. She looks at it "Willow" she says before answering it.

The other two listen into Buffy's side of the conversation.

"Another Slayer? As in she has been called, that mean that Fa-" Buffy stops talking and looks at Faith with tears in her eyes.

7 Months Ago

Faith is still thrown by Buffy's visit she kind of walks through the rest of the day in a daze. Doing her chores and then retiring to her cell not long after dinner.

She arrives to a new cellmate "You must be Faith."

Faith nods in response.

"Guard told me about you, you are a pretty little thing aren't you."

Faith climbs up onto her bunk ignoring her new cellmate.

"Don't talk much huh?"

Faith faces the wall not engaging in conversation.

"Ignorant little bitch aren't you" Faith is dragged from her bunk by her hair and thrown to the floor.

"I don't like being ignored" she kicks Faith in the stomach.

She is winded momentarily, she slowly gets up on her feet and faces her cellmate "You are gonna wish you never did that."

"You think I am scared of a scrawny little bitch like you?"

"If you know what is good for you, you will shut the fuck up right now."

"Why don't you make me Faithy."

Faith climbs back up onto her bunk "Try anything and you will understand the true meaning of pain."

She just gets comfy when she is dragged out by her hair again.

"You are so gonna fucking pay for that" Faith says landing on her feet.

"Really? I don't think so Faith. The word is you are up for parole soon...I doubt you want to jeopardise that."

"If it will shut your fat fucking trap it will all be worth it."

"Talk it up Faith, I am yet to see you back up your threats, kinda makes it hard for me to think you are what they say you are."

"Who?"

"Ah well that is for me to know and you to find out."

"You are full of shit" Faith attempts to climb up again but is thrown against the wall on the opposite side. She hits her head hard on the brick wall. It dazes her enough not to escape the flurry of blows that follow. Her face her stomach even her arms and legs seemed to be getting punched and kicked.

It takes it time but her slayer reflexes kick in and she is fighting back kicking and punching but nothing seems to effect her opponent.

Faith can taste blood and knows she has broken ribs and maybe even a broken arm but she still fights on knowing if she stops she will be dead.

Despite all her slayer strength Faith can feel herself slip away...slowly it goes black.

Present Day

"Dawn get up" Faith says wanting to get out of the booth seat as quickly as possible.

"Dawn don't move" Buffy orders her.

"Dawn move now" Faith says panicked.

"Dawn you move and I swear you will not have a social life for 20 years."

Dawn looks between the two.

Faith instead jumps up and leaps over the table running out of the fast food store. Buffy stops her just outside.

"Don't run from me Faith."

"You are mad with me."

"You died and didn't tell me."

"I didn't know for sure, I only remember it going black then waking up in the hospital."

Buffy looks her directly in the eyes "You aren't lying."

"No...none of the doctors said a word. I just thought I passed out from the beating."

Buffy runs a hand over Faith's face "She is here."

"In Sunnydale?"

"Yeah, she is with Willow."

"Jesus Christ, I fucked it up again."

"This isn't your fault Faith."

"What do we do?"

"Go and see her. She is confused and angry and Will thinks she could use our help."

"I am sorry B, I had no idea." She looks at the ground.

Buffy gently cups her hand under Faith's chin and lifts her face up "It isn't your fault, this isn't a bad thing."

"Are you guys okay?" Dawn joins them.

"Fine Dawnie, turns out we have another slayer."

"Three of you...isn't this getting a bit ridiculous!"

Faith smiles "Yeah it is a bit."

"Come on lets go and see our new slayer" Buffy says to both girls.

Dawn heads off up the street.

"Don't feel bad about this Faith. You didn't know."

"Okay."

Buffy leans up and the two kiss tenderly.

7 Months Ago

Buffy sits by her bed, holding her hand and talking to her. Willing her to wake up.

For 8 days she had sat by this bed wanting her to wake up, but for 8 days she got nothing she was getting desperate.

"Please Faith, I need you to wake up. I have already told you that we appealed your sentence and got it revoked everything is set up for you to come home with me" Buffy wipes the tears that have been falling for almost as many days as she has been there "Faith I need you more than you know and it kills me that I didn't have the guts to say this to you when you were awake but I love you Faith and I can't do this without you." She leans down and kisses her forehead "Wake up please."

The dark haired slayer stirs "B." She whispers.

"Faith?" Buffy looks at her.

"Hey B." She says groggily slowly opening her eyes. She squints at the bright light.

"How do you feel?"

"I have a wicked nasty headache B."

"Not to mention 3 broken ribs and a fractured ulna."

"Isn't that a sewing machine?"

Buffy smiles "Yeah it is but it means you fractured a bone in your arm."

"I know, trying to be funny."

Buffy rolls her eyes.

"I don't know if it was just a dream but did you just declare your love for me?" Faith smiles.

"Yeah I did...what about it?"

"Nothing, nothing at all."

Present Day

The three filed into the Magic Box.

"Willow?" Dawn calls out.

"Back room guys."

They all walk through and notice a youngish blonde girl standing with Willow.

"Another blondie" Faith says.

Buffy nudges her "Don't get any ideas."

"Buffy, Faith this is Chloe."

"Hey." They both say to the younger one.

"H-Hi." She looks at the floor.

"No need to be shy around us C, we don't bite" Faith goes over to her.

Chloe steps back from Faith "I know all about you."

"Ah I see our friends at the council gave you a history lesson" Faith folds her arms.

"You and Buffy."

"I guess she got the glowing recommendation."

"Not really, they aren't particularly pleased with either of you."

"And I bet you are the teacher's pet."

"Not really, I told that Travers guy to go and fuck himself."

Dawn, Buffy, Willow and Faith all laugh.

"What? He was a pompous asshole that expected me to save the world equipped with a wooden fucking stake for sobbing out loud. And I wasn't even going to get paid."

"I like her" Faith said smiling. "She has a pair on her like fucking coconuts."

"So you come to Sunnydale why?" Buffy asks.

"Do you know how many vamps there are in Australia?"

"No tell us."

"None that I know of...what is the point of having a slayer who doesn't have anything to slay."

"How did you get here?"

"Trust fund."

"Ah Daddy paid your way" Faith says eyeing the younger girl.

"Do you have a problem with that? Just because my father didn't use me as an ashtr-"

Faith slaps her face before she can even finish the sentence "Don't you dare talk about things you know nothing about."

"So you are Australian huh?" Buffy said breezing past what had just happened.

Chloe holds her jaw and nods "Jesus Slayer strength isn't so much fun on the receiving end."

"Yeah, maybe next time you will think before you open your mouth" Buffy said.

"Good to see you stick up for your girlfriend" Chloe says raising her eyebrows at Buffy "I am sure she will thank you later...just drop the soap I-" Buffy slaps the other cheek .

"Or maybe you won't" Buffy says walking out of the room.

"God touchy much" Chloe said.

"I will give you some advice C. I was like you once. And if they told you right you know what path that led me down. If I were you I wouldn't make an enemy of Buffy...or me for that matter. Shut up, listen and you will learn. B didn't make it this far from luck, and I am only here today because of her."

"Oh I am touched. You should pitch this to Hallmark and make it movie of the week."

Faith smiles at Chloe "Don't say I didn't warn you C." She walks out as well.

6 Months Ago

"You don't have to do this B."

"I know, I want to Faith." She says smoothing down the quilt on the bed.

"This feels kind of funny, I mean this was Joyce's room."

"It hasn't been used since Willow moved out over a year ago. Mom would have hated that and I know she would rather have you here than in that motel room again."

"She would have or you would?"

"Both...plus you are a multi millionaire now you."

"Does that mean you are going to charge me board?"

"Yeah, but you have to pay me in kisses." She walks over to the raven-haired girl.

"Hmmm that is a little too much for me. I think I should start looking around."

Buffy playfully punches Faith on the arm before she captures her lips in a long tender kiss.

"Buffy are you-oh shit sorry" Willow had walked in and walked straight back out again.

