Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 17
[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: I borrow heavily from "The I in Team" for this chapter. Big alterations ahead for the remainder of S5. Eh, who am I kidding? This is really AU now.
A/N: Thanks to the best beta crew: Ivy, Malea, Zigpal , and Zenithar. There would be no writing without you guys.
Willow sniffed back fresh tears as she followed Faith through the latest cemetery. So far, they'd visited five of Sunnydale's many burial grounds. The brunette Slayer moved warily between shadowy tombstones. Faith's voice halted the slim hand creeping up to wipe at the tears on her face.
"Red, she ain't here." The husky voice breathed frustration. "You wanna know what I think?"
"No." Willow rudely answered. "I don't." Pulling her shoulders back, she clenched her hands into fists to keep them from shaking and met Faith's eyes through the gloom. "We aren't here to talk. We're here to find Buffy. End of story."
Faith opened her mouth, but then closed it with a snap. She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her jeans, slumping forward. "Whatever. Nothing pressing on my social calendar. We can hike through all the cemeteries in town, but B ain't gonna be there." She spun on her heel and trotted ahead, putting a gap between them.
"Like you have a clue what Buffy would do," Willow muttered to herself. Buffy had to be here. Or, if not here, then in one of the other vampire haunts. No matter how upset she might have gotten, Willow knew her best friend wouldn't abandon her Calling. She'd still be out here protecting Sunnydale's residents from creatures of the night.
They walked in silence for a few more minutes. Then Faith exploded. "Fuck it." She stopped abruptly and stood, hands on hips. "I'm gonna give you my opinion, Red, whether you want it or not." Seeing Willow stiffen, she hurried on. "If you want to blast me after, fine, but you're going to listen for a minute. B ain't here." Faith emphasized each word. "Look around you. Use that brain you're so proud of. There are no vamps here. Not one. Why would B be in an empty cemetery? If she's anything like me, she's out looking for something to pound on."
"Well, there you have it," Willow snarled back. "Buffy's nothing like you."
For just a moment, Faith appeared to flinch and blink rapidly. "Maybe you're right." Her voice was huskier than usual. "But that don't mean I'm wrong. Even if B's only out here to make sure Adam and his crew aren't slaughtering the residents, there's nothing to fight. I can't feel a single vamp anywhere around, Red."
Willow frowned, wanting to argue, but Faith's words made sense. Voice quiet, she asked, "If not here, then where?"
"I don't know." Faith rand her hands through her hair and turned slowly in a circle. "I don't exactly get the Scooby Newsletter. You're her best friend, Red. Where the fuck would she go?"
Biting her lip, Willow tried to think. "She's not acting like herself." She wandered forward until she stood next to Faith. "The Bronze?"
Faith started in that direction. "You think she's tipping a few back?"
"Buffy doesn't drink." Faith snorted. "Look, you asked. I answered." Willow threw her hands in the air. "Why are you even here? It's not like you're one of us. Shouldn't you be heading out of town to avoid the police or out finding your next one night stand?"
The look Faith leveled at Willow had the young witch backpedaling. "I was all set to do just that." The husky voiced hardened. "And then I came across you and B putting on a show in the Bronze, and suddenly I'm hauling B's ex halfway across town."
Wrapping her arms tightly around her chest, Willow glared unrepentantly at the Slayer. "And now?"
"Fuck. What's with you?" Faith shook her head and started to stalk off. Willow ran after her. "Are you all on drugs? Did the government put something in the water? Never thought I'd say this, Red, but I miss the shy version of you."
"What...what do you mean?" Willow dropped her arms and ran after Faith. "Hey! Still talking here." She grabbed Faith's arm.
Faith stopped, even though she could easily have pulled away. "See. That's what I mean. I take a long nap, and when I wake up, B's goes all Primal Slayer and is kissing girls, and you're the new Take Charge Willow. What the fuck happened?"
"Oh." Willow dropped her hand. "We grew up. Or," she grinned self consciously, "I did. Buffy...I don't know what going on with Buffy."
"I don't think B knows what's going on with her, either." A warm hand hesitantly landed on Willow's shoulder. "She don't remember the Bronze, does she?" There was rough sympathy in the husky voice.
Not trusting herself to speak around the lump suddenly blocking her throat, Willow shook her head.
The hand fell away, and Faith started walking. "I must be crazy." She smirked. "Hell, maybe whatever's in the water's affecting me, too. You really think B's at the Bronze?"
"Not really." Willow blushed when Faith smirked. "I mean, normally that's where she'd go if she needed to blow off a little steam. But...but this isn't really normal." She glanced at Faith. "You used to disappear all the time before —" she broke off.
"Before I went all evil?" Faith's voice seemed to echo in the night air.
They exited the cemetery, and turned toward downtown. Ignoring the reference to Faith's betrayal, Willow asked, "Where did you go, when you wanted some space?"
Faith blew out a breath. "Red, I ain't like the Scoobies. The Bronze was way tame for me. Do you think B's that far gone?"
