PART TWELVE: Magic Trips...
Fred and Willow were both hunched over a book, writing things down. Fred looked up and caught the sight of Christine coming in the room followed by Faith.
"Fred, long time no see. How's the list coming along?" Faith asked as Christine walked near Willow's side of the couch seeing if the Wicca had come up with anything.
"Well, it's mostly stuff that we need to make sure we have enough of. Plus, Willow and I want to do a trail run before actually doing it. But we got the list right here," Fred stated giving the brunette a list in her hand writing.
Willow could tell that something was wrong with Christine and gave her a look. The potential shook her head indicating that she would talk to her later. Willow was basically the only person, besides maybe Fred, that she felt comfortable talking to about the whole prophecy thing. The redhead was concerned but let it go for the moment.
"Well, Christine could use a break and Buffy needs my help...are you sure you'll be ok? Maybe someone should go with you," Faith said to the potential. Christine gave Faith a sharp look. All she wanted was to be alone at the moment and she didn't need a babysitter. She could care for herself.
"Faith, the sun is up, basically everyone is gone out of Sunnydale...I think I'll be ok," Christine stated getting the list Fred had made from Faith. < I just want to be alone for a while, ok? > the potential said to the brunette slayer in her mind. Faith nodded to her.
"Ok, just don't be gone too long," Faith stated. Christine smiled.
"I think I'll be ok. Besides, Buffy needs your help," Christine said looking then to Willow. "I'll get this stuff for you and be back, ok?" Willow smiled at the young potential.
"Sounds good," the redhead stated.
"Ok, be back later. Update me when I come back?" Christine asked giving a look to Willow, who caught it.
"You got it," Willow stated. Christine smiled then looked at Faith.
"Keep an eye on my girl?" Christine asked. Faith gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Yea, sure," the brunette slayer answered. The potential lightly smiled walking out of the living room and out the front door.
"How's she doing?" Fred asked as soon as Christine left. Faith sighed.
"Alright. I think the whole prophecy thing is getting to her...that and...she practically broke down a few minutes ago out back while we were sparing..." Faith was saying. Willow looked at her with concern. "And I mean wow, her moves? They were amazing for a potential and one that was out of control at that. She evidently broke up with Kennedy or something. She wouldn't talk about it. I think after stuffing everything inside...it got to her," Faith concluded looking up and shrugging.
Willow narrowed her eyes. She could understand why Christine broke things off with Kennedy. It must be hard. But the redhead couldn't help but feel concerned. She couldn't help shake this feeling that something bad was going to happen.
"How's the research gig?" Faith asked indicating all the books and stuff around the two girls.
"Going quite well!" Fred said enthusiastically. Faith chuckled.
"Well, send Christine back out to us when she gets back." The brunette slayer stated smiling before leaving. She felt bad about having Christine out there on her own but Faith guessed that she needed the time to her own. Besides, the brunette slayer thought to herself smiling, Buffy needed her.
Outside, in town...
Christine walked down the streets of Sunnydale. There wasn't one person out. They had all deserted the place. The potential looked at the list in her hands as she walked. It wasn't anything too complex. Christine shook her head as she thought back to what happened earlier.
The dirty blonde couldn't help but feel like a fool. She felt stupid. She knew that she was apart of something big, but she was used to things happening to her. She always said that she was ready...that she is strong enough and ready to handle anything. She took pride in her strength that she possessed. It was the only thing about herself that she liked...if she ever lost that...the potential felt that she would have nothing. Christine guessed that she was still just a girl. A teenager in a world where she had to grow up fast in. She didn't have the childhood like most other children did. She was serious all the time and always pushed herself in everything she did. Once she finished one thing, she would pick up another task not once taking a break or anything. The potential sighed as she continued to walk in the middle of the road towards the Magic Shop.
The Summers' house...
Faith walked into the backyard. Buffy looked up at her from where she was and smiled. The brunette slayer winked at her and proceeded to the other end of the yard where Kennedy stood watching her group.
"Hey, how they doing?" Faith asked indicating the potentials in Kennedy's group. The brunette potential glanced at Faith before answering.
"They're getting much better. I think they are doing great," Kennedy replied trying not to make eye contact with the other girl. Faith studied her for a moment.
