Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 24
[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: General spoilers for S5, starting with "The I in Team." Eh, who am I kidding? This is really AU now.
A/N: Thanks to Ivy for pre-reading and Zigpal for the beta. There would be no writing without you guys. A special nod to Lilly, who recently joined the beta crew. Thanks for talking me through the plot issues.
"Is that wise, Buffy?" Giles queried.
Buffy frowned. "We need information. He has some. Isn't that a good thing?" She wandered over and sat on the floor — near Willow, just not so close to cause comment. Buffy didn't want to push their relationship into the already tense situation. Adam first.
She saw Giles shift in his chair. "We certainly can use information. However, Buffy, I am afraid it might be a trap rather than an actual meeting." He met her eyes and shrugged. "Is there a way to contact Graham and verify the request?"
"I could call Lowell House, I guess." When Giles grimaced, Buffy said defensively, "It isn't like we have a secret code or anything. There was never a problem before Walsh turned out to be some mad scientist and her experiment started killing people."
"What if you don't go to the meeting?" Buffy twisted to look at Xander after his question. He grinned a little. "We need the info, Buffy. Are you the only one who can get it?"
Without thinking, Buffy nodded. "I am the one with the neat Initiative pager."
"Jesus, B. Get over yourself," Faith mocked. "Just because you got all friendly with that uniformed boy toy doesn't mean someone else can't check out the meeting, make sure it's safe."
Buffy glowered at Faith, searching for an appropriately nasty response.
"Hey, before this gets all violent, can we maybe talk about why we think it's a trap and how to deal with it if it is?" Willow broke in. "Everyone take a deep breath and calm down. It's like you've all been drinking the Professor's potion. Less anger, more talking and logic."
Buffy slumped back. Willow was right. Scooby meetings were usually tense; they'd never been so openly hostile before. "Sorry, guys. Guess I'm still a little wound up." She scanned the room, grinning sheepishly. "I'll try to cut back on the psycho bit. I promise."
"My bad, too, B." Buffy's eyes widened. Had Faith actually apologized? "I think we're all kinda tired of the Scooby togetherness. Let's figure this out so we can all go back to our own thing."
"Good idea. Any plans on how to do that?' Willow asked.
Faith glanced at Xander. "Think so. Xan and I'll meet your connection, B. While you were having your big talk, the rest of us decided Adam doesn't know about me. Means he probably isn't on the look out. Xan's got enough military know how to pass for one of the Initiative guys. We'll take a little stroll across campus and see if this Graham has some real information."
It went against the grain to sit back and not be on the front line. Buffy tapped her fingers on the carpet, trying to find another solution. She couldn't come up with one. "Fine." It sounded grudging, so she added a small smile. "Graham saw Faith when we dropped off Riley. It should be enough. If he gives you any trouble, head back and we'll think of something else."
***
Faith wasted no time. Once Buffy was on board — even reluctantly — she sprang off the couch. "Let's go, X-man. Time for a little action."
"Now? Don't we need to make a plan? Grab some weapons?" Xander climbed off the couch, kissing a pouting Anya before following Faith out of the room.
"Plan on the way. And weapons?" She raised an eyebrow. "It's daylight. No vamps. We're going instead of Buffy because Adam probably isn't looking for us. You want to pack to visit the co-eds?"
Faith grinned when Xander held up both hands in a gesture of surrender.
Smacking him on the shoulder, she opened the kitchen door and led the way outside. "Besides, think about it. Did you want to be there when B finds out she has to get all cozy with the Slayer?"
"Good point. Very, very good point." Xander squinted in the bright sunlight. "Alright. We avoid a Buffy freak and maybe find out how to beat Adam. Both good things." He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his camouflage pants, jingling his keys. "You think this is a trap?"
"Don't know." Faith walked as fast as she dared. Leaving Xander behind wasn't an option, but the sleep hadn't helped with her excess energy. "This Graham seemed OK the other night, and he wasn't too happy with his bosses. Maybe it's exactly what B said. A chance to pass on some information."
Downtown Sunnydale looked deserted. Not even midday shoppers or business people wandered the sidewalks. Faith frowned. It wasn't normal. Only at night were the streets quiet. Despite the bright sunlight, she let her senses roam. Nothing close.
