Finding Her Way Home
by rebelrsr
Chapter 33
[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 for the preread 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*.
Absently rubbing at the ache in her chest, Faith looked at Buffy. "Look, my bad for the joke. I'll apologize to D the next time I see her." The pain eased a little at the thought, and Faith relaxed some.
"Don't worry about it." Buffy shrugged and pulled Willow from her seat. "I guess I'm wound kind of tight. Not looking forward to getting back to work, you know?"
"Yeah." Forcing a smile, Faith murmured, "It was nice getting out of prison and all, but that first vamp I saw? Scared the hell out of me." Buffy looked confused. "I hadn't Slayed in almost two years, B. I was afraid I'd forgotten how."
Buffy giggled and even Willow smiled at that. "Hello, Faith. We're Slayers. I don't think we can forget. It's part of the whole Slayer package." They wandered outside, Willow closing and magically locking the door. Buffy moved away from Willow and poked Faith in the side. "You know, you mentioned I looked better. I've seen the way I look. Things must have been scary if this is an improvement."
"Duh, B. The first time I saw you was when I had to haul your ass from the Training Barn to here. Even Angel has more color in his face than you did." Faith jumped out of the way of Buffy's retaliatory smack. "Did you happen to notice the smile on your face when you looked in the mirror today? I've never seen you look so relaxed."
"It's me." Willow skipped alongside Buffy. "I'm good for her."
Faith snorted at the cocky statement. "I'd say a little Buffy is good for you, Red. Nice modesty there, and I haven't heard you babble once. Seems the benefits go both ways."
"Hey! I've got an idea." Buffy glowered when Faith and Willow both laughed. "Not nice. You're both mean. Maybe I'll keep my great thought to myself now."
Rolling her eyes, Willow stopped their progress to hug Buffy. "I'm sorry, sweetie. We didn't mean to insult you. Right, Faith?" She arched an eyebrow at Faith.
"Right." Faith nodded rapidly, wanting to laugh at the two of them. "Sorry, B."
"Well, OK." In a complete change in mood, Buffy giggled and danced a few steps ahead before spinning to look at Willow and Faith. "I just thought, if a little Willow is good for me, maybe we should get you hooked up with Drew. I mean, she is a witch. And she even looks like Willow."
***
Buffy grew concerned when the only response to her suggestion was the sound of the breeze in the trees and the chirping of the birds. Waving her hand at both of her companions, she asked, "You both still with me?"
"Right here, Buffy." Willow's light voice was faint, and Buffy noticed she looked pale. Of course, it was nothing compared to the sallow look to Faith's skin.
"Faith?" Still no answer. Trying to keep the mood light, but wanting to make sure Faith was OK, Buffy teased, "You're speechless. Never thought I'd see the day."
Finally, Faith seemed to wake up. "Whatever, B." She cleared her throat, not looking at Buffy or Willow. Her hands jammed into her pockets, and Buffy could tell they were in fists. "Before you start planning my wedding, you should know I ain't looking for the happy ever after."
Thinking she knew the reason behind Faith's comment, Buffy rushed to reassure her sister Slayer. "Faith," she said, keeping her voice soft, "we all know you aren't the same person you were when we first met." She grinned a little. "Even I can see that. I know the Council thought we were both 'unworthy' of bonding with a witch. They were wrong."
Faith didn't take the hand Buffy held out to her. She merely stared at it; Buffy thought she looked like she might cry. Faith blinked rapidly, a flush crawling up her cheeks. "B-"
The husky voice cracked, and Buffy looked at Willow, hoping for some help. Willow, though, seemed entranced by Faith's struggle. Frowning, Buffy wondered if she'd missed something, some new fight between her wife and her sister Slayer while she'd been unconscious.
"B, you have no freaking idea how much that means. That you think I deserve something like what you have with Red." As Buffy watched, a single tear made its way down Faith's cheek. She didn't seem to notice. Voice choked, she went on, "I can't, though. Whatever happened to make the Council take me off the marriage list, they're right. At least, they are now. I don't deserve a partner." Faith held up a hand, and Buffy closed her mouth with a snap, the protest unsaid. "When this is over, I'm going back to prison."
"No way." Buffy stepped forward, gripping Faith's shoulder hard enough to bruise.
Faith wrenched away. "Yes, B. Remember what you said to me on the roof in LA? I belong in jail. I'm a killer. That didn't disappear. Just because I'm here helping you with the First doesn't change what I am or what I did." She took a couple of steps away. "Look, I'm going to hit the training place." Faith sprinted away.