"Will wait" Buffy went after her best friend.

Faith lies on the bed and curses herself. She and Red weren't even on talking terms and she had just fucked up any chance they might have had with that rampant display of hormones.

Dawn walks in "So Will caught you and Buffy macking."

"Yep, fucked up that chance at reconciliation."

"I dunno Willow is pretty okay with you actually."

"What you guys do some wicked mojo on her?"

"No Buffy talked to her and Xander. Plus that was so 5 years ago!"

"Okay Alicia Silverstone" Faith says grinning.

"Who?"

"Alicia Silverstone...'Clueless', 'Batman and Robin' am I ringing any bells?"

"Sarcasm" Dawn says smiling at her.

"Lowest form of wit."

"And yet you do it so well" Dawn smiles.

"You know I can kick your ass right."

"Yeah but you won't."

Faith smiles at Dawn "No I won't."

Present Day

Buffy and Faith had been patrolling through Restfield but had gotten separated when two vamps they had been fighting decided to split up. Faith followed the one who had run off and dealt with him easily but when she went back to where she had left her girlfriend all she had found was a pile of dust.

"B?" She called out "B?"

"Holler all you want" Chloe jogged over to her "She won't hear you."

"What happened?"

"Some bleach blonde vamp got her cornered with about 6 vamps."

"Spike...what did he do?"

"Knocked her out and took her to some crypt over on the west side of this place."

"You did nothing to help Buffy?"

"I came in too late, she had 6 around her and before I knew it she was out like a light and he was running off with her."

"Okay I need your help, you willing to back me up?"

"If it means staking vamps I am your girl."

"Good."

The pair make their way to Spike's old crypt. Buffy told her that he had bailed a few months ago and they had no idea why or what for. Faith figured that if he did what he did just then what happened to him wasn't of the good.

"That's it" Chloe said as they neared it. Two vamps stood at the door.

"Okay we double around the back of the crypt and make our way to the front and ambush the two vamps on guard. I figure Spike got me out of the way so he could grab Buffy and piss off and thought I'd be none the wiser, I'd think she has just headed home. He didn't count on little sis seeing the whole thing."

"There were 6 vampires Faith, I can see only two now."

"Well my slayer sense isn't picking anything up C. Follow me."

They stick to Faith's plan and dust the two guard vamps easily.

"So do we just bust in or what?"

"We can't risk that C. I know from what B has told me he has an underground part of this crypt chances are she is down there and our 4 undead buddies are upstairs on lookout."

"Should we try and lure them out here. I mean we can take on 4 right?"

"I can in my sleep."

Chloe bangs on the crypt door and she and Faith hide behind the pillars on either side.

Two vamps walk out and look around.

"Where did they go?" One says to the other.

"I dunno."

The slayers jump out staking them from behind quickly and silently they are inside before the dust settles. The crypt is empty but Faith can hear movement underneath them, she follows her sense over to a ladder sticking up out of a hole in the ground. She motions silently for Chloe to follow her.

"I go first you follow."

"What is the plan?"

"Save Buffy kill the bad guys" Faith climbs down the ladder. She sees Buffy being held up by chains she is still out of Spike is standing in front of her running his hand over her face.

"Wake up cutie."

Buffy doesn't move.

Spike slaps her hard across the face.

"You are so gonna wish you never did that" Faith saunters over.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"They call me Faith...the Vampire Slayer."

"Oh so loony is back." He smiles.

Faith kicks him square in the nuts. Spike falls to his knees "Jesus."

"He won't help you." She grabs him by the hair and pulls his head back "What brings you back to town?"

"That's for me and Blondie here to know."

She tugs on his hair "Talk to me now or you meet the business end of my stake."

"Don't get too cocky Slayer, I am not as helpless as I was last time we met when you were in her body."

"Yeah well I beg to differ, what did you come back for?"

She brings her knee up and it meets with his face she can hear bone splinter.

"Oh that has got to hurt" Chloe joins them "Faith he can't talk if you bash his mouth in."

"I honestly don't think he has much to say. I think he came back to try and get his rocks off."

Spike grins bloodily "You heard about me Buff then did you?"

"Yeah though I wouldn't be smiling too much William, from how she tells it she was using you."

"That's what she would like to believe but she liked me more than she was ever willing to admit. I made her scream, we did things that would put your sexcapades to shame."

"What can I say...coming back from a few months sleeps can send you crazy. I am living proof."

"You don't scare me Slayer."

"Really, then maybe this will" Faith holds her stake right over his chest "Got any last requests?"

Before she can answer Buffy's foot connects with Faith's hand ramming the stake home and reducing Spike to a pile of dust.

"Jesus B" Faith says holding her hand "I think you broke it." She faces her.

"Sorry" Buffy says softly she can barely keep her eyes open, the chains are the only things that are holding her up. Faith notices the dried up blood on the back of her head as it flops down. She is out cold again.

"Chloe help me" Faith holds Buffy up with her other arm "I need you to undo the chains."

"Keys would help!"

"So would Slayer strength!"

"Ah Hello Buffy couldn't break out of them."

"Kind of hard when she is unconscious" Faith snarls at her.

Chloe rips the wrist restraints in two freeing the older slayer. Faith manages to hold her up.

"We have to get her to a hospital right away."

The two waste no time in getting to the hospital. Buffy is taken to a different room to Faith. Her hand and wrist were broken, a cast was set and she was back in the waiting room with Chloe.

"I called Willow" Chloe says as Faith sits beside her.

"Thanks C."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Apart from that one?"

"Yeah."

"Shoot."

"You and Buffy, after all the crap that happened between you two how did you end up together?"

"Fuck knows."

"What happened when you came back?"

"It wasn't easy. Kind of had to prove myself. I still think I am honestly. B doesn't hold anything against me at all. Xander and Willow are tougher nuts to crack. They are really unforgiving even towards Buffy at times. They expect us to be perfect at all times cause we are the slayers. Sometimes the human side of us gets lost and that really pisses me off."

"What do you have to prove? Shouldn't Buffy's trust be enough? She didn't invite you back into her life on a whim."

"Her trust should be but really they have their own separate reasons for hating me."

"The trying to kill them bits."

"Yeah."

"Well don't the amount of times you have saved them count?"

"Not to them, it is in my job description to help the innocents."

"I sometimes wonder if having friends like that would be more a hindrance than a help."

"The Scoobs are worth it. Buffy wouldn't be here today if it weren't for them. And I am just not talking about Will bringing her back from the dead."

"She has died twice right?"

"Yeah, I wasn't even a slayer the first time around. I was the second time" Faith says the last part quietly.

"Faith!" Dawn runs over.

"Hey Squirt."

"How is she?"

"I don't know, the Doc was going to let me know but I haven't seen him yet."

"And you?"

"Broken hand and wrist."

"What happened?" Willow asked.

"Spike."

"He is back?" Dawn looked excited.

"He was. Don't look too happy about it though Squirt he is the one who put her here."

Faith noticed the doctor making his way over. She went over to him.

"How is she?"

"She lost a lot of blood from the head wound which seems to have almost healed which is highly unusual however it has caused major swelling around her cerebral cortex. We have drained what we can by drilling a whole in the base of her skull."

"Will she be okay?"

"If she makes it through the night she should be fine. Her vitals are strong which is a good sign."

"Can we see her?"

"Not just yet. She is being transferred to a room. A nurse will be out shortly, she will take you to her then."

"Thanks."

He smiles at her then leaves.

5 Months Ago

Xander sits just glaring at Faith.

"I thought you talked to them." She says quietly to Buffy.

"Yeah well you know Xander."

Faith glares back at him and he quickly turns his attention back to the movie they had rented.

"Faith" Buffy softly warns.

"What?" She says not as quietly "I know I fucked up but I am not going to keep apologising for it. I am tired of being subjected to his holier than fucking thou attitude" Faith says getting up off the couch "I am tired of being judged and tested. I have lost count of how many times I have said I am sorry to all of you. You never bothered to get to know the real me back then and you are all doing the same thing now."

