After The Fall
by wolfkin
Chapter 2
[reviews]
Chapter 2
Faith smirked and shook her head as Willow and Kennedy finally joined them in the hotel's restaurant. The couple was more than twenty minutes late, but both glowed in a way that fairly screamed 'just got laid' to the once rogue. Her smirk turned to an impish grin as Willow gave an embarrassed apology to Buffy and Giles, while Kennedy just smiled and sat down.
Looking more closely at Willow, the brunette's grin turned truly evil as she spotted something. [Oh, I shouldn't,] she argued with herself. Schooling her expression to one of concern, she made her 'inspection' of the redhead more obvious before saying in a stage whisper, "Uh, hey Red? You got something on your neck, there. Junior not give you a chance at a shower or something?" She waited until Willow touched the spot and shot her a dirty look before she added, "Oh, sorry. My bad." Kennedy glared at her as well, though Faith was positive she could see a smug glimmer in the younger Slayer's eyes as well.
The brunette jerked as she felt an elbow impact with her ribs. "Hey!" She exclaimed, turning to glare at the person who hit her.
Dawn returned her glare with a look of stern disapproval. "Leave'em alone, Faith."
Faith smirked at the implied threat in the teen's voice. "Or what, Bitesize?" Her whole attitude fairly screams 'What can you do to me?'
To her surprise, Dawn smirked as well and replies, her voice so low, Faith is sure she wouldn't have caught it without Slayer hearing. "Or, I'll show everyone this." She opens the paperback book in her lap and shows the dark Slayer a picture she's using as a bookmark.
Faith feels her eyes nearly leave her head. "How did you... Where the fuck did you get that?!" She hisses, trying to keep as quiet as her embarrassed anger will let her. Dawn just smiles and closes the book on the snapshot of Faith cuddling Buffy's stuffed pig, Mr Gordo.
Faith remembers that moment, when she couldn't hear anyone else on the top floor of the Summers' home, was absolutely sure she was the only living soul in that part of the house. For just a moment, she wasn't Faith, the bad ass dark Slayer, she was a twenty year old girl who's entire body ached from being caught in an explosion. Who was surrounded by people who barely tolerated her and seemed to be just waiting for her to go nuts again, so they would have the excuse to get rid of her. A girl who's only real friend was hundreds of miles away in LA. As the wave of loneliness, pain and misery swept through her, she'd picked up the toy, looked at for a moment, then hugged it to her tightly, oddly taking comfort from the stuffed animal.
After a moment, she'd snorted in annoyance with herself and tossed the toy aside, just in case someone came to check on her. She had an image to keep, after all. She didn't need some stupid toy. She didn't really need anybody. And if she kept repeating that, maybe she'd eventually believe it herself. Now, sitting in the restaurant, she looks at Dawn and growls, "Give me that, Dawn! Right fucking now!"
Dawn smiles the smile of someone who knows they're invulnerable. They both know if Faith were to carry through on her threat and hurt the teen, the least Buffy will do is kick her ass. "Eventually, sure. For now? Nope. I promise, no one else sees it, but you quit picking on Willow and Kennedy. Deal?"
Faith growls to herself for a moment, then nods. Locking eyes with the grinning teenager, she slowly smiles a shark's smile, all teeth and menace. "Just remember, kid. Paybacks are a real bitch, so watch your ass!"
Dawn just shrugs. Short of physical violence, which she knows won't happen, there's not much the older brunette can do. It's not like she's dating anyone, or is doing anything worth blackmailing her over, so what can Faith really do?
"What are you two whispering about?" Buffy's expression is a mixture of curiosity and exasperation with Faith's teasing.
Shaking her head, Faith replied, "Nothin' really B. D was just saying that pickin' on Red there was mean." A shrug. "Gotta admit, she's kinda right. Sorry, Red, Junior." She adds, looking at the wicca and new Slayer. Seeing everyone's thunderstruck expression, Faith just gives them her smart-ass half smile and takes a sip of water.
Willow recovers from her shock first. "Uh, yeah. Don't - don't worry about it."
Giles looks at the second oldest Slayer for a moment, then carefully hides a small smile as a spark of hope courses through him. Maybe she can be redeemed, be who she was meant to be before jealousy and neglect pushed her into the arms of the enemy. Throwing off his darkening mood for mistakes past, he sighs as he stands. "May I have everyone's attention, please? Now that the preliminary banter is out of the way and most of us are here, I wanted to give everyone a chance to discuss the options and decide what they want to do from here."
