Finding Her Way Home
by rebelrsr
Chapter 25
[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.: Pretty much everything after the Gift.
A/N: Character thoughts are enclosed by **. Flashbacks are enclosed by //. Thanks to Ivy, Malea, Zenithar, and Zigpal for the beta and encouragement! I couldn't do it without you.
Archiving: By permission only.
A/N2: I'm mixing parts of S6 and S7 with very little regard to canon. For purposes of the fic, Dawn is over the age of consent *wink*.
"She's fine, Angel," Willow assured him. She smiled. Reaching along their link, she felt Buffy's returning emotional stability and a lingering headache. "She's beating her frustrations out at the moment." Meeting the worried eyes on the screen, Willow flicked a hand at the bodies crowded behind her. "We've got some new Scoobies, but I'm going to save introductions for another time. There's a new evil in town. You met it a few years ago."
"The First." At Willow's look of astonishment, the pale lips twitched into a smile. "I doubt there's a vampire or demon anywhere that didn't feel the ripple."
Grinning ruefully, Willow nodded. "OK, that saves on part of the explanation. I don't suppose you have something that tells how to kill it? Or just make it go away?" She ran a hand through her hair. "Or, even a Watcher's Codex that mentions the First and a prophecy?" She met his eyes. "The Council is dead, Angel. We have a couple of books Giles managed to smuggle back from England and a whole lot of nothing else."
More of Angel's body came into view as he leaned back in the chair, fingers steepled in front of his face. "I know the basics, Willow. The First claims to be the very first and most powerful force for Dark the world has ever known. It can imitate the form of any dead or non-living being, but it won't be solid."
"Angel?" Dawn's voice was high pitched and tight. "What did you mean, about the imitating thing?"
Frowning, Angel tried to explain to the pale teen. "The First doesn't have a form of its own. It's just massive amounts of energy."
"Sort of like me? Only not so much with the green and glowy?" Dawn interrupted.
"Exactly. The monks, though, gave you a form when they created you. The First has to just pretend. It can look like anyone, as long as that person is dead." He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "It's bad. Bad like you've never seen. It gets into your head, reads your fears and weaknesses, and then preys on them." He looked earnestly out of the computer. "I was willing to walk into the sun just to get it to stop tormenting me with visions from my past. Has it shown itself to you?"
"Not yet," Willow replied.
Biting her lip, Dawn disagreed. "Yes, it has." She flushed then paled again at the attention she got. "At least, I think it did. Last night, something happened at the house. Wind, electrical problems." She took a shuddering breath, tears spilling from her eyes. "And Mom was there. I mean, it looked like Mom, but maybe it was this First thing."
"It'll be OK, D." No one had noticed Faith's arrival, but the brunette Slayer wrapped her arms around the teen from behind, resting her cheek on Dawn's right arm. "Fang. Looking good."
Genuine warmth flickered in the vampire's eyes. "Faith. Back in the fold, it seems. Did you see Mrs. Summers last night, too?"
"'Fraid not." She pulled Dawn tighter against her, rocking slightly as the other girl started to calm down. "You got information on how to kill this thing?"
Angel shook his head. "I'll have Wes and Fred start looking. You can't kill it the normal ways because it doesn't really have a form. Stakes, knives, magic...it just goes right through. If we find anything, are you at Buffy's?"
Willow opened her mouth to answer, but grunted and grabbed her head instead.
"Sweetie?" Jennifer asked, moving forward.
"Buffy..." Willow stood, swaying, the Slayer's utter despair flooding her mind. "Something's wrong with Buffy." She pushed through the throng of people and staggered for the door. Dimly, she heard Faith ask if she needed help, but she didn't slow or answer. All her attention focused on the pain screaming through her link with Buffy. Willow pushed against the emotion, but it was so strong, it blocked her out. She couldn't reach Buffy.
Dragging open the door, she plunged inside. "Buffy?"
Heart-rending sobs answered her.