They all look at Faith. Dawn with admiration and Buffy is kind of perplexed. Xander and Willow look taken aback.

"I can't believe I let you people get to me like this. You two have no idea on how hard you make it for us. Nothing we do is good enough, we fuck up once and no matter what we are always made to pay for past mistakes. Buffy tries to talk to you about things and you bring up stuff from the past that has no relevance. Cheating on partners, almost getting Dawn killed, summoning demons. Do you see Buffy holding those against you? God forget you. I am sorry B but I can't do this, I can't stay here when I am being continually judged." Faith storms out the front door and runs scared that Buffy can stop her.

"Can you believe that?" Xander says, "Who does she think she is."

"She has every right to say what she just said. Faith has been here for almost 6 weeks, she has already saved both of your lives at least twice. I don't see either of you even making the slightest effort. Willow you won't even talk to her and Xander you just glare at her" Dawn says.

"Dawn I-" Buffy begins.

"Don't get me started on you Buffy, you sit there and watch it. I know you talked to them but you let them treat her like that. If you love her as much as you tell me you do you would never let anyone treat her like that. You didn't let them do it to Angel why is Faith any different?" Dawn follows the darker slayer's path out the front door.

Present Day

Faith sits vigilantly by her bed. 48 hours and she hasn't stirred. Faith hadn't moved since the nurse had taken them to the room 2 nights ago.

"No change?" Chloe walks in.

"None" Faith doesn't take her eyes off Buffy.

"Patrol was pretty quiet."

"Any vamps?"

"2 or 3 dealt with them easily."

"Okay."

"If you wanted to go home I could watch her."

"I am not moving till she wakes up."

"Mind if I stay awhile?"

"No."

"Faith what do you guys do when you aren't slaying?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well do you work? Buffy has such a great house always in the coolest clothes...how do you afford it?"

"I got an inheritance, it pays the bills."

"I heard about what happened to Mrs Summers and Dawn has told me Buffy almost lost the house not long after she passed on. That was ages before you and the inheritance came along."

"I don't want to sound rude but how is that your business?"

"How do you make ends meet as a slayer. I can't imagine being able to work fulltime then go slaying."

"Slayer strength gives you stamina to be able to do it."

"I don't know how I am going to do it."

"Hello Daddy's trust fund."

"I don't get that until I am 18."

"How old are you now?"

"16, those council assholes denied my appeal for pay. I mean the Watcher gets paid why not the Slayer. She does all the friggen work."

"Where is your Watcher?"

"Killed in Mexico."

"Demon?"

"Nope bad taco, gave her food poisoning."

"Seriously?"

"No, we were in LA. Waiting for a cab at LAX and she was taken by a vamp while I was getting our bags."

"Jesus none of us have had any luck with out first watchers."

"Yours died?"

"Mine and Buffy's did dunno about any others."

"She speaks fondly of Giles."

"Giles is possibly the most coolest older guy I know. He helped B a lot after Joyce died. Money wise and that."

"That Magic Box who runs that?"

"Willow now. Giles part owns it with Anya."

"Xander's ex?"

Faith nods "Giles is amazing."

"He still works for the council though."

"Yeah he does."

"Doesn't that piss Buffy off?"

"Not really, he is kind of a double agent now. Giving us info when we need it. He also puts his pay cheque into a special bank account that will be Dawn's college fund."

"Really?"

"Yeah the store earns him well over a mill yearly. He doesn't need it."

"And the council are okay with this?"

"We figure what they don't know can't hurt them."

"I guess" Chloe stands up "I might do a sweep over by the Bronze."

"Be careful."

"Always." She smiles wickedly then leaves the room.

5 Months Ago

"You can't leave."

"Yeah I can."

"Faith please don't go."

"What have I got to stick around here for?"

"Buffy."

"Don't give me that crap Dawn, she has been just as distant with me as Mr and Mrs I am so better than everyone else."

Faith picks up her duffle bag.

"I need to be around people who believe in me Dawn. I can't be with people who wander around waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"I believe in you."

"I love you for that Squirt, but B doesn't and that kills me. I am going to do more harm than good if I stay."

"So you prove them right?"

Faith walks out of her room and down the stairs.

"Faith you do this and everything they think about you is true."

"Dawn I am doing this for me, nobody else. I can't be with people who don't support me."

"Never bothered you before."

"Well it does now Dawn. I stick around here I will fall into the same pattern."

"Yeah if you let it."

"Don't you see it? Buffy is already pushing me away because of how they think. Willow and Xander are two of the most important people in her life. I don't compare to that I never will."

"If you leave she won't take you back."

"She has made her choice clear Squirt."

"Can't you at least have the decency to let her tell you?"

"I am not sticking around for that speech. I can't take her rejection again."

"I thought you had changed, this is what old Faith would have done."

"Old Faith had a point, you can't count on nobody but yourself."

She hands Dawn her house key.

"Take care kiddo."

Present Day

"Faith what did you do?" Willow says walking into Buffy's hospital room.

"What?"

"Giles just called, the council has fired him."

"And that is my fault how?"

"Seems they found out that he was helping you and Buffy."

"And that was a secret?"

"Yeah it was. The council have strict rules. He wasn't meant to be in contact with you two at all. What did you do?"

"I did nothing!"

"How did they find out?"

"I have no-" She stops mid sentence "Chloe."

"You told her?"

"She already knew Giles contacts us. She was in the store the day he called to give us a heads up about the Safilius demons and the ritual of the Dragoinellas warlocks."

"Yeah well thanks to you and your big mouth we have no contact with the council and no idea on how to stop these warlocks."

"Oh that's right anything goes wrong automatically blame Faith."

She stands up and faces Willow.

"How exactly is this anyone else's fault?"

"How about you, you are the one that introduced her to our world, told us that she was disillusioned with the council...she played us Red all of us don't act like you knew her agenda the whole fucking time."

"Looks like we have another Faith on our hands."

"Eat me Red."

Chloe walks in "What's up?"

The two look at the younger slayer.

"Where have you been?" Faith asked.

"Bronze til late last night got up about an hour ago."

"No long distance calls in that time?"

She slowly shakes her head.

Faith grabs her by the neck and pushes her against the wall "I don't like liars C, now tell me the fucking truth before I put you in the bed in the next room."

"Screw you." She brings her knee up into Faith's gut winding her. Faith lets go of her and she runs out of the room.

"Well worked Faith" Willow says.

5 Months Ago

"So were you going to tell me you were going or will I find a 'Dear Buffy' letter on my bed at home."

"Neither actually."

Faith is sitting on the couch out the front of the Espresso Pump "I am just waiting on the bank."

"The bank?"

"They are doing up a bankers cheque for me."

"For what?"

"I was going to hop on the first greyhound out of here but I remembered I have enough money that I could buy the fucking company and I thought I would leave town in style. Just need to wait for the cheque to take back to the car yard."

"You bought a car...I didn't even know you had a licence."

"There is a lot you don't know B."

"So it seems but I never thought you would skip out on us."

"Really cause it is something I do a bit."

"The old you."

"The old me! Jesus I am the same person Buffy I just don't touch the dark side anymore, I know where the line is and how not to cross it. I still have the same thoughts and fears I did 4 years ago, they don't go away."

"So that's it you are going no goodbyes nothing."

"Would you even notice?"

"Of course I would Faith."

"Doesn't seem like it to me."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you have been just as harsh on me as Xander and Willow. You don't stick up for me you stand there and watch it. I remember you vehemently defending Angel when he came back from hell, don't I deserve the same?"

Buffy doesn't answer, Faith gets up "I guess not. Thanks for your help B, I appreciate what you did for me. If my record wasn't wiped clear I would see if I could get my spot back at the jail." She half smiles before heading into the bank to pick up her cheque.

Buffy heads home fighting back tears the whole way.