Holding up a hand as several people began to speak, he continued. "Please, not yet. I want you all to think over what you wish to do while we eat our meal and we'll discuss things afterward. Is this acceptable to everyone?" The Watcher looked over the assembled young women and Andrew, seeing them nod with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Suddenly, he realized they were one person short. Deciding to wait on that, he again addressed the group. "Good, thank you. In that case, please, everyone order what you want to eat and enjoy your meal."
Sitting down again, he leans toward Buffy. "Have you seen Xander? Was he here earlier and I just didn't notice?"
Buffy shook her head, opening her mouth to speak, but Dawn beat her to it. "I stopped by his room on the way, but he said he wasn't hungry. He looked so sad, but he wouldn't let me stay." Her eyes misting, she looks down at the tabletop.
Giles nodded his head, even as he silently berated himself. He should've foreseen this, that Xander would want to be alone. Unbidden, his mind throws up the memory of his own feelings after Jenny's death. Clearing his throat, he pastes a little smile on his face. "Yes, of course. Well, perhaps we should leave him be for a day or two. At least, for the most part. One of us should probably check on him once a day or so, try to get him to eat something."
Buffy gave Willow a significant look and the redhead nodded. Silently, the two women worked out a schedule between them, then Buffy turned to her former Watcher. Before she can say anything, though, a waitress appears and begins to take dinner orders from everyone.
Several minutes later, Buffy finally gets to ask what she wanted. "Giles, you asked what everyone wanted to do, right?" The Englishman nodded as he sipped water. "Okay, but see... You didn't give any options. How can any of us decide anything without knowing what there is to decide about?"
Giles took another sip from his water glass, then set is precisely back in place, stalling a bit as he worked out what he wanted to say in his head. Buffy had been so volatile in the last few weeks, since he'd tried to have Spike eliminated(And thank God he'd failed, in hindsight!), he found himself having to think carefully about their conversations.
Taking a quick breath, he turned his complete attention to Buffy. "Well, to be honest, those options greatly depend on the person we're talking about. For instance, I would prefer that the younger Slayers, those, oh say, fifteen years and younger to contact their parents so we can make arrangements to send them home. I believe, now that the First has been defeated, they'll be safe now. However, I also believe we should maintain a contact list for them as well."
He paused for a sip of water. "As for the older girls and those of us 'older hands', as it were, there are a few more things to be discussed. For instance, there's the going home option for the other Slayers, or they can remain and assist us where ever we end up. I wasn't joking at the rim of the crater; There really is another Hellmouth in Cleveland, as well as a half dozen other, more minor ones scattered throughout the world. It's possible, with the collapse of the main one in Sunnydale, these other Hellmouths will widen and become more of a problem. Eventually, we'd have to send teams in to check on them, but there's one thing I thing we should be thinking about before anything else."
Willow gave him a look that was half smile and half grimace. "Let me guess. You want to get the Council back up and running, if someone from the old Council hasn't already got things moving without telling us."
"Yes, Willow, that's it exactly." He smiled at her, understanding the distaste in her voice. After all the things the Council had done to Buffy, to Faith, and by extension, himself, his own feelings toward the organization he obstensively belonged to were ambiguous at best. However, he'd convinced himself that all their problems in dealing with the Council of Watchers were almost entirely the fault of Quentin Travers and his cronies. With them safely dead, Giles was confident that the Council, under their stewardship, could at last be a source of aid and comfort for Slayers, not a thing to be feared or dreaded.
Buffy looked frankly dubious and Faith out and out distrustful. "I dunno, G-Man. Why would we wanna get'em goin' again? They tried to kill me a buncha times and they didn't seem real worried that they might've kill B and anyone else nearby at the same time. Why not just let'em stay down?"
"Faith, I understand your objections. I even agree that, in the past, the old Council was rarely a friend to either yourself or Buffy. Quite the opposite, in fact, on many occasions," he replied calmly, looking directly at her. "However, note that I said the 'old' Council. By that, I mean the one with Quentin Travers and his associates in charge. As Quentin is now gone, things should be much easier for us now."
Faith scrunched up her eyebrows, wrinkling her nose at the mention of once head Watcher. "So, what happened to the shifty old fuck? He finally cross the wrong guy and get booted?
At her words, Giles looks hard at Buffy, his own expression one of incredulity, with a touch of disappointment. She returns his stare with dawning consternation as she realizes just how much they apparently haven't told the next oldest Slayer. She glances at Willow, who gives her a sheepish look in return.
The Watcher just shakes his head. "I must apologize Faith. I thought you knew that one of the First's opening moves had been to kill off the leader's of the Council. Someone," he pauses for a second, "Caleb, most likely, planted a rather large bomb in the headquarters. While the Council leadership was meeting to discuss what to do about the threat of the First, those same headquarters were leveled in the explosion. For all intents and purposes, the Council of Watchers is gone."
