Chapter Seven

To everybody's surprise, the next three weeks went by pretty fucking  smooth. I'd wake B, who now thankfully wore pajamas to bed, at 7:00  every morning for breakfast. Then we'd spar and workout for two or  three hours, then clean up and check the weapons. Before we knew it,  it was time for lunch.

Sometimes after, B would go for a nap, but lately she'd been skipping  that. We'd just hang around, eat dinner, and then head out to patrol  as soon as it was dark. It didn't take us long to get the demon  population under control, not with two Slayers on the job.

Course some days were better than others, and sometimes B was way  grouchier than was pleasant, but hey we all got good days and bad  days. Now granted, B's bad days could be pretty fucking bad, no way  was I gonna try and whitewash that. But I'm just saying there'd been  no more fistfights, and she'd been going along with the program for  the most part.

About fifteen days into it, we did have a real memorable breakfast  when B totally and completely blew her top. She hadn't spoken a word  since I'd gotten her up, but we could all see she was a fucking time  bomb sitting at the table. Nobody wanted to be the one to set her off  so nobody talked to her, and pretty soon we weren't talking to each  other either.

Meanwhile, while the three of us were walking around on eggshells, B  was getting madder and madder for no apparent reason. It was starting  to freak Willow and Xander right the fuck out, and I coulda explained  to'em it happens sometimes, but not when B was sitting right there.  Best I could do was try to look calm while I kept on eating.

Wasn't long before B threw her bowl of oatmeal against the wall with  enough force to actually make the bowl explode. Some of the oatmeal  looked like it was embedded right into the wall forever, but before  any of us could check it out, B tossed her juice glass, Xander's  plate, Willow's coffee cup, and then there went the whole coffee pot  halfway across the room.

Next she stood up and threw her chair into the wall. A big chunk  smashed in as two of the four legs decided to get stuck at least  three inches deep. I moved quick and snatched up my plate `cause I  knew what was next. Willow and Xander had already stepped way back,  but I was still sitting there trying to finish my scrambled eggs.  See, Red makes'em perfect, all light and fluffy and…

B grabbed the table and flung it over, clearing it of everything that  was left on it. Shit flew everywhere, but what broke my heart was  when I saw the mostly untouched plate of French toast hit the floor.  Shit, I didn't even get one piece of it, and it looked delicious. Was  all golden brown and…

B walked right up to me and stared into my eyes for like five  seconds, then she turned and stomped off into the backyard. I gulped  down the last of my eggs, sat the plate down on the counter, and  flipped the table back up like it was supposed to be. I gave the  Scoobies my best reassuring smile, but their reaction told me I was  still giving off psychotic. Thought I'd better try some words:

"Guys, it's okay. Just builds up on ya sometimes."

I went out back where B was waiting and pacing, and for the next hour  and a half, she used me as a punching bag. By the end of it she was  looking a whole lot less crazy, and I was so sore I knew no way could  I make it up the stairs. I decided to just sit my ass in a lawn chair  and give myself some time to recover.

B went in without a word, but she was back a coupla minutes later  with a bottle of water and a first aid kit.

"Here."

"Thanks B, water sounds perfect."

She got down on her knees and started cleaning some blood off my  cheek with a lot of gentleness. I drained the bottle and let out a  big sigh:

"Man, quite a workout today."

She didn't say a thing for a few, then her voice came out kinda low:

"…Yeah…Are you…Are you okay?"

"Hey, Slayer here, remember? Takes a lot more than that to kill me."

"I'm…I don't know what I was…I guess…I was pissed, okay?"

"Fine with me. Completely understand."

"…Okay."

She started fiddling around with the first aid kit again, and I  tapped her on the arm:

"B?"

It took her a while, but she finally looked up:

"It's no big, really. I'm not hurt, just sore. No permanent damage."

"I shouldn't have…"

"Oh c'mon, we were sparring, you were pissed, and ya kicked my ass… again. Seems like a normal day to me."

She smiled then.