"She's gone" Dawn said as soon as she walked in the door.

"I know, I just saw her."

"And you let her go? God you are so stupid Buffy."

"She wants to go!"

"She doesn't want to go Buffy, she wants to know that you want her here."

"I do though so much."

"Yeah well telling her would help matters. You let Riley go and you regretted."

"At first."

"So this is the same then? You will regret it for a while then one day you just get over her. I have seen you Buffy you don't get over Faith. Even when Riley was around...when she was in the coma I knew that she consumed your every thought. I watched you write letters to her when she was in jail then screw them up and throw them out. You were made for one person and you are about to let her walk out of your life forever."

Buffy lets the tears slide down her face.

"Do you love her?"

"Yes, more than I have ever loved anyone before."

"Well then go and get her before she leaves forever Buffy."

"I-I don't know where to find her."

"I am right here."

They turn to see Faith on the stairs.

"I forgot my boots, I leant them to you the other night for the Bronze. I thought I would sneak in upstairs and grab them and head off." She holds up the boots.

"You didn't go."

"I wanted to hear what Squirt had to say."

"Oh."

"Anyway now that the moment is over I am off."

"You got your car then?"

"Yeah now I have my boots I am set. I gave Dawn my key and I left enough money on the kitchen bench to cover water, electricity and all that crap." She walks down the stairs and heads out the front door.

"Don't go" Buffy says, "I want you here. I know I have fucked it up but I want you in my life."

Faith keeps walking.

Buffy follows and stands in front of her "I love you and I want you here in my life. If I let you go I would die Faith. I let you go the first time and I can't make the same mistake twice."

Faith looks at her.

"I am so in love with you Faith Hewitt and I know I haven't shown you that and I am sorry but this is new for me as well. I am tired of fighting with them about everything they don't understand and I know it sounds awful but it was so much easier not saying anything, you don't deserve that and I want make up for that. I will take out a full page add in the paper if that is what it takes...just don't leave me."

"No add necessary" Faith says quietly "I am here forever."

[End of the flashing back into the past]

Present Day

"Faith wake up" Buffy attempts to shake her "Wake up!"

Faith pushes the hand away "Too early" she mumbles.

"Faith Penelope Hewitt." She says slowly.

Faith sits bolt upright and looks around. She is in Buffy's hospital room and Buffy is awake.

"B!" She smiles "Hey."

"Hey." She smiles weakly.

Buffy is still fairly pale.

"Ch-chloe." She got out.

Faith frowned "She played us B."

"She hit me."

"In the cemetery?"

"She was with Spike."

"What?"

"After you followed the other vamp they came out. He had 4 lackeys with him and Chloe. At first I thought he had captured her" Buffy coughed.

"Shhh, don't talk B" Faith got up poured her a glass of water and handed it to her.

Buffy drank it slowly.

"Chloe pumped me for info then went back to the council. Giles got busted and was fired and Willow is blaming me for it."

"Chloe was there when he had about those warlocks."

"I know, guess it is always easier to blame me."

"We should let them know about Chloe, I don't want her near Dawn or any of the others."

"Well now you are awake I will head home shower and change and let them know."

"How long have I been here?"

"Tonight would have been your third night."

"You stayed?"

She nodded "My girl was sick, I couldn't leave. I couldn't have you wake up to an empty room."

Buffy smiles softly, then thinks that when Faith woke up from her coma she was alone and most probably scared. Her smile quickly fades.

"You okay?" Faith asks.

"Tired, funny three days worth of sleep and I am still tired."

"Now I know you are on the road to recovery I will grab a nurse then head home and let Dawn know the good news and Willow the bad news."

Faith leans down and kisses Buffy's forehead.

"I love you Faith."

"I love you." She smiles then leaves.

*****

"Chloe?" Willow says.

"Yeah Buffy said she was with Spike and she was the one that sent her to sleepy byes."

"What else did she say?"

"Nothing, I told her not to. She is still a little weak. I don't want her wasting any energy. We know what we need to know."

"Great another rogue slayer. You tainted the line" Xander said to Faith.

"Hey lets not forget that Buffy comes from this line as well, god that isn't even the point. If she is game enough to hurt Buffy then the rest of us can expect it as well. I won't risk any of you getting hurt."

"How hard can it be to stop one little slayer when we have two?"

"She has enough aggression in her nothing will stop her."

"You would know."

"Exactly and if you would shut your big fucking mouth for just 5 seconds I might be able to give us some insight."

"Oh since when are we listening to you."

"Xander just shut up" Willow says, "Faith has a point. She has been in Chloe's shoes she is our only key to it so far."

"Well what do we do then Miss Smarty pants she knows we are onto her what stops her from hopping on a plane back to Australia."

"She and Spike had a plan. I am sure he shared it with her in his lair."

"Yeah but now Spike is dust what stops her from catching that plane?"

"Her anger. She has a plan and if she had Spike on her side I am sure there are other vampires working with her."

"Well what did you do when you were working with the Mayor?"

"I just did what he told me. I wasn't really the one that had the connections and it wasn't my initial intention to be on the wrong side."

"What do you mean?"

"Only Buffy and Giles know this but after I accidentally killed Finch we went to the Mayor's office to do a little recon see why he wanted us. Turns out all his files were gone and Buff and I see the Mayor with that Trick dude talking about his plans. Things turn bad and I jump ship. Buffy turns up but so do a group of vampires Trick included. She saved me from a falling cargo pallet we fight of the vampires but she gets caught by Trick he is strangling and about to feed on her. I dust him. The look in B's eyes kinda made me stay and I thought if I could get what I needed to know from the Mayor it would get me back on the inside with you guys since you all pretty much hated me and I had no idea how to make it up to you. Buffy knew I was going to see him let him know we got his man. As time went on he and I became really close and things with you guys got considerably worse. I told B I got nothing and if I kept it up it would endanger us all but I kept working for him."

"He gave you something we didn't."

"I guess, but that isn't important now. It is going to be hard for us now Chloe knows that we know and Spike is gone."

"You think she might be at his crypt?" Xander suggested.

"Could be, Will do you think it would be safe to send Xander there? She only confronted us not him."

"I don't know, I mean if she suspects anything I can't hold my own against Slayer strength."

"Pow Wow with Buffy?" Willow asked.

"She isn't up to it yet, I can't do a sweep tonight see what I get."

"We could also see what Giles had on her see if that is any use."

"Okay, lets just lay low at the moment. She doesn't know we know about her hitting Buffy so lets not bring it up if we see her."

"Play our cards close to our chest so to speak" Xander said.

"Yeah, just act like we blew what happened in the hospital off, we don't need to alarm her right now."

"Sounds like a plan." He smiled at Faith.

"See now was that so hard?" Willow shoves him playfully.

"Dawn is upstairs?" Faith said heading that way.

"No, she told me she was going to the hospital to check on Buffy about an hour before you got here."

"15 minutes walk to the hospital from here, Dawnie wasn't there when I left."

"Would she have gone anywhere else?" Xander asked.

"Not with B sick...shit."

"Okay let's check a few places first. Xander you do a sweep, I will stay here and call around her friends places and in case she comes back."

"I will go the hospital" Faith says grabbing her keys "I can tell B the plan and check on her."

"Check back in an hour with me" Willow says to the two.

*****

"Xander you didn't see her anywhere?" Buffy asks.

"No Buff I am sorry. I looked everywhere."

"Will?"

"Nope nothing here either."

Faith is pacing around the living room "We must be missing somewhere."

"I have looked everywhere possible Spike's Crypt, Janice's house, the cinema...everywhere."

"I know this is a stupid question but did anyone look here?" Buffy says.

Faith bolts upstairs and into her room, which is empty "Fuck." She slams the door.

"Temper, temper!" Comes from behind her.

She spins around and comes face to face with Chloe.

"God give a girl a heart attack" Faith says.

"If that scared you, you really are in the wrong line of work."