The dark Slayer's eyes open wide as she absorbs this news. "Gone?! As in, you're the last Watcher on the whole freakin' planet?"
Giles quickly shook his head. "By no means. I personally know of a dozen or so Watchers that survived and are scattered throughout the world and have heard about many more. It's just the main compound and organization that's in a shambles and will have to be rebuilt. A daunting task, to be sure. but one that must be started very soon."
"Why?" Dawn asked, truly puzzled. "Considering how much of a pain in the ass they've always been to Buffy and Faith and all of us really, why not just let'em stay dead?"
Although it's Giles the teen is looking at, it's Willow that answers her. "Because we need them, Dawnie." At the teen's confused, faintly antagonistic look, she smiles. "If was just Buffy and Faith as the world's only Slayers, I'd probably agree with you. But my spell made every potential Slayer that was even one second into puberty a Slayer. From what I can feel, that's nearly a thousand girls throughout the world and the Watcher's Council is the best way for us to help and guide them."
Giles nodded and smiled warmly at the redhead before turning to the younger Summers. "Yes, that's it exactly. Dawn, you must remember that, while it may seem to you that the Council are the... well, the 'bad guys', due to their treatment of Buffy and myself, the truth is, Slayers need Watchers. Perhaps not after a certain period of time, but for the first few years, the training and research that a Watcher provides is invaluable in keeping a Slayer alive. Especially those Slayers like Buffy, who have no idea of their destiny and powers. Without a Watcher, they're easy prey for vampires and demons. They'll be drawn to them and not know why or how to fight them."
"Will, can you tell how many of the new Slayers are like me?" Buffy asked as memories of her early experiences filter through her head.
Willow shook her head, a regretful expression on her lovely features. "Sorry, Buff. All I can tell is that they're Slayers and a rough idea where they are." She held up a hand. " And before anyone asks, by where I mean general direction. I mean, I can tell there's a newbie somewhere between here and LA, but not whether they're in a little town outside of LA or somewhere in the city itself. Maybe the coven can narrow it down or... or I can maybe come up with a special locator spell... "
Buffy leaned across and grabbed the redhead's hand, stopping her. "I get it, Will. It's okay. We'll call the coven and you can talk to your friends, maybe come up with something. Giles, you should start to see what our Watcher situation is like. If we can, I'd rather not give a Slayer to the old 'They're just tools to fight evil' crowd, but see what we've got to work with, okay?" He nodded. "Okay, what I think we should do, for now, is stay right here for at least a week or so. That'll give us time," She boosted the volume on her words to talk over the others, giving them all a look simultaneously. "That'll give us time to really sort things out and start sending the youngest girls back home."
She shifted her attention to Faith and, to a lesser extent, Kennedy. "In the meantime, we should start organizing the girls to patrol around here. I honestly don't expect to find many vamps or demons, but it'll give them the idea of what a regular patrol is like, not just fighting for our lives with Bringers and Turok-hans. Kennedy, you, Rona and Vi have been with us the longest of all the new Slayers. Do you remember the standard patrols Spike and I took you on? Enough that the three of you could supervise a few of the new girls without Faith or me, I mean?"
The younger Slayer's face immediately broke into a bright, delighted smile. "Hell yeah, I do! When do you want us to start? Tonight?" She was practically bouncing in excitement. Willow smiled at her girl's giddiness and Dawn giggled.
Buffy ignored Faith's chuckle. "No, not tonight. Tonight we're gonna stay here and get some rest. I hear that sleep is actually supposed to last all night and I want to see if it can." She sees the look that passes between Willow and Kennedy and grins. "Well, some of us want a whole night's sleep, anyway!"
Willow blushes and Kennedy opens her mouth to reply when suddenly a flurry of arriving food stops her. Once the wait-people all leave, Buffy resumes what she was saying. "What I was thinking is, all of us would go out tomorrow night, do a look around, get the lay of the land kinda deal. Then we'll divide up into three groups and take turns each night after that until we leave town. That sound okay to you guys?" She looks from Faith to Kennedy and back. Kennedy's smile gets even bigger and Buffy can almost hear her excited thoughts about leading a patrol.
The dark Slayer shrugs and grins a little. "Five by five with me, B. Town this size, might be lotsa questions about a big group of teenage girls walking around at night, so small groups would be better. Just one thing," she adds after taking a bite of her food. "When are we headed for LA? I mean, Angel's got that big freakin' hotel we could stay at and not run up any bills, 'cept for food, of course. And LA's got lotsa vamps and demons to use to train the girls right, so why stay in this rinky-dink little town more'n a day or so?"