"I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. But better save it for the dining room. Pretty  sure you hurt its feelings."

"Oh shit. I can't believe I…"

"Gotta say my fave's the way you rearranged the chairs. Never thought  of sinking one into the wall like that."

"I must have…"

"Gonna be a little tough to sit in, but…"

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Positive."

She stood up looking all embarrassed:

"I'm just going to go in and see if…"

"Yeah, good idea. Gonna take you or me to get that chair loose."

She took off into the house, and I got no idea what went on in there.  I just stayed as still as I could, looking way forward to the time  when the full body throbbing was gonna stop.

Say what ya want, but B still packs a powerful punch. And although my  days of wanting to get the piss pounded outta me were long gone, I  was glad she was getting it out of her system. Better on me than a  cell wall. Them fuckers are hard and they don't give at all.

So it was an interesting time, even had an escape attempt go down… twice. This one night out on patrol, B said she was tired and wanted  to knock off early. I didn't much give a shit, but something about  her was ringing my alarm bells. I played it cool though, and we went  home.

We said goodnight, went into our bedrooms, and then I went right the  hell out my window as quietly as I could. Once I'd cleared the house,  I grabbed a chair and went to sit in the shadows to wait. Was a  pretty night, lots of stars were out.

`Bout an hour passed, then here she came sneaking out her window. She  was moving real slow and quiet, if I'da been in my room, I never  woulda heard her. I let her hit the ground before I spoke up:

"Hiya B, decide to finish the patrol after all?"

She jumped and let out this funny little yell:

"Faith! God, you scared the hell out of me."

"So I saw. Guess this is the night for Slayers to be where we're not  supposed to be. Thought you were all tired and shit?"

"…"

"Listen B, you're not a prisoner. Ya wanna go out? No problem, just  can't go without me."

"I don't need a babysitter!"

I stood up and stretched out the kinks:

"Normally agree with that, but `til I'm sure ya wanna live a long and  healthy life, ya got one. So where we headed? Night out sounds good  to me."

"Fuck you, Faith."

"Nah, don't really need that. Be way happy with a few drinks and some  dancing. Hope the music's good, nothing worse than…"

She climbed back up the tree.

"Aw c'mon B, ya gotta be such a big baby? Not like I'm some stick in  the mud. Bigger party girl than you for years. Let's go and…"

She leaned back out her window, all pissed off:

"I'm sick of this and I'm sick of you. I want to have some fun!"

"That really what it was, Buffy? Big fun putting a buncha drugs into  your body, then screwing some lowlife to ease the pain?"

"Shut up!"

"Ya wanna have fun? Cool, let's go tear it up. No drugs, and if your  partner of choice is somebody ya don't really know, well no.  Otherwise, I got no say in what you…"

"I hate you! Go to hell!"

Then the window slammed shut. Couldn't really blame her. If it was  me, I'd be pissed too.

I know firsthand that Slayers can't get addicted. Trust me, I'd still  be at Betty Ford's if they could. Plus B hadn't shown any signs of  that before now, so it wasn't like she was jonesing for anything.

All that was wrong with her was that she had cabin fever, plain and  simple. I sympathized, but that was just too bad. She was staying in  the cabin unless I got to ride along. That was nonnegotiable.

Next morning it all seemed fine. After a good sparring session, B  went up to shower and take a nap. I hung around downstairs carving  out some stakes while I watched TV. When lunch time rolled around,  Red asked me to go get Buffy.

I stood up and brushed a few scraps of wood offa me:

"Can't. She's not here."

"She's not…Where is she?"

"Not sure. She snuck out about an hour ago."

Red's eyebrows shot up into her hairline:

"What?!"

"She had a little tantrum last night. Guess it carried through to  today."

I was starving, so naturally I started heading into the kitchen where  we always ate lunch. Red grabbed my arm with a pretty firm grip. I  wanted to say "Ow", but I was too tough for that.

"Faith, she could be anywhere right now. We need to…A locator spell!  I'll do a locator spell, then you can go get her and..."