"What are you doing up here?"

"Don't play dumb Faith, it doesn't suit you. You know what I did. Your girl is downstairs and I am sure she told you what really went down with Spike."

Faith gets up in Chloe's face "Yeah about that."

"Calm down Faithy, don't get too angry too quick or you will never find out where little Dawnie is."

"Oh you will tell me and if I have to beat it out of you that will only make it that much better."

"You could have been great Faith, you gave up the dark side and for what some blonde little slut and her dickhead friends." She smirks.

Faith grabs her neck and pushes her up against Dawn's closet "You have til the count of 5 to tell me where Dawn is." She bangs Chloe's head on the closet door "And don't try anything because you won't get away this time."

Chloe doesn't answer she just tries to outstare the older slayer. Faith presses harder around her neck and Chloe grips at her hand.

"One word and I let go, it is your choice" Faith grins.

"Mansion" Chloe squeaks out.

Faith lets go "Man you have to learn how to take pain C. I wasn't even trying."

Chloe lashes out but Faith grabs her arm and twists it behind her "And you have to be so much quicker than that."

She drags Chloe downstairs to where the others are still debating what to do next.

"How about I tie her and up and we get to poke her with pointy things" Faith says.

They all look at her.

"Dawn is at dead boy's old place."

Buffy comes over to the two slayers "If you have hurt Dawn in anyway I-"

"I know one of you will kill me, god that gets me scared every time. So far all I have heard is empty threats from both of you."

Faith yanks her arm a little tighter "Yeah that so huh?"

Chloe cries out as Faith keeps up the pressure.

"Seems only fair that for a broken arm you get one in return."

Faith hears at least one bone in her arm break, the others just hear her cry out in pain.

"Faith" Buffy says, "This isn't worth it, I just want to get Dawn back."

"Take my car, I am not letting C out of my sight."

"I'll go with Buffy" Xander says following the blonde out the front door.

"Will what did Giles say?"

"That Chloe jumped ship basically, didn't like the rules."

Faith throws Chloe onto the floor.

"Why Spike?"

"Why not" Chloe says holding her arm to her "He was just one in a long line of people pissed at you and your whore."

Faith kicks her hard in the guts.

"What have you got against them?" Willow says.

"Nothing really." She looks up at the red head "I just don't like competition." She sucks in some air her stomach aching from where Faith had kicked her.

"And what where you and William the Bloody going to do to us?" Faith kneels beside her.

"Kill you."

Faith laughed "That just gets better each time I hear it, I swear!"

"That was the plan to Kill Buffy and Faith?" Willow asks.

"He was going to turn me, he had spent the last few months building up a Vampire army. He also talked about some guy he knew Angelus and some prophecy he had told him about back in the early 1900's. He was going to bring forth that prophecy and he and I were going to rule the new underworld."

"Yeah bringing forth a prophecy in this town always works" Willow smirks.

Faith looks up at Willow "What do we do with her?"

"Chair, rope and I hear you are a marvel with a lighter and some hairspray" Willow smiles at Faith.

Faith stands up "I like how you think Red." She feels Chloe behind try and reach for her ankle to trip her up, Faith lashes out with her foot smashing it into Chloe's face.

"You know Will I thought you guys might have done the 'I think we can save her, she is a slayer and just needs our help' routine."

"That's old, we like to keep things fresh around here plus this one didn't show any redeeming qualities first up. Not like you."

They look at Chloe on the carpet, her face bloodied.

"This one doesn't even like pain that much, upstairs in Squirts bedroom she gave in so easily. They don't make slayers like they used to."

Willow goes over and stands over her "I am betting that even with Spike dead the plan is still going ahead."

"Of course it is. The demon has been summoned and his feeding has begun."

"Feeding, what does he feed on?"

"Human intestines, Dawn the first offering. He just needed something of hers before he could proceed."

"Something of hers?"

"Her sister."

"And this sick son of a bitch thinks he can stop her?"

"Well yeah it was set up as a trap. We figured as soon as she heard where Dawn was she would be there post haste. He wanted Buffy to see him kill Dawn."

"What is the demon's name?" Willow asks.

"Frank" Chloe smiles bloodily.

Willow lays in this time her foot connecting solidly with the side of her head, knocking the slayer out cold.

"Shit, I didn't mean to." She said looking at Faith.

"Not a priority Will. We have to get to the mansion wicked fast."

"What about her?"

"Chair, some rope...the flame thrower can wait" Faith begins dragging Chloe by her feet down into the basement. Chloe's head bouncing off each step.

*****

"Xander stay here, I am going in to get Dawn and be straight back out."

"Buff I don't know about this, something is screaming at me 'trap' I think we should wait."

"Wait? Dawn is in there and god knows what Chloe has done to her."

"Think about it Buffy, she gave up the location way too easily. Why would she do that?"

"Faith can be very persuasive when she wants to be" Buffy smiles at the double edged meaning of her comment.

"Buffy come on, how many times has this happened we have walked smack bang into some kind of trap."

"Countless times and we are still here to tell the tale."

"Barely, I don't think we can bring you back again."

Buffy popped Faith's boot "If I know Faith the boot will have weapons, if I take some will that shut you up."

"Buffy listen to me." His pleas fell on deaf ears she climb out of the car and headed to the boot.

Buffy's cell phone that she had left on the dash rings.

Xander answers "Hello."

"Xander it is Willow. Don't let Buffy go in. It is a trap. This demon by the name of Lycritius has Dawn in there."

"I knew it." He got out of the car and joined Buffy at the boot "it's Willow she says it is a trap."

"Xander I have found a way to vanquish him but Buffy needs to wait for us. Dawn will be safe till Faith and I get there."

Xander explains it to her.

"Will hurry you know how she gets when it is Dawn."

"I do we will be 10 minutes at the most. Don't let her go in there."

The line goes dead.

Xander looks at Buffy "Maybe next time you will listen to me."

Buffy rolls her eyes at him then hands him a double-edged sword "Think you can handle one of these?"

"All the better for beheading with." He smiled taking a few practice swipes away from her.

"Did Willow say anything about what we would be facing?"

"Dude by the name of Lycritius and that she knew how to vanquish him and us going in there is a big fat trap...but I already pointed out that last one."

"Okay Xander my bad would you let it go!"

"So what do we do till they get here?"

"Find a way in. It is light out so no vampires standing guard at least."

"That doesn't stop them from rushing us once we get in though. I think we keep a slayer with me and a slayer with Willow, I mean if you both get jumped at the same time we are royally fucked."

"I know, but we need to wait for Will and the specifics of her spell. I mean this is Sunnydale her chanting a few words won't stop the big bad, it is never that easy."

"You'd think that it would be just once though right."

"Not if your name is Buffy Summers." She closes the boot "Fuck me I hate waiting."

"We could play 20 questions while we wait."

"Xander this really isn't the time."

"Indulge me, it will make it go quicker...I promise."

"Fine."

"Do you really think Faith has changed?"

"Yeah I do."

"Why?"

"I see it in her eyes, I feel it when she talks or touches me."

"Do you regret being brought back?"

"Xander this isn't how 20 questions goes. I meant to ask you questions about an object-"

"This is the Xander Harris version."

"Fine. Yeah I am. It gave me a chance to make things right. I thought I was completed that I was finished, I wasn't I didn't have my other half. I do now."

"Have you and Faith had the wild monkey love yet?"

"Yep and as often as possible. Remember her hungry and horny comment?"

"How could I forget." He smiles fondly.

"Yeah well it isn't bullshit."

"I know this I kind of lost my virginity to a hungry/horny moment."

"Yeah you did too, did she make you scream?"

Xander looks away trying to hide the lovely pink colour of his cheeks.

"You know after our first time I had a hard time walking for a few hours afterwards" Buffy said smiling.

"You know you are right, now really isn't the time or place to be talking about this."

"Oh did I embarrass you?"

"Well Buffy it isn't like you to be this open and lately I have found that you are open...really really open."