Buffy swallowed what she was eating, the took a sip of her tea. "There's actually a couple reasons, Faith." She cleared her throat, then continued. "First of all, we need to give the girls in the hospital time to heal and this way we don't have to come back for them or move'em before they finish healing. Robin too, for that matter, though him, we probably will have to come back for."
She pauses for a moment and thinks about Robin Woods, wishing for a second that he'd inherited some of his mother's Slayer's powers. Especially the fast healing. Shaking her head, the blonde returns her attention to Faith and their discussion. "Another reason is simply so we can all catch our breath and rest a bit. I know you've been going pretty much full tilt for over a week now, but the rest of us have been at this for months and rest is definitely of the good!"
Faith absently chews on her steak while she considers Buffy's words, discovering that the blonde kinda has a point. What with the shit that went down in LA with the Beast and Angelus, then the fight with First in SunnyD, not even counting getting blown up, the brunette concedes that a couple days of downtime could be nice. Might even give her time to really try to make up for some of her past. If the Scoobies will let her. Just as she starts to agree with Buffy, though, another thought occurs to her.
"Yeah, okay. I'll give you those two, B. Gotta admit, I wouldn't mind sleepin' for a couple days myself, this time without the explosion first!" She grins sarcastically at Buffy, who rolls her eyes, though the blonde smiles back. "On the other hand, town this size, we might scare up one or two, maybe even three vamps, but that's probably gonna be it. How're we gonna show the kids how to patrol if there's nothin' to stake?"
Buffy gives her counterpart an exaggerated nod. "I was thinking about that, but I figure only a few vamps is a good thing. I mean, yeah, vamps everywhere in the world, but other than a Hellmouth or a major city, where are they gonna have to be experienced in staking a half dozen or more vamps or demons in a single night? I was thinking that a lot of the cities and towns where they newbies are gonna be patrolling are gonna be like here; a few vamps now and then and a lot of boredom. If we show them proper search procedures now, even with only a few things to kill, then maybe they'll remember when they get home or where ever they end up and they'll do a good job and not get killed the first week."
Giles returned the gaze that Buffy had locked on him as she finished explaining her thoughts, his own expression conveying deep, considered thought. Slowly, he answered her. "Well, there is something to be said for getting the basics down first, but Faith does have a point, Buffy. Perhaps it would be better to move on the Los Angles as soon as possible. Without vampires or demons or any of the other things a Slayer, well, slays, your patrols will be little more than night time strolls."
"Okay, yeah, that's kinda true, but we can at least show'em the best way to do a sweep. I mean, with all the Bringers and Turok-hans we've all have to face and kill, I think they newbies here have a pretty good idea how to kill demon types. Most of the girls have no idea of how a regular, just looking around to see what we find patrol is supposed to go, so I thought a slow little town like this would be good for the first few. That way, we could concentrate on how to patrol without the bunches of undead things trying to kill us during class." She pauses and takes a breath, as well as a bite of her dinner. "Besides, we'll only be here for a week at the most, then we'll head for LA and have lots of evil things to kill."
All was quiet for a moment, then Faith spoke up. "Hate to say it, but B's kinda got something there, 'specially if we're only gonna stick around here for a few days." She turned a little and graced the elder Slayer with a half smile that brought out one of her dimples. "Got my vote B!"
"Gee, thanks, Faith!" Buffy replied, her tone a little sarcastic, but her smile genuinely grateful.
Giles looked around the table and realized that he was outvoted. "Very well. I suppose a few days won't hurt and it will give me a chance to talk to the girls and see which ones want to go home at the earliest possible moment. It will also give Willow a chance, perhaps, to start that little project we discussed."
Willow glanced up at the mention of her name, still smiling and blushing faintly from her and Kennedy's playful flirting while they ate. "Um, huh? Project, Giles?" She racked her brain and suddenly remembered the conversation they'd had a month or so earlier. With the Council leadership gone, Giles had asked Willow to try find their assets and accounts, knowing that if they won, the Council would have to be re-started. She'd tried to work on it earlier, but the fight with the First took precedence, so she had forgotten about it.
"Oh! That project! Yeah, okay. I can start that up again, but I'm gonna have to get a new computer and get it set-up. That'll take a day or so, assuming I can find a decent computer for sale in this town and I think this hotel has free internet access in the rooms. I can check when I go up later, though until I get the computer, it's kinda a waste of time, so..." Kennedy cut off her babble with a soft kiss.
The young brunette broke off their kiss a moment later and Willow blushed as she faced her friends again. "Umm... I'll get back on it tomorrow morning, Giles," she said quietly.
"Thank you, Willow," he replied, carefully not smiling.