"You know," Faith was saying now in a lower voice, "She does love you." The brunette slayer said causing Kennedy to sigh. "Listen, I don't know what happened between the two of you...but she still loves you. I don't think she meant to break up with you...she was upset." Faith said turning to Kennedy.
"Faith, I don't..." the potential started as she finally looked at the other girl. Faith interrupted her.
"Just listen Ken...I know you think it was you...but it's not. As you know, Christine has been through some massive shit. And probably a lot more then you or I even know of. That's one reason why she and I are good friends...because we can relate. But she keeps everything inside and lets it build. I just think that she's under a lot of stress and everything. She likes you Ken. It's not you, trust me. I think she's just a little scared...I don't know. I can't speak for her...but I know that she's hurting right now...and needs you..." Faith said looking back at the potentials. Kennedy looked at the dark slayer for a moment.
Faith wasn't one for emotional crap. So she tried her best in saying all the right things when she was talking to Kennedy. The potential looked back out at the yard taking everything in.
"Maybe you should talk with her when she gets back," Faith suggested looking at Kennedy.
"I really care about her Faith...I do...but...she keeps pushing me away...like she's hiding something. I don't know," the potential said sighing. "I just don't want to lose her...but then I am ashamed of how I acted...even though she said it was ok. But there is no excuse for the way I acted. I guess I put up a front of being this tough girl." Kennedy said as she shook her head. Faith smiled.
"Christine does that too. You're both good for each other. And you can't help feeling the way you feel or acting the way you feel. We all make mistakes...I mean...look what I did to Buffy..." Faith said in a light tone. Kennedy could tell that it pained the younger slayer to remember what she did. But the brunette slayer did have a point.
"I just don't know what to do...and you're right. You can't help the way you feel...but I guess you control how you react to it," Kennedy said looking over towards Buffy, where the other girl was looking. Faith smiled. Even though Kennedy was younger than her...she learned something from her.
"You're right. And you're not the only one that has noticed something different in Christine," Faith stated, looking at Kennedy. The potential looked at her. "I think she's afraid of getting hurt and losing YOU," Faith indicated. "She knows she has this big role in this prophecy crap that her and I are apart of. Neither her nor I asked to be apart of it but we are. And I think she is afraid something will happen and doesn't want to hurt you maybe..." Faith thought. "I don't know Kennedy. But I do know that she regretted what she said to you..." the brunette slayer said.
Kennedy thought for a moment. Faith watched as a potential kicked too high and got off balanced causing her to fall onto the ground. "She's your girl Ken...I'm just her friend," Faith said before walking over to the potential and helping her up.
Magic shop...
Christine stepped into the Magic Shop. "Hello?! Anyone here?!" the potential called out just to make sure. There was no answer. "Guess no one's home," Christine stated shrugging. The potential then carefully stepped over the few items that were scattered on the floor to the counter. "Now...let's see what we need," she said out loud, taking her list out and placing it on the counter.
"We look a little lost...and all so alone," A voice stated somewhere behind the potential. Christine froze then heard a few steps. Slowly she turned around to see Caleb and five bringers.
"Yea...sun's up, basically everyone's gone out of Sunnydale...except you," Christine said, crossing her arms, mimicking her words from earlier.
"Basically...now...don't be rude...I brought guests," Caleb said smiling to himself, knowing that The First was going to be pleased.
"How cute...prying on little boys now... 'Father'? " Christine asked harshly empathizing on the last part. Caleb frowned and extended his arms. The bringers started surrounding the potential. One threw himself at her and she ducked as another bringer kicked her legs out from under her.
She quickly turned away from the other two bringers who were coming at her and delivered a high kick to the bringer's face who was coming at her from behind. But she wasn't quick enough to get the other two bringers who regrouped and grabbed her. Christine quickly flipped them over and tried to turn towards the door as another bringer punched her in the face causing her to stumble backwards.
In a second, all the bringers were on her holding her as Caleb came up to her. "I am going to enjoy watching you bleed to death," Caleb said before bringing back his fist and punching the potential square in the face, knocking her away from the bringers into the selves that came crashing down on her.