Buffy huddled against the far wall, head pressed tightly to her knees. "Goddess, Buffy!" Dodging equipment, Willow knelt next to the Slayer, pulling her into her arms. "Sweetie, come on, talk to me. I can't reach you right now. What's got you so upset? Do I need to go kill Giles? Hmmm?" Gripping Buffy's chin, Willow tried to get her to look up.
Instead, Buffy closed farther in on herself. Drawing her knees closer to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, she was the picture of abject misery.
Willow started when a hand fell to her shoulder. "Have you tried the bond?" Jennifer inquired.
"I can't get through. She's funneling a whole lot of pain and it's blocking me." Her voice broke and wavered. "I think she's on the verge of a complete breakdown, Mama."
"Link with me," Jennifer ordered.
With a quick nod, Willow opened herself, reaching for Jennifer. *Show me the bond*, her mother's voice whispered in her head. Not bothering with questions, Willow pulled them deep inside, peering at the clogged channel that stretched between her and Buffy. *Damn. I could clear it, but it might do more harm than good right now.*
*Could I do it?* Willow asked. Buffy's emotions pounded through her. Her stomach roiled and her hands shook. There was so much flooding her mind and body, Willow wasn't sure how both of them weren't just coming apart from the overload.
"No." Jennifer slowly pulled away. "We need to get her someplace quiet, let her rest. Maybe then you can work through the bond." Compassionate green eyes met Willow's dilated ones. "Trust me?"
Throat tight around unshed tears, Willow simply nodded.
With a whispered thanks, Jennifer brushed her lips over Willow's cheek and stood over Buffy. Willow watched the power ripple around her mother as she began to chant. The energy surrounded Buffy, and the Slayer's shuddering sobs slowly eased. Finally they died off, and her arms dropped away from her upraised knees.
As Buffy dropped into spelled sleep, Willow relaxed a little. The emotion pouring through their bond didn't stop, but it faded to a tolerable level. "Thanks, Mama." Willow lowered Buffy to the floor and stood up. "Let me get Mom, and-"
"Will I do, Red?" Faith walked hesitantly forward. "I ain't here to make trouble. I swear. Let me help, please." Hands stuffed in her pockets, she waited.
Willow stared hard at the younger girl. Eyes narrowed, she noted the lack of Faith's trademark smirk and the steady brown eyes regarding her. Letting out a slow breath, she nodded her acceptance of the offer. "Can you carry her? Otherwise, I'll have Mom do it."
"The tall brunette?" Faith asked
"Yeah." Willow looked away for a second, glancing back at the still-sleeping Buffy, one hand gently caressing the tangled blonde hair.
"She's trying to keep the Scoobies from flooding the place and getting info from Angel." Taking a deep breath, Faith looked directly at Willow. "Anyway, B looks like she's lost some weight, Red. No problem. Just point me in the right direction."
Despite her lingering unease at Faith's presence, Willow nodded. "Thank you. Mama, I'm going to have Faith take her to the guest house. I can shield it, and make sure she stays out for a while."
Jennifer nodded. "I'd prefer Buffy stay at the house, so Drew and I could help you monitor her, but, with all of the research and activity going on, the guest house is the better choice for now."
"Lead the way, then, Red." Faith bent, slipping one arm under Buffy's knees and the other around her back. With no apparent sign of effort, she picked up the older Slayer.
Willow moved quickly outside, skipping the path in favor of speed. "There's a cabin Buffy and I were using." She cast a worried look at her wife, compulsively monitoring her through their connection. "We'll get her settled in and you can head back to keep the gang focused."
Hurrying in Willow's wake, Faith frowned, confused by the changes in the gang she remembered. Trying to fill in the gaps, she pressed for information. "Hey, Red? What the hell's been going on up here? With you and B, I mean?"
"It's a long story." Willow bit her lip. "And, I don't really want to get into too much detail without Buffy being awake."