After a little more teasing for the redheaded wicca, everyone concentrates on their meal, then on dessert, their conversation only light remembrances of their lives in Sunnydale. Kennedy responds with a few stories of growing up in boarding schools and what it was like living with her Watcher. Faith compares the younger Slayer's experiences with her own from her time living with her old Watcher. She carefully keeps the other memories she talks about either her early days in Sunnydale or of what happened a week before with Angelus.
As the meal winds down, a hotel worker appears at Giles' elbow and somberly hands him a message. He thanks her and glances at it, his good mood evaporating. He whispers something to the young woman and she nods and withdraws. A moment later, their waitress reappears and Giles quietly orders a bottle of wine and asks for enough glasses for everyone at the table. She glances at Dawn and Kennedy, but at a another quiet word from the Brit, she nods and leaves.
When she returns a few minutes later, everyone gets quiet when they see what she's brought, though Buffy scowls when she sees glasses set in front of her sister and Kennedy, both of whom are underage. She turns to question Giles, but Faith cuts her off.
"Whoa! G-Man's springin' for the drinks? Very cool!" The Boston Slayer smiles at the sight of the crimson liquid being poured.
Dawn's been watching the older man's face, though, and she knows something is up. Laying a hand on Faith's arm and looking at her sister significantly, she quietly tells them, "Not now, guys. Giles, what's wrong?"
Giles smiles a little at the intuitive teenager. "A moment, please, Dawn." He waits until everyone at the table has a glass of wine, then stands and raises his own goblet. "A toast, ladies. To those who gave their all, so the world would live." He raised his glass a little more, waiting until the others had repeated his words, then they all drank.
Sitting down again, Giles took another sip of his wine, ignoring for a moment the five silent requests for information. Taking a deep breath, he looked up and looked at Buffy, then Faith. "Approximately thirty minutes ago, Robin Woods died of complications from his wounds. Buffy, Faith, I'm so sorry."
Buffy feels her eyes widen a the news, then a prickling sensation as tears start to form. Closing her eyes, she looks down and to the side for a moment, regaining her composure before returning her attention to her Watcher. "Did - did he ever wake up again? Should one of us have been there?" Without any conscious thought, she reaches out and takes Faith's hand in her own, seeking to comfort her sister Slayer and to be comforted. She remembers well the discussion they had in her bedroom while Faith was recovering from Caleb's bomb.
Giles shakes her head a little. "The doctor's message says he never regained consciousness. He also says that there was nothing more anyone could've done." The Watcher lapses into silence for a moment, then, almost like he's speaking to himself, adds, "He was a good man and he'll be missed."
The others nod at his words as they remember the man they knew for such a short time. Dawn feels tears break free and begin to course down her cheeks, as does Willow. Kennedy stares at the center of the table, then raises her glass of wine. "He was a hell of a fighter." She drinks another, solo toast.
Faith distantly feels Buffy take her hand, but most of her mind is on memories of the former principal and how much he came to mean to her in such a short time. Thoughts and feelings and memories echo through her head until, with a violent shake of her head, she pushes everything away through sheer force of will. Picking up her wineglass, she drains in a single gulp, then, freeing her hand from Buffy's, she refills her glass brim-full and drains it again. She barely feels it when Buffy lightly lays a hand on her arm.
"Faith..."
The dark Slayer shrugs off the hand of her counterpart, throwing both hands off the table. "It's cool, B," she says, her 'who cares' persona slamming down. "Not like we were datin' or nothin'. Boy had guts, gotta give'im that. Went out the right way, too." She drains the last of the bottle in her glass and sucks it down as fast as the others.
"It's okay, Faith. Really. We under..." The blonde starts to say, again trying to offer sympathy, but the brunette once more rebuffs her.
"Seriously, B, I'm good. Listen, I'm a little keyed up, big fight today and all," she declares, standing and taking a step backwards. "I'm gonna take a little walk, maybe scout around a little for tomorrow night, okay? 'Sides, I read in prison that a walk after eatin' s'possed to be good for digestion or some such shit."
Giles studies her for a moment, then judiciously nods. "Very well, Faith. Please, be careful and report any supernatural activity you discover, alright?" He gives her a little smile. "If I don't see you again tonight, sleep well."
She stares at him for a long moment, trying to decide if he's playing her, finally deciding that, no, he's not. Nodding, she replies, "You got it, G-Man. Later!" She calls over her shoulder as she leaves.
Buffy watches as she jogs from the room, then turns on her Watcher. "Was that really a good idea? Letting her go out by herself, I mean?"
"She'll be back, if that's what worries you, Buffy," Giles answers, evading the question slightly.
