Learning Curve
by rebelrsr
Chapter Twelve
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and lots of people in expensive suits. I'm not making any money here, just trying to create a happier Buffyverse for my favorite characters.
Spoilers, etc.: I altered the timeline of "The Yoko Factor," "Primeval," and AtS "Sanctuary" with reckless abandon. It's mostly AU from here.
A/N: Character thoughts are enclosed by **. Flashbacks are enclosed by //. Thanks to Desirata41 and Zenithar for the beta and encouragement! Thanks to Zigpal for the continuing support and suggestions. I couldn't do it without you.
Archiving: By permission only.
A/N2: (red lights flashing; klaxon sounding in background): RED ALERT! RED ALERT! All pure Wiffy 'shippers avoid the second part of this chapter!
Taking a deep breath, Willow began, "Well, I don't know if Faith is in Sunnydale right now. Tara was going to try bringing her back."
Buffy's heartfelt growl sent her scrambling for explanations. Even though she had told this story to Giles and Mrs. Summers, it hadn't gotten any easier. "Um, after the fight at the church, I headed back to the dorm to do some research for Giles. Only when I got there, Faith was waiting for me." The Slayer hadn't moved since Willow began, but the witch could feel the tension increase. As she continued, her words picked up speed and started to run together. "She didn't try to hurt me, really, but I bound her to the bed and just then Tara showed up and Faith told both of us that she was worried about you. I didn't believe her — I mean, come on, it was Faith. But Tara can read auras and she said Faith wasn't lying. So we talked for a bit and she said that you hadn't really been fighting hard at the church and she thought maybe you might be sui-suicidal."
Willow finally paused for breath. The silence in the room was suffocating. She could hear Buffy breathing rapidly and a quick glance showed the Slayer was flushed. The really scary part, though, was that the blonde hadn't yet said anything. "Buffy? I didn't believe her. I didn't." The witch was quick to reassure her friend.
"What else did she say?" Buffy's voice was cold.
"Nothing, I swear. She freaked out because she felt you coming back into the dorms, and she ran away."
More silence. Willow's first instinct was to fill the verbal void with sound, but she managed to control the impulse. Finally, the Slayer continued. "So Faith, the same Faith who tried to kill all of us at one time or another, comes to you with this story about my fragile emotional state. Why would anyone, even Faith, think I was trying to kill myself?"
"I don't think any of us really did. But, Buffy, you've been acting really depressed and telling me you didn't want to be a Slayer anymore. We both know you don't get to resign from the job. What was I supposed to think?" The redhead could see her words hit the Slayer hard. She continued in a softer tone, "Sweetie, we're all just worried about you. Things are so different this year. We're all kinda going our own ways, and Faith really scared us — and not in her usual 'I'm going to gut you with my big knife' way."
Buffy's eyes were closed. She looked tiny in the large bed, monitors looming over her. "So, even though you didn't believe I threw the fight with Adam, you still thought you had to bring back the murdering part of the Chosen Two to handle the final showdown."
"No! No! And more no!" Willow jumped out of the chair and carefully crawled onto the bed next to the blonde. "Pretty much Tara was the only one who wanted Faith here." The witch lay pressed against Buffy, gently stroking her cheek. "In fact, Tara and I - well, to be honest, I said a lot of nasty things to Tara, and she left yesterday. I haven't talked to her since. I don't even know if she still wants to help us."
"What about the rest of the gang?" Buffy asked quietly.
"Um, just a different set of stupid comments with the same result." Willow rested her head against the Slayer's shoulder. "It wasn't my finest moment." A warm hand grasped the fingers moving against the blonde's face. The witch looked up. Hazel eyes stared back, misted with tears, but steady and supportive.
"Doesn't sound like either of us was at our best." A small smile touched Buffy's lips. "Have you tried calling Tara to see if she found Faith?"
Willow was surprised by the question, but answered, "No, I thought she..." At the slightly raised eyebrow, she amended, "I needed a little time to cool off and get my head together."
"Hmmm, kinda let the red hair take over, Wills?"
The redhead laughed slightly. "Yeah. Although, it really wasn't the hair, Buffy. I knew what I was doing, and I chose the most hurtful words I could to make my points. Except for Xander, really. He's feeling left out and like he's not part of the team."
"He'll be back. The Scooby gang has survived a lot in the last four years. We just need to give him some time and then remind him how much we love him." Buffy twitched her shoulder, getting the witch to look at her. "Speaking of telling people you love them, have you told Tara yet?"
"Told Tara what, Buffy?" Willow hoped she didn't sound as nervous as she felt. The reproving look on her friend's face, though, let her know she hadn't been successful.
"It's been pretty clear she means a lot to you, Will. You can't let this argument ruin that."
The witch lay her had back on the Slayer's shoulder. "Tara's special, Buffy. I mean, I could tell that right away at the wanna-Blessed-Be meeting. And — and we've gotten really close. But it's complicated."
"Complicated 'cause she's a girl, or complicated 'cause of someone else?"
"Ah, I'm not really sure," Willow said, sounding miserable. "I don't think it's the girl-girl thing. I mean, I've had a while to get used to that. It's hard, though, because I know Tara wants more, and I've been holding back."
"Hmmm. Then maybe you're still pining for someone else." Buffy rested her cheek against the tousled red hair. "Still missing Oz?"