"Then, how about I tell you what I think is going on, and you can just nod or something if I'm on the right track." Faith shifted Buffy in her arms, redistributing her slight weight. "You and B are together, and it's done something to the Slayer part of her. That whole display with Junior earlier was big with the possessive." She flicked a glance at Willow. "How'm I doing so far?"
"When did you get all Intuitive Gal?" she asked, voice rife with disbelief. Green eyes widened. "Ooops, sorry." Blushing, Willow mumbled, "Pretty good."
"Right." Faith's dimples flashed. "In other words, I'm dead on target." She paused, letting Willow open the door to the guest house, and then following her inside. "The bed?"
"Please." Watching intently, Willow waited until Faith laid Buffy on the rumpled bed and stepped back. Quickly, Willow removed Buffy's shoes and loosened her clothes. "I'll get the rest in a minute," she commented, glaring at the brunette admiring the form in the bed.
With an unapologetic smile, Faith turned and trudged toward the door. "You got it, Red. Anything you want me to tell the gang? They're gonna have questions."
"Faith, wait." Willow's quiet command stopped Faith in her tracks.
Hunching her shoulders automatically, Faith spun to face the redhead. "Something you wanna say, Red?" she snipped out. Wary brown eyes skittered over Willow as she braced for whatever came next.
"Yeah, there is." Willow didn't give an inch. "I'm so not happy you are here." She watched Faith flinch a little at that. "You've hurt and betrayed us all too many times, and I don't trust you."
"If you're expecting me to go all Psycho Slayer, give it up." Faith swallowed hard, heart pounding. *Fuck. All this redemption and apologizing crap sucks.* Still, she had to do it. She owed the Scoobies, especially these two, as much honesty as possible. "You shouldn't trust me. I did a lot of stupid shit the last time I was in Sunnydale, and I ain't expecting a big happy Scooby reunion. I'm here for one reason. Buffy asked me to come back." Determined brown eyes met angry green ones. "Until B tells me to leave, I'm here to stay."
"Fair enough." Willow moved closer, hands clenched. "But I remember that knife you held to my throat and the times you tried to kill Buffy." She tapped her reserves, letting the power flow through her. "If I suspect — for even one minute — that your loyalties are divided, there won't even be ashes left."
Faith jerked back. The green eyes she'd been staring into were solid blue. "What the fuck? Red?"
"I'm not so ineffectual these days, Faith." A cold smile lifted her lips. "Just so we understand each other..." Without bothering to look away, Willow waved a slender hand and a grapefruit-sized fire ball appeared in the air between them.
Hands raised, Faith stepped back. "Got it, Red. I screw up again, you make me burn, no Hell involved. Nice to know where I stand." She struggled to hold back her tears. "Can I go now? Or you got some other parlour trick you wanna show me?"
Grounding the energy, Willow sighed tiredly. "No more tricks, Faith. I'm not waiting for you to fail." Seeing the blatant look of disbelief, she protested, "I'm not. But I did want to be clear on a few things." She pulled a chair away from the table, still covered in the remains of last night's dinner, and sat down. "Join me, please."
Face pale beneath her tan, Faith sidled over and dropped into a chair across from Willow.
"Things have to change, Faith," Willow started.
Impatient as always, the Slayer jumped in. "I got that, Red. Big ball of flame with my name on it."
Willow held up a hand. "Wait. That's not what I meant." She took a deep breath, looking across the room at a sleeping Buffy. "She can't take much more, Faith. I mean, look at her. She's at the breaking point, and we...I put her there."
This time, when Willow's voice trailed off, Faith stayed quiet.
"She hasn't been the same since the resurrection spell, and I wasn't there for her." Pausing again, Willow searched for the right words. "I am here now, and my primary job is to get her back to full health. I can't keep her out of this fight. She wouldn't let me, and we'll need her."
Sensing that Willow herself was very close to the edge, Faith sat forward. "What do you need me to do, Red?"