"Not what I meant and you know it!"
The man lowers his eyes and gives a little self deprecative snort. "Yes, I know what you meant." He pauses, looking toward the door that Faith went through for a moment, then back at his original Slayer. "Faith has made enormous strides in the last few years, but, in some ways, she's still the same 'loner' we first met a long time ago. She needs to deal with this alone before she can talk to anyone."
Buffy looked at the door as well, then back at Giles, a worried expression on her pretty features. Her mood lifts somewhat, though, when Giles smiles encouragingly at her. "I do feel, however, she will eventually seek out one of us to talk about her loss. Whichever one of us she chooses must remember to be encouraging and supportive without seeming to be patronizing or trivializing her feelings. I do not want her thinking that she would be better off away from us. That could have the effect of undoing all the good Angel and her stay in prison accomplished."
Reluctantly, Buffy admits, to herself, that Giles has a point and a good one. She turns back to her dessert, but discovers that she no longer wants it. She hates it when her friends are hurting and there's nothing she can do to help. That thought brings her mind to an abrupt halt as her eyes open wide. [Faith? A 'friend'?] The thought ripples through her. [When did that happen?]
Even as she asks herself that question, the blonde realizes the answer is simple. The moment Faith had stood up to her. Not because she wanted to, but because she felt she had to so evil wouldn't win. The moment that the former rogue had put the mission first, something she'd never done before to Buffy's knowledge. The Faith of old had always done everything because she wanted to, because she wanted to have fun. That Faith would've blindly followed her back to the vineyard without any thought or plan, other than to kill the bad guys and been killed.
Now, she thought things through and made plans and Buffy suddenly realized that she trusted the younger Slayer again. That she had forgiven her. [And all it took was her throwing me out of my own house,] she thinks, her tone sarcastic, even in her own mind.
Looking at Giles, she grimaces a little. "Okay, I'll wait 'til she gets back. Do I have to like it?" She asks petulantly. Her eyes, though, sparkle with amusement.
Giles successfully fights off a smile, managing to look stern instead. "No, you do not have to like it, Buffy." Unable to maintain his severe expression, his lips curl slightly in the tiniest of smiles. "Now then. We have seventeen girls here and a night off. Shall we see what amusements there are in this little hamlet? I think they've earned at least the chance to visit the cinema, if nothing else. Unless everyone would rather stay in and rest?"
Answers began pouring in from the young people at his table, as well as the surrounding ones. Ideas of how to spend the first evening they've had where there was no one trying to kill them. The Englishman settled back and let the debate rage, smiling a little as he waiting for the decision.
* * *
After a low pass through her room for a couple basic weapons, a stake and a knife, Faith went out the front door of the hotel and started walking. Her thoughts were focused mainly on Robin Woods and wondering how he'd gotten to her so fast and so deeply. How he was one of the few men she'd ever known who treated her like she was some kind of lady and not a self propelled sex toy or low level flunky.
[Hell,] she thinks. [Only other guy I can think of treated me like I was somethin' special was Xander, and what do I do to both of'em? Toss'em aside before the sweat was even dry!] Her self recriminations continue to echo through her mind until, with a violent shake of her head, she forces herself to stop walking.
Looking around her, but not really seeing anything consciously, she sighs heavily. [Look, just accept it. I'm gonna miss him. It don't make sense, and it's not like me, but I liked him and I woulda give'im another shot, maybe even let him show me that whole surprise thing he was talking about. So much for that, but he was a good guy and I don't wanna just forget about him.]
Her thoughts are cut off by the sound of a scream that's suddenly cut short, and Faith feels herself slide into Slayer mode without any effort. Not really having paid attention to where her feet took her, the Slayer is surprised to discover she's walked from the outskirts of the small town to it's main shopping area near the center of town. Looking around, she thinks the scream came from somewhere to her left, so she runs in that direction, taking care to be as silent as possible.
As she gets closer, her Slayer hearing easily picks up the sound of a struggle coming from a darkened walkway between two buildings and she quickly crosses the last of the distance, stopping at the corner to look at what she's walking into. What she sees makes her blood boil.
A struggling, crying girl is lying on the ground with what looks like a guy about her age on top of her. The male has his mouth plastered on the girl's in what she's sure the guy thinks is a kiss, even as one of his hands struggles to get his pants down and the girl's skirt up. Another guy looks nervously around, though he's clearly just waiting his turn.
Instinctively, Faith pulls her stake with one hand and her knife with the other, but, before she starts around the corner, some part of her takes control of her fury and she puts her weapons away. Watching for another second, waiting until the sentry's eyes aren't looking at her, she darts around the corner and launches into a flying kick. Catching the look out on the point of his chin, the man's head snaps around as the force of the kick sends him flying. His body spins around almost two complete revolutions before he crashes into the side of the building a slides down, unconscious before he lands.