"Don't worry, Red."

"'Don't worry'? `Don't worry'? I'm worrying, Faith! I'm worrying like  you wouldn't believe."

I was trying to gently peel her hand off my arm, but I wasn't having  much luck. Her nails were digging in, and her grip was kinda pinching  my skin. Slayers got nerve endings too, ya know?

"Willow, she's fine. I'll find her at sundown."

"But what if she leaves town? What if she gets someone to do a  concealment spell and she just takes off? Do you know how long it  could take to find her?!"

I had my arm free with my dignity more or less hanging tough. I did rub it a little bit,  but I made it look all casual even though my eyes were watering.

"She hasn't left town and she's not gonna. That'd be way too  chickenshit even if she wanted to, which she doesn't. Trust me, I got  it covered."

Willow wasn't happy, but she nodded and didn't say another word about  it.

Sunset came, and I went looking. I found her at the third place I  checked. I just stood and watched her for awhile. She was dancing,  sorta sexy and shit, but not way over the top. She just looked like a  girl out for a good time.

After a few, I slid in behind her and began dancing too. She wasn't  surprised to see me, I knew she'd felt me as soon as I arrived. We  never said a word. We just danced and worked up a sweat until B  grabbed my hand and led me over to the bar.

She wasn't the slightest bit angry, in fact she was smiling at me.

"So you found me."

"Looks like."

"Well that was…Two beers, Steve."

"Coming right up, Buffy."

We got our beers ahead of everybody else, and I didn't see any money  change hands. I decided to let it go. The guy looked alright, and he  looked at her with respect.

"So you were sayin'?"

She took a huge swig of her beer, and then looked over at me:

"I was saying, that was the shortest bout of freedom ever."

"B, c'mon. Told ya the deal already, and believe me when I tell ya  this is nowhere near prison."

She looked a little on the sad side as she stared off into space for  a second:

"There are all kinds of prisons, I guess."

"That's for sure. Look, wanna forget all of this shit for awhile and  just have fun tonight?"

Her smile started coming back:

"But what about patrolling? Our sacred duty and all that."

I drained my bottle and gave her my most wicked smile:

"I look like The Council to you, Blondie? Original bad girl here,  remember? Screw it, let's do a little damage."

So we did. We went all night and had the most fucking fun you could  have. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had such a good time.

We walked home not saying much, just kinda living in the glow of a  really great night. As we got near the house, B started laughing.

"What's the joke, B?"

"It's just…Everything's so crazy."

"Yeah, could definitely say that."

"I mean, I hate your guts but I just had the best time I've had in  years. And I had it with you, because of you. It's just crazy."

"B, trust me. This is nowhere near crazy."

We both went nuts over that, laughing until we were practically  bawling.

"God Faith, I just don't know."

"Nothing to know. Was a great night, B."

She looked me, all smiles and all Buffy like:

"…Yeah, it really was."

"…Yeah…Okay then…Well, see ya in…117 minutes."

"Faith, come on! Can't we skip breakfast just this once?"

Sure. If you look that cute and sexy, you can do whatever the fuck  you…

"You know we can't. Got a rou…"

"…tine to keep to. Wow, you really are The Council!"

She wasn't the slightest bit mad though, just yanking my chain.

"That's me baby, undercover Council tight ass."

"Someone like you would have to be way undercover. Can you even imagine? It'd be so hysterical to see you there."

I was pretty sure that was something we were never gonna see.

"Scary, for sure. Down to 115 now, Slayer."

"Fine, fine."

She turned to head inside, but then she turned back to me:

"Goodnight, Faith."

"Night, B."

I did my best to ignore that it felt like the end of a date, and went  up to my room to catch my precious 110 minutes of sleep…

Yeah, right. I spent every one of those goddamn minutes just  imagining how I wished the night could have ended. The few seconds I  managed to get those thoughts blocked out, I kept seeing her smile  and how it made her eyes all…Was a long night, a long two hours.  Whatever it was, it was way more than long enough.

