Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 9
[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: Heavy spoilage for S4 after "The I in Team."
A/N: Thanks to the best beta crew: Zigpal and Zenithar. There would be no writing without you guys. For those of you keeping watch...I found myself in a familiar place when I brought Faith into this one. To avoid too many similarities, I'm going very AU from this point on.
"I'd say this qualifies for the worst timing ever award," Willow groused. She looked from Giles to Buffy. Slayer and Watcher were locked in their own worlds, silent and grim. "Buffy? Whacha thinking?"
It took a second for the blonde to respond. "Change in plan, guys. The rest of you stick with the original. I'm going to head out on patrol. Faith's back, and lucky for us she doesn't usually hide very well. I'll hit the hot spots in town; see if she's surfaced."
"Are you quite sure it's safe for that?" Giles wanted to know. "I mean, Adam is still on the loose."
"Exactly, Giles. Adam is still on the loose. So is Faith. Do we really want two homicidal maniacs running around town?" Buffy crossed her arms and rolled her neck. Things couldn't get much worse, could they?
Willow wasn't about to let her friend go alone. "No way, Buff. This is Faith we're talking about. I'll go with you. If you do find her, I can do a spell and knock her out. With Adam out there, you can't be all banged up from a Slayer War." She glared at the blonde, daring her to refuse.
Buffy rose to the occasion. Moving into the witch's personal space, she said quietly, "I'm sorry, Will. But I go alone. I don't want you hurt, and Adam may be able to track your magic. Besides, you need to do the computer work"
"No." Green eyes met and held hazel. "I can set the computer up to do the search without me. If it finds anything, Giles or Tara can take a look. As for Adam, he never felt my power like he did Tara's. I used his own energy against him." She smiled slightly. "If he was going to use a tracking spell, he could find me here, too. I'm going."
"I'm not putting you in danger," Buffy stated.
"Hello? Been a Scooby for four years, here! It isn't the first time we've faced death together, Buffy. Get over it. You can take me, or I can follow you." The earlier smile turned a little nasty. "Even your Slayer speed can't outrun a tracking spell. I can find you anywhere, anytime."
Reluctantly, the Slayer acknowledged the point. "Fine. You go." She spun, locating her mother. "You and Xan be careful. We need supplies for at least a week. Bring as many of the weapons in the chest as you can carry. There's no telling what will be useful." Getting a nod from the older Summers, Buffy motioned for Giles to move into another room.
The Watcher was obviously confused. "We've got a second problem, Giles. If Will and I find Faith, what do we do with her? I'm not going to kill her." She shuddered. "I got too close the last time. We can't turn her in to the cops. They wouldn't know what to do with a Slayer, even if they knew we existed. The Council?"
"It's unlikely they would be of any help. I'm afraid they washed their hands of the entire situation." The older man was frustrated.
"So I have to make the decision." The blonde teen watched her mentor for some clue about how to proceed. "God knows she's caused problems and done things we can't ignore, but..."
"But what, my dear?"
"What if she doesn't remember what happened? What if she's out there alone, hiding, not knowing what's going on?" Giles looked skeptical. "I know, it's a long shot, but we could use her help on this one. I don't want to just take her out without knowing which side she's on. There's got to be a way to help her with the stuff from last year."
The Briton thought about that. "I suppose there might be avenues of rehabilitation we haven't thought of."
"OK, then." The Slayer was relieved. Giles wasn't asking her to kill her sister Slayer or disable her long-term. He was willing to let her feel Faith out. "Will and I'll see what's the what and report back." Buffy walked back in to the main living area. "Ready, Will?" she called to the redhead bent over the laptop.
"Yep. The program's running a series of algorithms, trying to decrypt the Initiative's security system. If it works, I showed Tara what to do. Once we're back from patrol, I can use the hook to do more digging." She stood up and looked at her best friend. "Where are we heading first?"
"The Bronze. After eight months of basically no life, I'm betting Faith is looking for some action."
"Oooh, good idea." Willow grabbed Buffy's hand and they left the house through the back entrance.
***
They walked in silence for a few minutes, while the Slayer tried to find the words for the question on her mind. "Uh, Will? Can I ask you something?"
"Haven't you always?" the witch joked.