Landing again, Faith spins on one foot and lashes out with the other. The would-be rapist has just enough time to register that there's someone else on the scene before the point of the Slayer's boot connects with his scrotum. He turns his head to see who's attacking him, but before his eyes can focus on the raven haired woman, the pain messages from his crushed testicles arrive in his mind and he suddenly finds he's forgotten how to breathe.
Faith watches impassively as the scum she just kicked rolls into a tight ball, then off the girl. She waits for a few seconds, letting him truly savor his punishment. She enjoys the expression of agony on the young man's face for a second, then squats and punches him with just enough force to render him unconscious. Closing her eyes, the Slayer concentrates for a few seconds, fighting down the urges and voices that are demanding she rip the two men apart.
Getting control, she opens her eyes and turns to the girl, seeing that she's curled into almost as tight a ball as her attacker. Reaching out, she gently touches the girl's shoulder, causing her to scream and thrash, trying once more to escape. "Hey! Whoa! Easy now! He's gone and I won't hurt ya!" Although she knows she's not very good with this comforting thing, she tries, knowing what the girl's thinking and going through. Awkwardly, she tries to gather the girl close, muttering soothing words all the while.
Carefully, she tugs the girl's skirt back in place and rearranges her shirt, all the while making sure the girl can see what she's doing. "See? That's better. Now, you're safe and I took care of those assholes." She smiles down at a tear-streaked face. "What's your name?"
"K-Katie."
Gently brushing beige-blonde hair off the girl's face, the Slayer's smile softens a little. "Katie. Okay, Katie, I'm Faith." Making sure she was between the teen in her arms and her attackers, Faith's expressions turns the least bit serious. "Katie, do you know either one of those shitheads?" She tosses her head a little toward behind her.
Katie stiffens, whimpering a little and Faith hastens to reassure her. "Hey, hey! Don't worry. I stopped'em once, right? They couldn't take me on their best day and I won't let'em hurt you, okay?" Her eyes still wide and frightened, the teen nods meekly. "Cool. Now, do you know either of'em?"
Katie nods. "I work with them. Matt and Sean. Matt, he - he's always asking... wanting me to... He's always after me!" Her tears start again, but she continued to explain to her savior. "I keep telling him, I've got a boyfriend and, even if I didn't, I don't fool around. Not... not just, you know, with anybody. Especially not him! He's a creep. They both are."
"Yeah, I got that part." Seeing that the girl seems to be calmer, Faith helps her to sit up and moves away a little, squatting in front of her. "Where's your boytoy? Why wasn't he with you?"
Taking a deep breath, the blonde explains, "H-he left yesterday. Billy joined the army and he had to leave for basic training." She smiles faintly. "We're getting married when he gets back, before he goes to his duty station. We're moving to North Carolina."
Faith nods. "Cool. Congrats and all that shit." Glancing behind her, she asks softly, "So, what do you wanna do now?"
Sniffing deeply, Katie wipes at her eyes, seeming to be calmer, but Faith notices that she can't seem to look behind the Slayer to where her attackers are. She knows it won't take much to send the girl into hysterics again. "I - I guess call the police." She spots her bag a couple feet away and reaches over, snagging it.
Fishing through it, she comes up with a cell phone and opens it. Before she can dial, though, Faith puts her hand over it, closing it again. The young blonde looks at her confused.
Sighing, Faith says, "If you do that, cops'll arrest'em, but any lawyer they hire'll just convince people that you were all but strippin' in this alley and that you only yelled rape for attention. Most of the time, no judge or jury believes a woman about this, trust me." Seeing the girl's stricken look, she adds, "'Course, small town like this, you might luck out. Specially if they've tried this shit before. Cops usually will believe it if a buncha girls report'em. One girl is kinda a 'he said, she said' kinda thing, y'know?"
She takes her hand off the phone, her eyes never leaving the blonde's face. "Now, you still wanna call'em?"
Katie finally looks past Faith, her expression bordering on freaking out again, but she seems to visibly pull herself together after a second. Looking the Slayer in the eyes, she nods and replies, "Yes, even if they only spend one night in jail."
Faith shrugs, but grins a little. "Your call, girlfriend. Just one thing, okay? Leave me out of it. It's not that I don't wanna help ya, Katie," Faith tells her, seeing the anguished look on the teen's face, "but me and cops... We just ain't really gettin' along right now. 'Sides, I'm just kinda passin' through, y'know? Not even gonna be here a week and I just ain't real sure where I'm gonna end up, so gettin' in touch with me to come for a trial just won't be easy. Better to just skip it."