"Buffy, I loved Oz. What we had was great, but..." The witch hunted for words. "Our relationship was comfortable, but I don't think it would ever have lasted. Oz was too afraid of hurting me, and he was never OK with all of us knowing about his wolf. Sometimes, I feel the same way about Tara. I mean, sure, no wolf, but it's still just comfortable. There's friendship and affection." She could feel herself blush at having this conversation with the Slayer. "But no real flaming passion. Tingles, yeah, maybe even a wild spark or two, but no forest fires."
Breathing deeply, eyes getting heavy, the Slayer offered some advice. "Well, Will, listen to the voice of experience. Dating someone you know isn't the one, for whatever reason, never ends with goodness. You need to talk to her and explain what you're feeling." She yawned. "We also need to find out whether she was able to find Faith. You trusted her once, Willow. If she's right about Faith, then we need to get everyone on board. We're always strongest together." Buffy could feel the witch relax against her and realized they were both near sleep. Still, she had to add, "It doesn't mean we trust or forgive Faith, though, we just need her to deal with Adam..."
***
Tara walked into the dorm room and stopped in shock at the sight of the two women cuddling on the bed. She opened her mouth, but then closed it again when Joyce shook her head. Still rooted in place, the witch watched as the older blonde gently untangled from the sleeping Slayer and motioned for Tara to step outside. They closed the door behind them.
"Mrs. Sum-Summers, what ha-happened with Faith?"
Joyce sighed. "I came to talk to you, and ended up having a bit of a heart-to-heart with Faith." She looked around. "I don't want to be away from the hospital too long, but there are a few things I need to ask you."
Tara ducked her head, hair falling forward to hide her eyes. "Sure, Mrs. Summers."
"Originally, I came to see if you needed help finding Faith. But, now, I wonder just what it is you see in her. Willow mentioned you see auras and that you trusted Faith to do the right thing. Why?"
"I d-don't th-think I sh-should tell you th-that."
"You talked with Rupert and Willow."
Tara nodded reluctantly, still shielded by a curtain of hair. "I did, but only to t-tell them Faith wasn't lying. I w-wouldn't tell th-them anything else."
"Hmmm. So you see more than just surface emotions."
Tara's head came up in shock.
Joyce laughed quietly. "I may not always be in the thick of things, but my daughter's best friend is a witch. I've learned a lot just from eavesdropping." She sobered quickly. "I wanted to tell you I supported your plan to bring Faith back. Since she's already here, it's time to get the rest of the gang behind her."
"Do y-you th-think that's possible?" Tara cursed the returning stutter. She'd been almost free of it the past few days, but being around Buffy's mother was bringing it back.
"If it were just you and Faith, probably not." The older blonde smiled reassuringly. "I'm your secret weapon. Why don't you get some rest? I'll head back to the hospital and check on things. Can you get Faith safely to the hospital around seven this evening? That'll give me some time to get Rupert and Xander there and it will be easier for Faith to avoid being seen."
"OK." Tara was far too tired to argue, and it felt good to know someone else realized Faith wasn't beyond salvation.
Joyce touched her lightly on the shoulder before walking away. Almost swaying with exhaustion, the witch silently reopened the door and crept in. Her caution wasn't necessary. The brunette Slayer was sleeping heavily and remained unaware of the movement. Tara set her shower supplies on the floor, shucked her robe, and climbed into bed with Faith. She kept a small distance between them, not wanting to crowd the other girl. After a few changes in position, Tara drifted into sleep.
***
The blonde witch woke slowly, her senses tingling. Keeping her breathing deep, she peered through her lashes, searching for the cause. Blue eyes collided with brown. "Hey, Blondie." The Slayer's voiced rumbled over her.
"Faith," Tara groaned the name in protest. "Go back to sleep. Too early to be up."
The brunette chuckled in response. "Ain't early anymore. Nearly two in the afternoon."
Tara rolled over and glared at the laughing Slayer. "Faith," she said warningly, "remember I can tie your ass to this bed with just a few simple words."
Faith moved suddenly closer. "Well, then, Blondie, guess I'll have to find a way to keep you from saying the spell." Warm lips pressed against the witch's. At first, Faith seemed content with just the light contact. However, when the blonde didn't move away, the Slayer deepened the kiss, tongue demanding entrance.
Tara's hands caressed the Slayer's lower back before slowly sliding up to tangle in the brunette curls.
With the witch's tacit permission, any restraint Faith felt disappeared. A low groan tore from her, and she pulled back from Tara's lips in order to trail light, teasing kisses down the long, pale throat. When she reached the blonde's pulse point, the Slayer smiled against the skin and began gently sucking the flesh. Tara arched sharply against her at the feeling, hands nearly tearing at the hair in her grasp.
"Feels good, don't it, T," Faith murmured. The brunette brought her hands to Tara's shirt and slowly slid it upward, baring the witch from waist to shoulders. Reveling in the sight of milky skin topped with hardening pink nipples, Faith held herself above the heavily breathing blonde. Leaning in, she blew across the puckered flesh, causing the girl beneath her to shiver and moan. Dimples peeking out, the Slayer laved Tara's left nipple before drawing the flesh into her mouth, catching the hardened nub between her teeth.
"Faith," Tara groaned. "Faith, s-stop."
Pausing in the act of nibbling the witch's breast, Faith glanced up into hazy blue eyes.
"We ca-can't do this, sweetie."
The Slayer released the tender flesh and leaned up on an elbow. "Why the hell not, Blondie? You ain't seeing Red anymore. What's stopping us from having a little fun?"