"Yeah. I guess." Buffy bit her lip. "I was wondering what's up with Tara? You never mentioned her or anything and now she's a part of the gang."
Willow slowed down and looked closely at the shorter girl. "I met her at the Wicca meeting. Didn't I tell you that?"
"Yeah, but have you noticed the way she looks at you?" The Slayer couldn't believe she'd just said that.
"How she..." Green eyes widened and a blush highlighted the redhead's freckles. "Well, Buffy, Tara's a lesbian. I think she might be a little interested." Despite the blush, a huge grin split her face. "She doesn't know I know about her crush."
The blonde stared at her friend in shock. "You're OK with that?"
"Sure. It's nice to be admired, and Tara's gorgeous."
"Since when have you played for the home team, Will?" Buffy really wanted to know. What about Oz and Xander?
The witch didn't answer immediately. They'd hit downtown, and Willow wisely waited to continue the discussion until they weren't surrounded by people. "Well, you remember Vamp Me, right? I've had a long time to think about her and what Angel tried to say when she was locked in the book cage." She shrugged. "Besides, does it really matter?"
Seeing the confusion and hurt clouding the freckled face, Buffy was quick to reassure. "No! No, Will. I don't care if you're into women. It's just a surprise. There was Oz and Xander, and that thing in the computer." She squeezed the other girl's hand tighter. "I don't care who you love as long as they make you happy, Will."
"Thanks." A single tear traced its way down the witch's face. "I wanted to tell you, but we haven't been spending a lot of time together. When we did, I was afraid to risk our friendship by coming out. I really like her, Buffy. She's smart, and funny, and a powerful witch. She's helped me learn so much about magic and I like the way I am when she's around. I feel powerful."
Remembering the way the blonde witch had looked at Willow, Buffy ground her teeth. Willow had been hurt too much in the past. She wasn't going to let her friend get involved with the older girl until she'd done some checking. "Good for you, Will. I mean, she seems really nice." *Nice. Wow. Let's just gush with the compliments.*
Fortunately, the redhead had focused on the club ahead missed the Slayer's lame comments. "You feel anything?"
Responding to Willow's sudden intensity, Buffy reached out with her senses. "Maybe. There's a ripple, but it's faint. Could just be a vamp on the prowl. Can you find her? Use that tracking spell?"
Dropping her head, the witch mumbled, "About that, I kinda exaggerated." At Buffy's snort, Willow protested, "I can do it. It just isn't as easy as I made it out to be."
The two girls entered the bar, giggling. The Bronze was crowded, and they moved through the throng, trying to reach the stairs to the upper level. If Buffy couldn't use her Slayer connection to the other girl, they'd have to try spotting her visually. Holding Willow's hand so they stayed together, Buffy pushed a path through the bodies. The balcony afforded them a nice vantage point, and the two leaned against the railing.
"Still nothing?" the witch inquired.
Buffy merely shook her head. "Not even a blip on the radar. Whatever I felt outside is gone. Besides, even with this crowd, I'm pretty sure we'd see her. The crowd of drooling potential fucks would give her away."
Willow giggled. "Buffy!"
"Sorry. That was a bit harsh." The Slayer scanned the bar one more time. "Well, no escaped murderers on the horizon, but we've got some action." She pointed. "Riley's here."
"Why's that a problem?"
"Well, remember the drug problem the doctor mentioned? I'm betting he's well into withdrawal now." Buffy pushed away from the railing. "Let's go. I don't want him doing anything stupid in public."
The two trotted downstairs and reversed their original path through the dancers. The Marine was at the bar, toe to toe with a couple of campus jocks. "Shit. Will, can you help me out? I need to clear the Bronze."
The redhead thought for a minute. "Yeah. Give me a couple. There's a fire alarm back by the bathrooms."
"Hey, no. I'm not having you in a jail cell."
"Dummy! I'll pull the handle with magic. I can do it from here, but I need to stop moving so I can concentrate." The witch pushed past a couple making out by a small table and dropped into an empty chair. Closing her eyes, she let go of her form, projecting an Astral Willow. The shadowy form floated through the crowd and down the dimly lit back hallway. She was dimly aware Buffy had continued toward Riley.
***
"Hey, Ry. When did you get here?" The blonde tried to be casual. Will hadn't gotten anyone out of the way, and there was a dangerous look in the young Marine's eyes.