Xander noticed her preoccupation. "Something wrong?" He tensed, eyes roaming the street.
"Can't feel anything." They'd picked up the pace by unspoken agreement. "Just wasn't expecting the whole lack of people." Faith glanced at Xander. "Kinda thinking I should have let you grab the gun."
"No." Surprised by the response, Faith turned her head. He smirked. "Look, we don't want to call attention to ourselves. My outfit is bad enough. Luckily, with the Initiative running around, anybody we meet won't think too hard about it. Add a gun..."
It made sense. "Right. Guess I've got a lot to learn from the new Xander." Faith smirked. "Not much of the Zeppo left, huh?" Wanting to keep things from spiraling into a rehash of the past, she jostled his shoulder. "Looks good on you. All that confidence is sexy."
She thought she'd overplayed her hand for a minute. Xander stiffened, glaring at her. Scrambling for a way to undo her error, Faith wasn't expecting the return shove to her shoulder. "Be careful, Faith. Anya gets a little touchy when women ogle her personal sex toy."
The laughter felt good. Faith grinned at Xander. "Possessive, is she? Must mean you're worth keeping." Her dimples flashed as a blush covered Xander's face. "No worries, then. I'll just have to be on the look out for my own toy. Don't want your girl to come after me."
As they left downtown behind and entered the edge of the UC-Sunnydale campus, Faith and Xander sobered. Faith's Slayer senses screamed. "Damn. What the hell's going on here? My head's about to blow off from all the demons and shit."
"Welcome to Adam's playground." Xander swept the area alertly. "The Initiative base is under the campus. You're probably picking up the demons Buffy saw in the cells."
Faith swallowed hard. From the strength of her internal response, the demons numbered in the hundreds. Even being in City Hall with the Mayor's crew hadn't been this bad. "I can see why B's so hyped to take care of this. Adam's bad, yeah, but all those demons...Even without him in the picture, she'd have a tough time taking on numbers that big."
The sound of footsteps heading their way interrupted. Faith raised her hand, signaling Xander to stop. Muscles tensed for a fight, she waited.
Graham pounded down the sidewalk. "Change in plans," he gasped out, not slowing. "Run. "
***
"OK, gang. Someone want to fill me and Will in while we grab some breakfast?" Buffy stood up, rubbing her stomach. "I'm starving."
Joyce stood as well, moving toward the kitchen. "I can get you some eggs, toast, and bacon. If we're going to be here much longer, I'll have to do another supply run. Two Slayers and Xander mean we go through a lot of food."
Willow hesitantly joined her best friend/girlfriend in the kitchen. She'd known Joyce since the early days; suddenly, her favorite mom-type figure made her nervous. Perching on a chair, she watched Joyce quickly beat some eggs and pour them into a skillet. "Did you guys come up with anything?"
The sound of Joyce moving the slowly hardening eggs around was loud.
"Um, hello?" Willow tried to smile. "It was just a question. Feel free to jump right in with answers."
Eventually Giles spoke up. "Yes, well, Faith and Xander believe that two Slayers can defeat Adam." Willow watched as he snatched off his glasses and began cleaning them.
"That's it? That's the grand plan?" Buffy sounded incredulous. "I know the Chosen Two were a force to be reckoned with; I just don't think you realize how bad Adam kicked my ass the last time."
Giles replaced his glasses. "Indeed." He cleared his throat, fidgeting where he stood in the doorway. "There...ah, there were a few suggested alterations to your last battle plan."
"You mean the one where I tried not to become a grease spot on the floor?" Willow winced as Buffy's voice rose. The blonde's impatient comments weren't helping. Giles stared at the floor, lips pressed tightly together.
"Buffy, give him a chance to explain, OK?" Willow met hazel eyes with a muted version of Resolve Face.
Buffy resisted, and Willow turned up the volume on her resolve. Buffy crumbled. Slumping into her seat, she waved an apologetic hand at the room.
"Oh, for God's sake," Anya burst into the conversation. "Just tell her already." Giles remained silent, and Willow hid a grin as Anya threw her hands in the air. "Fine. I'll do it. Buffy," she announced, voice ringing, "you can't beat Adam. Your Slayer can."