"Don't you?" Her voice cracked, and Willow swallowed more tears. "She threw you into a wall, Faith."
"And eight months ago, she stabbed me with my own knife." Bitter anger lashed at Willow. "It may come as a shock to you, Red, but B's always been about violence. She's a Slayer. Just because you've never seen it or dealt with it doesn't mean it wasn't there."
"Fine!" Willow lost the battle with her tears. "Fine. So I don't know anything about Buffy. Got it." A shaking hand wiped at her face. "We have to find her Faith." Her voice rose. "We have to."
Responding to the brittle quality of Willow's voice, Faith jammed her fisted hands against her thighs. "Calm down, Red. Sunnydale ain't that big. There aren't that many places to hide." She dropped her head to her chest, thinking. "Man, if it were me, I'd be at Willie's. If the vamps aren't in the cemeteries, maybe they're making merry at the bar."
***
Buffy slammed the bottle onto the table. "Willie!"
"What?" The bartender popped up from behind the counter. "Come on, Slayer. I told you. There ain't no more of that in the back. Now, if you want something else, let me know. Otherwise, stop with the yelling."
"Fine," Buffy spit out. She tossed the bottle across the room and smiled when it shattered against the far wall. "Something else."
Narrowing his eyes, Willie watched Buffy, surprise and fear mingling. "You sure?" He stepped back when Buffy glared his way. "You're sure. Yep. Gimme a second, and I'll be right back with a little something special." He ducked back into the store room, mumbling under his breath.
Still pressed against the wall of the booth, Buffy wiggled her foot impatiently. How long did it take to grab a case of beer? Even buzzing from the already consumed alcohol, Buffy's senses lit up. "Well, fuck. I can't even have a drink without interruptions." Carefully, she slid out of the booth, and stood, swaying slightly. "Hey, Willie? You OK back there?"
No one answered.
"Time to get my own drink," she muttered, moving with deliberate steps toward the storeroom. Buffy had almost reached the bar when a familiar blonde head appeared in the doorway. "Spike!"
"Slayer, fancy meetin' you here." He grinned sardonically. "Couldn't find any college boys at the Bronze? Or were you hoping for someone a little more experience?" Spike smirked, sitting on a bar stool and leaning against the bar.
Buffy waved a hand, nearly overbalancing. "Nah. Just wanted a quiet place to have a beer."
"Just one?" Buffy frowned. Was he making fun of her? "Eh, who cares. I could use a stiff drink m'self." Spike peered behind the bar. "Where's Willie?"
"Don't know." Buffy managed the last few steps to the bar and sank down next to Spike. "He went to get more beer and never came back." She stared at the vampire next to her for a minute. "What're you doing here?"
The jacketed shoulders shrugged. "Needed a drink."
Buffy nodded, and they sat in silence for a minute.
"Well, this is a bleedin' waste of time," Spike bitched. "Think I'll wander into the back and find my own drink."
"Grab me a beer while you're up." Buffy laid her head on the bar, eyes drifting closed.
She missed Spike's eyes turn yellow. "Sure, Slayer. Whatever you want." A cold smile crossed his pale features.
"Thanks." A small hand flashed a thumbs up sign in acknowledgment.
Vaulting over the bar, Spike landed lightly and disappeared into the back. Buffy heard a scuffling sound and her senses tingled again. Dragging her heavy head up, she scanned the bar. Still empty.
"I think I've got something you'll like." Spike's voice drifted out.
Buffy smiled and relaxed again. "Great. Can't wait."
"Thought you'd say that." Spike reemerged, followed by six more vampires in full game face.
Pushing away from the bar, Buffy blinked, trying to bring things into focus. "Can't kill me yourself so you brought some friends?" Sweat broke out all over her body. She was drunk. Maybe too drunk to handle a fight. "I thought it was your goal in life...um, unlife to kill me yourself," she taunted, slowly backing away as the vamps fanned out around her.
Spike entered the vamp circle and smiled before letting his face shift to its demonic visage. "As much as I would enjoy killing you, I'm doing a favor for a colleague. Count yourself lucky, Slayer, he wants you alive."
"I usually do." Buffy kept her voice light and mocking. "After all, it's my sacred duty to kick your ass. What more could a girl ask for?" Never taking her eyes off Spike, she grabbed a chair from one of the tables and wrenched it apart. Brandishing her new stakes, she waited.
Holding his arms out from his body, Spike moved closer. "Redecorating? Willie will be so upset." He spun, lashing out with a booted foot.
Buffy ducked clumsily, then tried to sweep his anchor leg. She was far too slow. Spike easily leaped over the sweep, grabbing her by the throat and tossing her several feet into the air. Buffy landed against a table, shattering it before slamming into the floor. Gasping against the pain, she rolled, staggering to her feet.
Spike toyed with her. His punches were just slow enough for her to block, but the effort drained Buffy. Finally, she misjudged, and Spike's fist connected with her jaw. Chilling laughter sounded in her ears just before she blacked out.