"What the hell?" Buffy shook her head, confused and a little hurt at Faith's response. Then she noticed Willow's reaction. Willow stared after Faith, lips trembling. "Will, you want to tell me what's going on? What the hell am I missing?" She started to get angry, especially when no answer was forthcoming. "Will! The trust and honesty thing goes both ways, you know. I deserve an answer. What's with you and Faith?"
"I made a mistake," Willow whispered.
Buffy moved slowly in Willow's direction. Afraid to move too quickly, not wanting to startle Willow and end the conversation. "A mistake? What kind of mistake?" No way had Willow and Faith slept together — or even done anything remotely sexual. Buffy knew that information would have come through the link. Still, her head started to pound with the anguish coming through their link.
"I don't...I don't know how to explain. Look through the link, Buffy." Willow met her eyes pleadingly.
Closing her eyes, Buffy let her inner vision go to work. Following the brightly flowing energy stretching between them, Buffy shuddered at the whirling mixture of pain, embarrassment, and shame in Willow's mind. She nearly got sidetracked until an astral Willow took her hand and pulled her farther, past their bodies. It was like flying. Buffy 'saw' the ground whipping by, felt the wind on her face.
They ended their journey at the Training Barn. Is that...? Buffy asked.
Dawn, Willow confirmed. Buffy's sister was wrapped around someone, kissing them almost violently. Buffy heard/felt Willow's surprise and unease in the mental tone.
This is what you and Faith were being so weird about? Buffy didn't get the problem. Dawn was old enough to date. It was a little uncomfortable to be watching her sister, but Buffy still didn't understand Willow's and Faith's earlier reactions.
Astral Willow shook her head. Look at Dawn, Buffy. Not the surface. Scan her.
Reaching out, Buffy intuitively followed the energy patterns swirling in the air between them. With a frown, she saw the beginning construction of a conduit. A bond? Buffy asked, heart racing. Dawn's bonded? No way. Dawn was too young. And...with whom? There were only a few possibilities.
Before Buffy could sort them all out, Dawn broke off the kiss and moved away from her companion. Buffy's eyes narrowed and rage made her shake. Kennedy? She peered at the budding bond harder. No. There were no similar formations in the Potential's aura.
An explosion of raw agony staggered her. Through the waves of pain, Buffy frantically searched for the cause.
Faith. Faith stood at the door to the barn. The delicate outline of her new bond with Dawn was clearly visible. The longer Faith stood watching Dawn and Kennedy, though, that bond twisted, the bright, shining conduit darkening, becoming brittle.
Willow tensed next to her. Buffy sensed the enormous power gathering around them.
Faith stepped toward the couple, hands balled into fists.
The magical energy swirling around Buffy increased again. Drunk on the power, Buffy barely managed to ask, What are you doing?
Making sure Faith doesn't do something stupid, came the angry response. Buffy mentally nodded, realizing Willow was prepared to magically stop Faith if she went after Kennedy.
Wait, Will. Look at her. Faith wasn't ready to charge. Far from it. She swayed on her feet, face alarmingly pale. Her arms wrapped around her stomach, and she doubled over. Get us back to our bodies. Something's wrong. Hurry!
***
Faith stared at Dawn and Kennedy kissing. It was what she'd wanted. Dawn didn't need someone like her, with her past. She wouldn't have to worry about Buffy beating her to death anymore, either. Unfortunately, the happiness she should have been feeling was absent. Instead, a tearing agony raced through Faith.
Her stomach cramped. Nausea and pain mixed, and she finally went to one knee. Breathing shallowly, Faith squeezed her eyes shut.
She was so focused on the agony tearing through her, Faith didn't hear Jennifer come out of the house. She did, however, flinch when a warm hand pressed against her shoulder. "Easy, Faith. Let me help." Jennifer spoke in a soft, soothing tone.
Faith wanted to pull away. She remembered Jennifer's reaction to her revelation about prison. However, the pain was too much. Faith gave in, nodding her permission.
She dimly heard Jennifer start to chant. A cool tickle moved through her. She shuddered at the feeling, fighting nausea and a strange desire to laugh. Finally, the pain was gone. The tickle lingered for a minute, and then it, too, disappeared. Faith shoved to her feet, wavering slightly. "What the hell just happened, and what did you do to me?"
Jennifer sighed, and Faith thought she looked worried. "I put up a block in your mind. It won't last long, though. You'll have to learn to do it yourself." She grimaced. "Or deal with Dawn."