Anyways, everything had been on a major upswing. B was coming back in  all kinda ways, and we all could see it. It was pretty fucking  exciting, and Willow and Xander were loving it.

I was pretty psyched myself, but I knew there was still plenty more  to do. I had to get Giles and Dawn to come back, and I needed to get  B talking about Spike. Damn, poor Spike.

In all the commotion, I hadn't had much time to think about him. I'd  liked him right off, kinda against my will, and I saw from the get go  he loved Buffy. And man, did he ever show some balls back in Sunny D  when he took us all on. Respected the fuck outta him, and over the  years, that respect did nothing but grow.

He believed in B. No doubts. No questions, not anything but pure and  rock solid devotion. He was a smart guy, he knew all of her and he  loved her because of it. He didn't let her pull any shit either, he  called her on it when he had to, but nothing shook his faith in her.

I wasn't the least bit surprised he went out like he did. He'd have  done anything to keep Buffy and Dawn safe, and that's just what he  did. Know he was glad for the chance, and as far as I was concerned,  the bastard had gone out like a hero. That was twice now.

All he'd ever get from me was my respect and gratitude, and if I ran  into him in the afterlife, I had his back. Far as I could see he was  just like Angel, and that's pretty high praise from me. I guess you  could say it's just about the highest.

Okay, bringing the runaways home was gonna be the easiest of the two,  so I'd start with that. Could toss Angel into the "runaways"  category, but he'd keep. Sure he was freaked out, but he wasn't  pissed off or hurt.

I knew he understood what was going on, and I knew he knew it wasn't  directed at him. Sure he was torn up that he couldn't help her, but  he'd be back the second he got the all clear. That left just Giles  and Dawn to worry about right now.

B was gonna be mad, but nothing could be done about that. Nothing  here was easy, that's just how it was. Me keeping the peace and  livin' large on B's good side, well that wasn't what I was here for.  I had a job to do, and it wasn't gonna get done if I kept trying to  hold her hand while we frolicked together through the daisies.

Gotta admit I was digging it though, even if I do hate flowers. But I  knew what I had to do and how I had to do it, so that was that. What  the hell time was it in England anyways?

I could just sit quietly and try to figure it out…Yeah right, like I  got any clue how to do that. Not like I give a shit either. No matter  what time it was, it was time for them to come back. That news wasn't  gonna make'em happy, no matter what the freakin' clock had to say.

The time for them to return was now. Not when they'd all come to  terms, not when everybody was in a good place emotionally, and  definitely not when they were all sobbing with guilt at B's funeral.  Nope, the time was now, as in right the fuck.

Sure be nice if somebody else could give'em the news, somebody they  didn't hate. But there wasn't anybody else, so we were all gonna have  to deal. Sure was a shitty sitch B had stuck us in, but what could be  done about that? Was what it was, we were where we were, and that was  that. Just had to accept it and move along.

No time like the present, but I needed a beer. I went, snagged a  bottle and the cordless phone, then headed back outside. I polished  off most of my beer before I started hitting the memory buttons.  Third one gave me the number I needed.

The phone rang weird, and on I guess it was the fourth ring, Giles  himself answered:

"…Ah…Yes, hello?"

Musta been nighttime `cause he sounded a little out of it.

"Slayer # 2 here. B's still alive, so this ain't that call."

"Hello, Faith. While it's most reassuring to hear that Buffy is all  right…"

"Didn't say she's `all right', said she's alive."

"Yes well, despite that ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak  scenario, I presume there is another reason for this call?"

"Can the stuffy British hotshot shit, G-man. Reason for this ray of  sunshine is to let you and Squirt know it's time to get your asses  home."

There was a long pause, I guess he was thinking what to say. I  studied the clouds, one of'em looked just like this guy I used to  know.

"…Faith, while I appreciate your obviously heartfelt belief in what  you are saying, I do not believe that you are fully apprised of the  situation nor the circumstances that…"

"Then ya believe wrong. Got all the info I need."