Katie sighs in defeat before nodding her understanding. "Okay, but what do I tell them? And won't they tell the police about you?"
The brunette shakes her head. "Nope. Blondie over there," she indicates the look-out, " he was lookin' the other way when I knocked his ass out and dumb-fuck was way too busy thinkin' about the nuts I kicked up under his chin. Trust me. For all they know, it was Bigfoot that nailed'em." She snorts and smiles evilly. "Hell, he probably thinks it was!" Seeing the confused look on Katie's face, Faith laughs. "Steel toed boots and a guy's balls don't mix too good," she explains, a satisfied look in her eyes.
Katie looks at the guy who was trying so hard to rape her and thinks about how Faith stopped him. A slow smile spreads across her face as she thinks about it. "Okay, I'll tell the police there was no one here when I realized they were leaving me alone. Will that work?"
"Yep, that'll work fine!" Faith confirms with a smile. Hesitating for a second, she makes a decision. "Hey, you know the Comfort Inn a couple miles that way?" She tosses her hand in the direction she came from. Katie nods. "Well, I don't know the number there, but these guys hassle you after they make bail, find some place with lotsa people and call there. Ask for either Faith Roberts' or Buffy Summers' room. B's a frienda mine and she'll help you too. You call and one or both of us'll come runnin' and explain things to dumb and dumber, 'k?"
Katie's grateful smile lights up the alley. "Thank you! I don't know how I'll ever repay you for this, but..." She trails off as a thought occurs to her and her smile dims. "Wait. You said you weren't gonna be in town long. What if they decide to wait before they try to come after me again?"
Faith shakes her head, trying to dispel the worried look on the younger girl's face. "We'll be in town about a week, but don't worry. Guys like them? They think with their dicks. If they wait more'n twelve hours to try somethin', I'll be way surprised. Just be careful, try not to go anywhere alone, that sorta thing, right? And if they don't give up, call me and I'll finish beatin' the shit outta them," she says nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders slightly.
Standing, the Slayer looks down at Katie. "Now, you go ahead and call whoever you want and I'll make sure they're gonna stay sleepin' 'til the cops get here, 'k?" She walks away before the girl can answer, checking first the would-be rapist, then his buddy. Neither shows any sign of waking up anytime soon, but Faith looks around for a moment.
A little noise of discovery has her bending over, then standing again with some wire. Working quickly, she secures both males hands behind their backs, then turns back to Katie. "Okay, kid. I guess you called the cops by now?" The blonde girl nods. "Okay, then I'm gonna motorvate. You'll be okay 'til they get here. I tied the assholes up, so they can't hurt'cha before the cops get here."
The blonde girl gives her a wistful look. "Are you sure you can't stay until my parents or someone else gets here? Please?"
"Sorry, kid. Like I said, me and cops really don't get along and they should be here any minute, right?" Faith edges toward the entrance of the alleyway. "I better go. Remember, call if they need another lesson, 'k? See ya Katie."
Faith jogs out of the alley and back up toward the hotel. She barely makes it passed the end of the the first building and into the shadow of the next before her Slayer hearing picks up the sound of a racing car engine. Ducking further into the shadows, she turns and sees a police car turning into the parking area of the shopping center and come tearing down through the lot to come to a tire screeching halt in front of where she left the traumatized girl.
She waits a little longer, until she sees another car speeding onto the scene and a middle aged couple jump out and run into the alley. A few minutes later, the couple comes out, each with an arm around the girl, and the Slayer nods, a bittersweet smile easing onto her lips. Another few minutes and the two police officers carry/escort the two men to the patrol car. The brunette takes a certain viscous delight when the cops 'accidentally' bounce both guys heads off the top of the car door frames.
She waits a little while longer, then heads back to her friends, making sure to keep to the shadows.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay, but I've been kinda laid up. Anyway, the next chapter is pretty much finished, mostly cause it was supposed to be part of this one, but the dinner went on and on, cause they wouldn't shut up! ;) Seriously, couples begin to split and rearrange next chapter and I'll post it probably tomorrow! Stay tuned :)
Oh, and I know this is a Willow/Buffy site, but I tend to give everyone a little "screen time", not just the featured person/couple. Hope that's okay with everyone. As always, please let me know if you like it and especially if you don't. Hard to fix things if I don't know what's wrong.
And sorry, Red. I *like* Kennedy, so there will be no pummeling she doesn't earn. Same for the others. And no, no Scoobies shall make time with Giles *shudder*. Contrary to popular believe, "incest" is not always best! ;)