"I guess that is Faith's influence. The more comfortable you feel the easier it is I guess."

"I have to admit she has had a positive influence on you."

Buffy looks at Xander "Did you just say something nice about Faith?"

"I guess I did."

*****

Buffy was pacing in front of Faith's Pathfinder.

'Where are they' she thought to herself "Xander we can't just stay here, I have to go in." She went over to him.

"Buff just wait they will be here soon, it has only been 5 minutes."

"It feels like longer."

"I know...it sounds stupid to ask but do you think we will beat it?"

"Hey we have faced worse."

The Summers Jeep screamed to a stop on the other side of the road and Faith and Willow jumped out.

"About time" Buffy said.

"We needed supplies, we can't afford to get this wrong Buffy" Willow said running up towards the entrance of the mansion. The other three followed and found Willow drawing a pentagram on the ground around her.

Faith took Buffy aside "Just in case anything happens in there I want you to know that I love you and Dawn and I-"

"Don't Faith. We vanquish this guy and it is over with."

"B if it was that simple do you think I would be doing this speech?"

"No."

Faith placed her hands on Buffy's hips.

"I love you Faith, more than anyone I have ever loved. If you die I die too. I can't go through this life without you beside me. Wherever you go I go."

"You stay here, outside. Wait for Dawn."

"I can't let you go in there without me."

"You have to, for this to work it has to be me and only me. Will and I have a plan with the help of Cordy."

"Cordelia?" Buffy asks.

"Vision, she called us. Trust me B. It has to be this way."

"How can I let you go alone?"

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"Then that is why. I can't explain now because I need to get Dawn out."

"I do this under protest."

"I know I hate doing this without you but I have to if it is to work and when I walk out of here I promise I will explain it all to you."

Buffy rans her hand over Faith's face "Don't leave me again."

"I won't."

"You are my heart Faith Hewitt."

"And you are mine Buffy Summers."

With that Buffy leant in and the two kissed. Slowly and passionately giving themselves to each other.

Buffy knew it wouldn't be the last.

Faith rested her forehead on Buffy's "Willow will be done soon, she has some instructions for you and Xander. Listen to her."

"Stay safe baby."

"Always B, always B."

Faith kisses her softly then leaves.

*****

Faith walks into the living room of the mansion "Nice set up, I have to say I am totally impressed."

Lycritius is sitting on the couch, Dawn is across from him gagged and bound.

"Man about time someone shut the runt up." She said signalling to Dawn.

"You come alone?" He growls.

"Yeah." She saunters over to him "Faith has come to play, Faith has come home."

Dawn's eyes are wide.

Faith looks at her and smiles "You surprised Squirt? I mean how anyone has any fun with that lot of sad fucks is beyond me."

"Chloe assured me that you and the other slayer would burst in here guns blazing trying to save the day."

"C wasn't exactly the brightest now was she Lyc?" Faith hovers over Dawn "Now we have Dawn here I am sure slayer number one will be by as soon as she and the other twits figure it out until then I think we should be allowed to play."

"Chloe told me about this."

"I bet she did, so what have you got for me? Knives, Swords...Fuck broken glass does just as much damage" Faith knelt in front of Dawn her face out of Lycritius's view. She looked at Dawn and with all her strength tried to convey what she wanted to say 'Play along with me Dawnie, B is outside waiting for you and Will is doing a clouding spell. I am gonna kill this bastard and we will be okay' she thought.

Dawn's eyes changed from fear to understanding.

"Where is Chloe?"

"Dealing with Slayer number one, she begged me to let her do this but I think we need to go with experience don't you?" She faced the demon.

He got up off the couch and walked over to Faith "What made you change your mind?" He leads her away from Dawn.

"I want to know why you are so cavalier about this, I mean your ultimate plan to get me here was to kill me and here you are shooting the breeze with me." She gets up into the demons face "I mean I could just be bluffing yet here you are believing all the crap that I am spewing out."

"I doubt you would be stupid enough to take me on yourself."

"Guess you don't know me too well then do you." She takes out a bag of powder that Red had made and throws it on him. She steps back and watches as he begins to slowly smoke.

Faith knows the potion will only slow him down not kill him, she hopes Willow is working her mojo cause she has one enormously pissed off demon in front of her.

"You are a fool, I don't get humans, I really don't. I mean putting yourself in danger for the life of another. Never made sense to me."

"I guess you never met the right people did you."

Faith is amazed that in all this time that he hasn't tried to hit or hurt her.

"Are we going to fight?"

"Who says I want to fight you. I know you won't leave until I am dead so I have you at an advantage really."

"You think so?"

"I know so Faith. I know who you are. I know what you were and I know I can get to you in a way nobody can."

Faith laughs "You want to Psych 101 me, go ahead."

"I chose Sunnydale for a reason Faith. Dark forces dark powers. I heard about you long before Chloe came along. The legend of the Dark Slayer."

"The legend?"

"Yes Faith the legend, a friend of mine told me all about you. How you fought gallantly to the death, how you tried to trick and deceive these people you now hold in your heart as friends. I mean you gave up a world of power and fame."

"I gave up a world of hurt and pain."

"That's what you tell yourself to make it seem better, but you know what you gave up and you know what he gave up for you and the only way you can live with yourself is to rationalise it this way."

"I don't need to rationalise anything, I have fought my demons and I live this life because I choose to."

"Do you know how disappointed he would be to know that you have ended up this way. He saw in you what no-one has seen in you. Not even yourself."

"I know what I have in me. Your use the Mayor to guilt her approach isn't going to work. That man had fucking screws lose. He played me the way you are trying to now. The only reason he could was because I was vulnerable and I didn't trust anyone. I do now and nothing can shake that."

The demon smiles at her "You would like to think that wouldn't you. You have two choices Faith...one is death the other is to join me. Rule the underworld with me. I can give you power you have only dreamed of."

Faith folds her arms and glares at him.

"Which will it be Faith? I can tell you right now that the death part won't be short and sweet. It will be slow and painful. I am big on the torture just like you are."

"Your bullshit is torture enough" Faith looks out to the courtyard, she didn't think Willow's spell would take this long.

"Not much of a pain threshold, this will be fun."

"You can't touch me, nothing you do to me will compare to what I have been through already."

"Lets see shall we?"

"Bring it On!"

He holds his hand out at Faith and a shock of blue energy hits her square in the chest throwing her across the room into the stone wall 20 feet behind her. She lands with a sickening thud but she shrugs it off getting back up immediately.

"That the best you have Lyc? I feed off this shit" She waltzes up to him.

"Still time Faith, I know you love the smell of this place. You like black remember?"

"What can I say pastels grow on you mother fucker." She punches him in the face and kicks him in the chest sending him backwards a few steps "Keep up the trash talk, only gets me madder and you deader."

"Faith do you know how much potential you have. Wilkins speaks so highly of you down there."

"Well when I send you back you can tell him how much I like it up here."

"Why? Because of them... Where are they now Faith, leaving you here to face me alone."

"I asked them to. You had a thing for me I didn't want anyone else caught in the crossfire."

"How noble." A swipe of his right arm and Faith is airborne again this time just falling on the tile floor.

Like a shot she is back up on her feet "God you are stubborn." She smiles crookedly at him.

"The same could be said for you Faith."

"I don't see what you are fighting for Lyc, me I have everything to fight for."

"Really? People that don't trust you, one that stuck a knife through your gut. People who still question your every move. Sounds like so much to fight for Faith." He says sarcastically.

"Stop saying my name like you know me." She runs at him full pelt and knocks him back into the fireplace behind him 'Come on Red.' She thinks to herself.

"You can do this all day Faith, so can I." He says picking himself up "I love a good fight."

"Not as much as me." A flurry of kicks and punches follow.

The banter flows easily for Faith but she is scared now, her kicks and punches hardly register when she does make a dent in his demon armour it takes nearly all her strength to do so. If he keeps knocking her down in between attacks she won't last long at all.