"I suppose it seems that way to you, but you've no true idea of the  things that Buffy has done. They aren't the sort of incidents that  can be easily forgotten or forgiven, so I'm afraid I must…"

"Didn't ask ya to forget or forgive."

He did this big sigh, and it was like I could see him. I knew he had  his fingers squeezing the bridge of his nose, his glasses lifted offa  his face, and in just a sec he was gonna whip'em off and look all  pissed.

"Please understand, I don't feel it necessary to engage in the  particulars with you. Suffice it to say…"

"Yeah? Then let me engage you in some particulars. Along with a  buncha other crap, B's been gyrating on top of me doing a lap dance a  hooker couldn't match. She's also treated me to a torture session the  fuckin' CIA wouldn't approve of, and she's been beatin' the snot  outta me on a daily basis. Them particulars particular enough for  you?"

He didn't say shit, so I plowed ahead:

"Point's way simple: I don't give a good or bad goddamn what went  down. You're her Watcher, and you can't be doing a very good job with  your ass in another fucking country. But way more important, you're  Giles and she needs you here."

Nope, no more words from Rupert Giles. Moving on:

"And since I hear ya breathin' Dawnie, gonna tell you straight up  too. You're B's only blood left. She needs you, and she needs you  right now. Ya don't wanna come? Too fucking bad. B died for you when  you were nothing but a ball of energy parading your annoying ass  around like a family member."

I heard her clear her throat, and I waited. She got nothing out, and  I was all done listening:

"B's never given any indication you two aren't sisters, well this is  what a sister's gotta do. You both better be here just as fast as you  can or I'm gonna make way uncomfortable arrangements for your return.  Enough of this horseshit, get back here. Buffy needs you."

I slammed the phone down…Well okay, I pushed the "End" button.  Fucking cordless phones really take all the satisfaction of a big  dramatic hang-up right outta your hands.

I wasn't worried, they'd be here. No doubt at all. See, that's the  coolest thing about all of'em. They could have their own deals going,  could all fuck up big time, but when it got real, they did too. And  this sitch was just as real as anything was ever gonna get.

'Sides, I could hear it in his voice. Even though he'd been doing his  whole "Masterpiece Theatre" thing, all that really came down the line  was how much he missed her, how worried he was about her. Giles loved  Buffy, and being without her was absolutely killing him. Everybody  knew that.

As I sat in the yard just thinking, I found myself getting more and  more pissed. Not at Giles and Dawn, but at B. She had all these  people who loved her and she was acting like it didn't matter. She  was treating them like shit, all because she thought it'd be better  for them to get away from her.

She just kept hurting them, doing all kinds of shit they didn't  deserve, and yet they still kept hanging on. Even the ones she'd  forced to run were just sitting around waiting to be called back to  duty. Fuck, I was so pissed if she'd have come out the door, I would  have had trouble not beating her to death.

Gotta say when the door opened right then, it was a freaky deaky  moment. But it was just Willow, so good news there. I wasn't gonna  have to commit Murder One, and that was a huge relief. I'd already  done enough killing to last me a whole buncha lifetimes.

Red was sure looking a lot better, way more rested than when I'd  first seen her at my house. Guess that made sense since she wasn't  having to carry around all the weight anymore. I had a lot of it now,  and following my logic, I must really look like shit.

"Hi. Want company or is this necessary alone time?"

"Company's wanted and needed like ya wouldn't believe."

She sat down next to me, all happy and up:

"Okay, good. Whatcha doing?"

"Sitting here planning to beat B to death."

"Oh. So what did she do now?"

I blew out the world's biggest breath as I leaned my head back  against the bench:

"Nothing, she's been fine. I called Giles and Dawn just now and  told'em they had to come home. The way B treated them is just pissing  me off, no big. Hey, what's the time diff there? Couldn't figure it  out, course not like I tried. Still, be good to…"

"They're coming?"

"Yeah."

"They're coming here?! Giles and Dawn are coming to this house?!"

"Yeah."