"Buffy." His tone was short, almost angry. "What are you doing here?"
Watching him closely and silently urging Will to hurry, Buffy smiled. "You know, hanging out with Will, maybe do a little dancing. Usual weekend stuff."
A group of drunk co-eds bumped into Riley and the Slayer leapt forward just in time. Her boyfriend lunged at one of the young men, rage contorting his face. "Ry! What's the matter with you? Come on." She pulled him back around, glaring at him. "You could have really hurt someone."
"I'm sick and tired of protecting these people from the HSTs just so they can push me around." Sweat stood out on his face, and he looked pale. "Let's get out of here." He grabbed her hand and started across the floor.
It took far too much effort to halt the Marine. Buffy was stunned at his strength. "Ry. Stop! Stop!" she repeated when he kept yanking at her hand. "Fuck! If you don't stand still I'm going to knock you out and carry you out of here."
"Who put you in charge?" he roared. They were drawing a crowd. *Damn it, Will, do something soon. I don't want to put on a show for the good people of Sunnydale.*
"Ry, calm down. You don't look so good. Why-" Strobe lights came on and a fire alarm blared. *Thank God.*
The masses of people began to head for the doors. Buffy waited with Riley as the building emptied. "What's going on with you, Ry? Have you been to the Initiative lately?"
"No. Not since the mission with the Polgara the other night." He shook his head. "The Professor sent us out to find a security breach, but we lost the signal." The wild look in his eyes faded as he talked. "I need to report back to her."
"Why haven't you? I mean, it's been almost an entire day?" Buffy was freaked. That wasn't like the by-the-book young man.
"What's it to you?" He took a fast step in her direction.
"Hey, guys." Willow bounced up, grinning. "Don't think I've ever seen this place so empty. Well, there was that time..."
"Shut up!"
The redhead flinched at the parade ground bellow.
Looking ready to explode, Riley paced forward until he stood mere inches away from the witch. "Why is it you're always around? Huh? Everywhere we go, you somehow manage to already be there or you show up later. You got the hots for my girlfriend?"
"I-what? Riley?" Willow took a step back.
"Answer me, you bitch. I saw you and that blonde friend of yours at some dyke meet and greet. Did you think Buffy would ever be interested in you?" He backhanded the redhead, and she staggered into a nearby table.
The Slayer saw red. Gripping the Marine's shirt, she tossed him across the room. "I've had enough of you, Riley. Mr. I'm the Big Bad Marine. Get over yourself. You know what your precious Initiative is really doing in Sunnydale?"
Riley climbed to his feet, wincing. "We're doing important research on demons."
"Party line crap." Buffy helped Willow to her feet. "You OK?" she asked, gently touching the bruise already forming on the freckled cheek. Receiving a shaky nod, the blonde turned back to her ex-boyfriend.
"There's no research, Riley. Walsh took a page out of the Nazi handbook and tried a little experimentation. Her creation is some science fiction monster made out of computer chips, demon parts, and a human form." The Slayer waited until the young man stood in front of her to deliver final blow. "She messed up his programming, though. She's dead, Riley. Her monster killed her."
It was too much. Roaring, Riley charged the smaller blonde. Buffy merely sidestepped, sticking out a foot and sending the Marine to the ground. "While we're having such a long-overdue conversation, let's talk about Willow."
"Yeah. Let's do. When were you going to tell me I'd been replaced by a fucking lesbian?" He scrambled to his feet and dropped into a fighting stance, trying to find an opening.
"Newsflash, Riley. You got replaced all on your own. You and your military mindset need some help." He lashed out with a booted foot, and the Slayer blocked it casually. "Will's worth dozens of you, lesbian or not, lover or not."
Strung out and furious, Riley overestimated his next punch, leaving himself vulnerable. Buffy landed a hard right to his chin and he dropped like a stone.
Eyeing the unconscious Marine, Willow sidled up to Buffy. "Nice job. Umm, how do we get him out of here?"
"We don't," Buffy said shortly. "I'll call and leave a message for Graham. He'll make sure Ry's taken care of." She eyed the flushed witch, feeling her blood race from the fight. "Was Riley, right, Will? Do you have the hots for me?"