"I have no doubt you will tire before me Faith, you will be on the brink begging me to let you onto our side."

"Never, I'd rather die first."

"Don't worry you will."

"So what did you have in store for us Lyc? Open the Hellmouth...bring forth another lame ascension?"

"Not sure really, I though I would wing it. See what type of chaos I could wreak first."

"What was your plan for me?"

"Honestly it was always to kill you. I wanted to kill you in front of your girlfriend but a kill is still a kill minus an audience."

She attacks again with everything she has, her anger, her frustration, her pain from the past, her fear. She threw everything at him she could.

"I admire you Faith, you have guts." He picks her up by the throat, she grabs at his hand with both of hers, her legs kick out trying to kick him, harm him in any way "I can see my pleas are going to fall on deaf ears unless I start to play rough. You up for it?"

"Do your worst." She gasps.

He bangs her head on the mantle of the fireplace "You sure you want to give this up for them."

"Nothing can make me go back." Blood is seeping out of a gash on the side of her head.

Again he hits her head against it "Still sure?"

"Nothing." It becomes her new mantra as he throws her about like a little rag doll she keeps chanting nothing.

Faith can hear Dawn screaming through the gag in her mouth. Faith grabs his arm and squeezes with everything she can muster. She can feel what she thinks are bones crushing underneath her hand, his grip loosens and she twist out of his grasp planting a spinning roundhouse smack bang in the middle of his face, it sets him off balance and impales him on the fire stoker.

She makes it over to Dawn and gets her free while he is distracted.

"Red, B and Xander are outside, go through the courtyard and tell Red to hurry the fuck up. I don't know how long I can hold him off."

"What about Buffy?"

"This is my fuck up let me sort it out. I don't want her getting hurt."

"Faith he will kill you."

"And you too if you don't run now Dawnie."

"Faith we can help."

"Just do what I say Dawn, now."

She ushers her over to the door protecting her from any sort of attacks from him.

Dawn stands adamantly not moving.

"Dawn if I survive this I swear I will kill you if you don't go now."

"Faith I-I love you."

"I love you too, please Dawn go."

Dawn looks at her, tears sliding down her face "Thank you."

Faith can feel her heart breaking as Dawn runs off but it is soon forgotten as she is thrown across the courtyard landing heavily on a cement bench. Her back taking the full impact.

She feels it with every fibre of her being there isn't a part of her that isn't hurting now. The blood is flowing freely, she feels the warm trail down her back. She gets up onto her knees and can feel him standing over her.

"We are only getting started Faith don't give up on me now. I can feel you hurting, I can feel all of it."

She swipes his legs out from under him "Feel that asshole?" She says as his head smacks against the ground. She jumps up and brings her foot down on his neck with all her might "God damn piece of fucking shit, I loved this shirt now it is soaked in fucking blood." She kicks at his head over and over "Asshole, son of a bitch, mother fucking asswipe."

She comes in for an almighty kick and just like that he vanishes from her sight.

"Way to go Red." She says collapsing to the ground.

She looks up at the sky and just lays there she feels the pain washing over her in blankets "Moving so not an option right now." She says to herself. Closing her eyes and letting out a deep breath.

A few minutes pass before she hears "Faith, oh god Faith."

"Relax B, I am fine." She says not moving.

"Not from this angle" she feels a hand on her face.

She opens her eyes "Dawnie get out okay?"

"Yeah she did" Buffy smiles at her.

"Is she okay?" She hears Dawn.

"She is fine."

"She is sore" Faith says "So fucking sore, you are gonna have to patrol solo tonight B."

"Not a problem."

"I never thought Red's spell would work, that powder she gave me did fuck all."

"You didn't use the powder to vanquish him?"

"No, she told me the powder would slow him down while she did her thing."

"She told me giving you the potion would do the job."

Faith sat up, a little too quickly she grabbed her head.

"Careful baby."

"What the fuck did Red do?"

She got to her feet slowly.

"I don't know, she told me Cordy's vision was you turning bad again and joining him to bring forth the warlocks and the ascension" Buffy takes Faith hands in hers.

"She said Cordy's vision was you and Dawnie being killed by him."

"Can you say Kaiser Sozeyed?" Dawn says.

"You knew what Cordy's vision was and you didn't come in and try to stop me?" Faith says pulling away from Buffy.

"Faith, it wasn't like that."

"When did she tell you?"

"After you went in."

"Why didn't you come in?"

"You told me not to."

"Even when Red told you what Cordy saw? You were quite content to leave me in there to die."

"Faith no, I was begging for them to let me in, Xander was holding me back."

"Yeah because he can contain slayer strength" Faith walks back through the house and out the front door. She notices Willow and Xander over by the car.

"What did you do? There was no fucking trap, no demon killing Buffy or Dawn." She walks up and faces off with Willow "You left me in there to die with some fucking demon."

"It wasn't meant to go that far."

"What wasn't?" Buffy storms up behind Faith "What is with the double stories Will?"

"A test."

"A test?"

"It wasn't my idea. Giles called and told me the council wanted a team here to do it themselves. They were going to do the test they did on Buffy when she turned 18."

"They were going to put her up against him with no power?" Dawn joined them "She could hardly hurt him with slayer strength."

"It wasn't her strength they wanted to test. It was her loyalty."

"The Demon, what happened to him?"

"If you killed him he would have disappeared."

"Why did you lie to me?" Buffy asked.

"I had to, you would have never let me do it otherwise."

Faith steps away from Willow "I can't believe it."

"Faith we need to get you to a hospital" Buffy said.

"You all need to keep the fuck away from me."

"Faith baby I had no idea."

"No but you believed her...how much fucking trust do you have in me Buffy!"

Buffy grabs Faith's arm "Listen to me, I had no idea."

Faith pushes her away "YOU BELIEVED HER, THAT IS WORSE THAN ANY OTHER BETRAYAL."

Buffy has tears falling down her face "Faith please listen to me."

"No, you don't have anything to say to me right now that I want to listen to." She starts to walk away from the group.

"We need to get you to the hospital Faith" Buffy pleads with her.

"I can do it myself just leave me alone."

"Faith your arm" Dawn said referring to the hand that was broken only a few days ago "Let me drive you."

She looks at Dawn "Are you okay?"

"I will live, get in the car. You looked after me in there now it is my turn to look after you."

Faith climbs into the passenger side of her car. Holding tears back the whole way to the hospital.

*****

"Buffy calm down, you can't think about this rationally all mad."

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down Willow. You kept this from me and put my sister and Faith in danger. Two of the things I love the most in this world, they could have been killed."

"No-one was going to get killed."

"How do you know that?"

"It was part of the plan, Dawn wasn't hurt at all."

"Really have you seen her wrists?" Faith walks in "Cause she has rope burn something wicked Red. Ankles too, not to mention being gagged for 5 hours thinking she was going to die...she didn't suffer a thing."

Buffy and Willow watch Faith walk in her arm in a sling, dried blood covering her jacket and top, bruises covering her face. They also notice her limping.

"Hope the fucking test was worth it."

"We don't know, we are waiting to hear from Giles."

"So I didn't get him fired?"

"No."

"And Chloe? The girl we have tied up in the basement?"

"Like the demon, she wasn't real."

"So there is no third slayer?"

"No."

"So what was the point of the test, what did I get the shit kicked out of me for?"

"Where is Dawn?" Buffy asks.

"She went upstairs to sleep."

"I might go check on her."

"I would leave her right now Buffy. She is pissed at all of you just as much as I am."

Buffy knows she is in trouble, Faith never uses her full name...never.

Faith goes over the cupboard (they are in the Summers Kitchen) and grabs a plastic garbage bag out.

"What do you need that for?"

"I want to shower and I can't get the cast wet."

"Do you need help?" Buffy asks.

"Not from any of you." She walks out.

"She is pissed" Willow says.