She hopped up, then sat down and hopped up again.

"How did you…"

"Ah you know, sometimes the same old story sounds fresh coming from  somebody who don't know her ass from a hole in the ground. They wanna  come back Willow, just looking for any excuse to get here. I gave it  to'em, plus tossed in some threats and guilt for good measure.  They'll be here, for sure."

She sat back down, and I don't know how she could have looked any  happier.

"…Um…Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"No offense, okay?"

"Haven't taken any so far."

"I just never knew you were this smart."

Oh fuck me, I just about busted a gut laughing.

When I got myself back under control, I almost lost it again. I hung  on, but I kept doing this way uncool snorting noise.

"Can't take offense at that, Red. It's not that I'm so smart, just  got a knack for readin' people. Plus don't forget, I've been here  before, right in the middle of this big mess. That's really all I got  going."

"Well it's really something."

"Just wish this had never happened to her."

"Me too, but she's so much better now. She's really doing great."

"Yeah, think it's goin' our way."

I stared off into space, and suddenly Willow reached over and pulled  me into a hug. As she did it, she kissed me on the cheek, and I had  no clue what the fuck was going on. Didn't even know I was crying  until I found myself returning her hug like I was lost at sea.

Musta been quite a sight. Me, the big tough psycho, sobbing like a  baby while Willow, the little softy, gave me her strength. It went on  a lot longer than I wanted, but I finally got my shit together. I was  embarrassed, but what can ya do?

I laughed, and then she did too.

"Alright Red, breathe a word about this and…"

"No way am I going to cross the scary mean Slayer. The fact that  you're a real human being with real human feelings? I'll take that  secret to my grave."

"Good…Seriously Willow, thanks. Guess it kinda caught up with  me. `Sides, you know firsthand how fucking nuts I am."

Her hand squeezed mine for a second, and her smile made me feel even  better:

"I understand, Faith. While we're at it, I want to apologize. I've  never treated you like I should have, well maybe when you went crazy  and I was scared of you. But I mean after that, when it was clear  you'd changed. No matter what happens, when this is all over I hope  we can be friends. I'd really like that."

I smiled big `cause man, did I feel like a million bucks.

"That sounds really good to me. Guess gettin' stuck with B and Xander  all these years has been kinda rough on ya. I'm definitely top of the  line, course the downside's I'm crazy as hell and way unpredictable."

"Well, I almost destroyed the world so…"

"Guess we're a perfect match then."

"Yep, although maybe not one made in heaven."

We sat quiet for awhile, just enjoying the fact that we didn't  actually hate each other after all.

"Hey, Faith?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Are you going to…I mean, should we…any of us…some of us…maybe all of  us…Should we tell Buffy that they're coming?"

"Not if we want her here when they show up. Look, don't say shit and  I'll handle it."

She looked all upset, cripes was it her turn to start bawling?

"But she's going to be really mad, and you guys are getting along so  great now. I hate for all of that to be ruined and…"

"Just had that conversation with myself, and know what I realized?  I'm not here to be B's best pal. I'm here to pull her clear of this  shit, and I can't worry about anything else when it comes to  her. `Sides, the dirty work's all mine, remember? Gotta keep you  clean so she's got somebody to turn to. Not gonna matter if she ends  up hating me."

"I know…It sucks though."

"Yeah."

She still looked all sad, and there was no real way to make it any  better.

"Hey c'mon Red, cheer up."

She gave me a lame smile, but at least she was trying.

"Sorry, I just really hate this."

"Another thing we got in common. Damn, think we're destined for each  other."

"The similarities are eerie."

I wiggled my eyebrows at her and got all sexy:

"Hey, wanna hook-up and take over the world?"

"Hmm…I'd like to, but I have some research to do later."

"Aw c'mon Red, let's do somethin' really bad."

She thought it over for a few, then her face lit up:

"I know, if Xander brings doughnuts tomorrow, let's take a bite out  of each one and put it back in the box!"

Christ. My new friend was a dork, and I was hoping to keep her.

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