"She has every fucking right to be Willow. Do you know what it has taken for her to open up and trust us. She came back here off her own back to try and make it right with all of us and all you have done is throw it back in her face time after time. Almost a year and you guys still hold her in contempt. I don't blame her for being angry, the thing that pisses me off the most is that she thinks I was part of it, that I don't trust her."

"Do you?"

"With my life Will."

"Well why didn't you go in?"

"Honestly?"

Willow nods.

"I couldn't see her like that. I mean Cordy's visions are smack bang on accurate and I believed what you were telling me and I couldn't see her like that. Part of me knew that it wasn't real but I wasn't prepared to go in and actually see it. My heart would have broken."

"You really are in love with her aren't you?"

"She consumes me Willow. There isn't a part of me that doesn't sing her name."

"We ruined that."

"Yeah you did, I hope you are happy. I can understand why she thinks what she does but she has had so many lies fed to her in the last 24 hours nothing I say will convince her."

"Buffy I am sorry, I had known this was going to happen I-"

"Shut up Willow, honestly what did you think lying to us would do?"

"Buffy I am so sorry please don't be mad."

"Don't be mad! Are you serious...god that is so two faced of you. Faith makes a mistake and you use it against her whenever you can and now you fuck up royally and I am supposed to accept a sorry I had no idea and have everything be kittens and roses again. I don't think so Willow. You lied to me. You lied to Faith and Dawn. You put them both in danger and now neither of them want to talk to me. That isn't something I think I can forgive."

"Buff-"

"Go Willow just go."

"I-"

"I SAID LEAVE." She yells "PACK UP YOUR THINGS AND LEAVE, I DON'T WANT YOU IN THIS HOUSE."

Buffy leaves the kitchen to head up to her and Faith's room. She stops when she sees Faith on the stairs in tears. She kneels on the step in front of her.

"Are you okay? I know that sounds stupid considering what you just went through."

Faith shakes her head "I thought I was going to die B."

"You didn't though, you are here."

"I look like death warmed up."

"I dunno you look pretty hot to me."

Faith half smiles "You are biased."

"Let me help you."

"I heard what you said to Red."

"Who is she to think that she can do that to us and expect us to be all fine and dandy with it."

"I meant the bit about not coming into the mansion."

"Oh...Willow and I had an argument. I said that her vision was wrong that you would never go bad again. She and Xander were talking me out of it and then Dawnie came out" Buffy had tears spilling down her face "I am so sorry. I should have never let you go in there alone."

"I asked you to B. When Willow told me about the vision, I had the pictures in my head too. I couldn't let you go in there knowing what I thought was real."

"Faith I know you are mad at me and I guess I deserve it just don't doubt what I feel for you. I trust you and I know you would never do anything to hurt Dawn or me. I know how hard you fought to get here and I honestly believe you would never turn your back on that."

"This is real right" Faith looks Buffy in the eye "What we are saying is real, this isn't some lie, some test?"

"It isn't a test. I am here I am talking to you and I mean everything I am saying. I am in love with you and I trust you with my life."

"I am sorry for crying, I just...it has been a funny few days. I thought I had died, then I almost did. I thought you hated me."

"You know I don't hate you right?"

Faith nods.

"Come on let me help you with this cast and the shower thing."

They both get up and head to the bathroom. Buffy begins running a bath.

Buffy wraps her hands around Faith's neck and gently undoes the sling.

"I don't think I need the sling, slayer and healing and all but the doc insisted."

"We will see okay." She gently supports the arm as she helps Faith take off her jacket and top "I bought you that top."

"I know I got wicked pissed when I noticed it..., just before I killed him."

"I will see what I can do with a bit of pre soak."

"I think I will be right now" Faith says.

"Bra?"

"You are enjoying this."

Buffy looks at the bruising spread across her chest "Not really."

Faith looks down "Will be gone in the morning."

"I was thinking if it was okay with you I might hop in with you."

"I am covered in blood."

"Rinse off in the shower then hop in the bath with me."

"Please don't take this the wrong way but, I just want a hot shower, alone."

"That's fine" Buffy turns the bath off.

"If you want one stay but I just want to stand under the water."

"It's fine" Buffy smiles at her.

"I don't want you to go too far, I will need you to wash my hair."

"You remember what happened last time I did that."

"I do, and I don't think that will happen...on account of major pain."

*****

Faith and Dawn were still pretty pissed at the Scoobs. Faith and Buffy's relationship was also very strained.

She was patrolling alone and had moved into Willow's old room.

Buffy was just as angry at the Scoobs but even angrier at herself, she thought Faith might forgive her after the talk they had in the bathroom that night but once Faith was rested and on her way to recovery the icyness returned. Walls that had been broken over time had been put back up.

Faith had been wrestling with the idea of maybe going to LA for a holiday just to get away from Sunnydale. At the moment wherever she went there it reeked of betrayal and the distrust she held for them.

Faith and Dawn sat in the dining room.

"You are leaving aren't you?" She spits at the Dark Haired slayer.

"Honestly, I have thought about it."

"Answer the fucking question."

"I am not leaving Sunnydale."

"You are leaving us."

"I am leaving her, not you."

"Same difference. Everything he said to you, everything you kicked his ass for is true. You are giving up on us, on you."

"I don't know what else to do."

"You grow up Faith. Buffy had nothing to do with this she had no idea. I saw how she fought Xander to try and get into the house."

"She can kick his ass."

"Not with a broken heart she can't. She had nothing when she thought you were gone, no fight no heart nothing Faith."

"I hate this."

"I know but leaving won't do us or you any good."

"What about the others."

"I don't care, all I know is you leaving is the worst possible idea in the whole entire world of worst possible ideas."

Faith smiles at Dawn after a few moments of thinking "You are so friggen smart kiddo."

"Can you record that and put it in writing for the next time Buffy says otherwise."

"Sure no problem."

"So you will stay?"

Faith nods "I guess I need to talk to Buffy."

"I think that would be a good idea."

"Patrol?"

"Yeah she left about 20 minutes ago."

"Thanks Dawn, I don't know why the others don't see how smart you are."

"Because their heads are stuck too far up their own asses."

"You have a way with words Squirt." She stands up.

"Learnt from the best."

"You will be okay?"

"Just go already."

Faith leaves and takes her car thinking that would be quicker than walking from cemetery to cemetery looking for her.

She has just driven through town and she spots Buffy walking into the Espresso Pump. She parks and heads in after her. Buffy is at the counter waiting to order.

Faith walks over to her "Mind if I join you?" She asks softly.

Buffy looks at her, her eyes are red and swollen. She had been crying "Sure." She manages to get out.

"B sit down, I will get them and bring it over."

"Thanks."

As Buffy turns to leave Faith gently touches her arm and smiles at her.

She orders then goes and sits with Buffy, next to her in the booth instead of across from her.

"Are you crying because of me?" Faith asks.

"Because of what I did to you."

"You did nothing to me."

"Yes I did and now you hate me."

"B I don't hate you."

"Why are you leaving me then?"

"I am not leaving you."

"You packed, you said to me I think the best thing for us is if I go."

"Can't a girl change her mind?"

"What made you change your mind?"

"Someone reminded me of how stubborn I was and how stupid I can be when I am on my high horse. Then I thought about it a little and realised that I won't be better without you, I am what I because I have you."

Buffy's sad eyes look into Faith's "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know" Faith takes her hand under the table and they lace their fingers together "I am so sorry that I made you think that I hated you, I am sorry that I made you cry."

Buffy rests against Faith.

"There is a saying I heard a while back that went something like the people who don't deserve your tears will make you cry, the ones that do deserve it will never make you cry. I always thought I would be the latter one."

"You though, you deserve my tears."

"I should have never have let it get this far though."

"I love you so much Faith. I don't care if I never talk to Willow or Xander again...as long as I have you baby that is all that matters."

The two slayers sit there quietly just being with the other.

"Well you know what they say B." Says after a while.

"Two's company."

The End