Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 28
[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 and Lilly for the beta. There would be no writing without you guys.
Xander's forced laughter filled the room. "That Willow. She's always been such a kidder." He looked at Willow pleadingly. "You are kidding, right, Wills?"
Willow shook her head, and Buffy wanted to cry. They weren't even sure they could beat Adam — with two Slayers. How were they supposed to beat Adam and his evil brother?
"Can you tell anything about the other hybrid?" Graham asked. He moved closer to Willow, peering at the diagrams. "I didn't understand all of Ry's notes. Is this one part demon, too?"
Buffy wasn't ready for another round of "Name that Monster." "Does it really matter?" she asked. She grabbed the file and tossed it onto the counter. "Demon or not, we have to kill it. I say we stick to the plan. Me and Faith, plus our witchy handlers."
"Buffy," Giles began, and Buffy closed her eyes. She hated that sound of resigned tolerance in his voice, "we don't have a plan. We have, at best, a vague idea of what might help us defeat Adam. We have yet to consider a course of action."
"Right." A shamed blushed suffused her face. Retrieving the file folder, Buffy handed it to Graham. "Sorry, guys. We've let the Slayer out to play once too often lately. I'm all ready for some demon killing." She bounced on her toes, really wishing Faith were around. Sparring was sounding better and better.
***
Willow could tell Buffy and the Slayer were about to explode. Giving Graham and Giles a small smile and nod, she stood and stretched. "I need a break, guys. See if you can figure out what those markings mean. Buffy and I will be back in a bit." She grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her quickly out of the room.
They ran into Joyce and Anya immediately.
"Hello, girls. Planning session over?" Joyce raised an eyebrow at them over the pile of clothes and towels she was folding.
"No," Buffy answered and Willow flicked a glance at Buffy. Her girlfriend's voice had been too flat, too controlled.
Joyce's eyebrow climbed higher. "I see." She regarded them steadily. "Should I plan on another grocery and food run? More sugar and snacks for a research party?"
Willow wasn't sure how to answer. They were more than likely stuck at the safe house for a few more days. With the new information to study and Faith still not back, their options were limited. She didn't want to say that, however. Buffy nearly vibrated with tension, and Willow didn't want to push her.
"Xander and Graham are in the kitchen with Giles," Willow finally said. "There's some new information we need to consider before we go after Adam."
"Oh for God sake, Willow, spit it out." Anya set a stack of towels on the couch. "The sooner you tell us what's going on, the sooner I can take my Xander home and have orgasms." She flounced past them and into the kitchen. "I'll ask Xander myself. He can't ever keep secrets from me."
Face burning, Willow stared fixedly at the wall behind Joyce. "Um..."
"She certainly has a way of phrasing things, doesn't she?" Joyce winked when Willow looked her way. "Did you two need something?"
Buffy still stood silently at her side. Willow took a deep breath. They didn't have time for both of them to freak. She took another breath, and her mind started to sluggishly churn. Joyce needed to do a grocery run. Buffy needed something to do. It wasn't her best plan, but it was a plan. "Mrs. Summers, can you make a grocery list? Maybe Buffy and I can run to the store."
"Are you sure, Willow?" Joyce didn't look happy at the suggestion. "Adam is still out there looking for us. Shouldn't you and Buffy be in the kitchen helping find some answers?" She moved toward them. "After all this time, I know where I stand. Head Cook and Team Mom. Saving the world isn't in my job description."
"Right. My bad." Willow bit her lip and looked at Buffy. She was still tense, rocking on her heels and restlessly scanning the room.
A warm and insistent hand pressed into Willow's lower back. "Girls, maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm tired of living in the Council's vacation home. Let's get into the kitchen and find a way to get rid of Adam. As good as Mr. Giles is, he needs the two of you to help him figure this out."
***
Faith chanced a look over her shoulder as she ran. Fuck. Buffy's ex was still there. He even seemed to be closing the gap. She reached deeper, breaking the last of the bonds holding the Slayer in check. Her speed increased immediately. "Eat my dust, Big Boy," Faith muttered to herself.
Branches whipped against her arms and face. She was nearing the outskirts of town, though. Faith checked her stride. Even the clueless residents of Sunnydale would notice if she flew through town with Slayer speed engaged. Breathing heavily, Faith planned her route to the safe house. If the other Marines were still skulking through the alleys, Main Street-
Her thoughts ended abruptly as a hurtling body knocked her to the ground.
"What the fuck?" she asked. Grappling with the muscled arms trying to pin her hands to her sides, Faith managed to get her knees under her. She bucked back, slamming her head into soft tissue.
The smell of copper filled the air. Blood.
"Bitch!" Faith took grim satisfaction from the pain in the deep voice. Satisfaction didn't last. The body pressed into her back shifted and rough hands gripped her shoulders.
Faith lofted into the air before slamming into a tree. Shocked and gasping for air, she stared at Buffy's ex.
Handsome face twisted in a mocking smile, he stalked toward her. "I asked you a question." Before Faith could recover, he drove a fist into her stomach. "Who are you?"
If she'd been able to breathe, Faith might have answered him. Doubled over, retching from lack of oxygen, she simply shook her head.
The Slayer was still close to the surface. Roaring in defiance, she ignored the pain and dove at her tormentor. He wasn't quite fast enough. They crashed to the ground a second time. This time, Faith had the upper hand. Scrambling to her feet, Faith slammed a booted foot into Finn's side. A hoarse shout and the crackle of breaking bones filled the air.
Faith kicked him again, letting her Slayer senses scan her prey. Nothing. Not even a tiny blip on the Slayer radar. "Better question, asshole. What are you?"
Finn didn't answer, and Faith prepared herself for a little interrogation. She never got the chance. Multiple footsteps sounded behind her. Reinforcements.
"Next time, Big Boy, you and me are finishing this conversation." With one last farewell kick, Faith took off. To hell with the fine people of Sunnydale. They'd find a way to explain away her super speed, just like they explained away the vampire attacks and high mortality rate. Faith streaked down Main Street, intent on reaching the Scoobies.
Caution replaced her flight instinct as Faith neared the safe house. On the far side of downtown Sunnydale, Faith wound through side streets and neighborhoods, still at breakneck speed. If the troops had managed to track her progress, they were well hidden.
Jumping over backyard fences and crawling through some bushes, Faith peered into the safe house's backyard. Nothing moved. The Slayer whispered a suggestion, and Faith tilted her head back, sniffing deeply. Garbage, fuel, no gun oil. No Marines.
Faith gave a soundless sigh, relaxing a little, and walked through the gate into the yard.
***
Buffy stiffened. "Mom-"
"Mom, nothing." Joyce grabbed her by the arm, spinning her around. "Grow up, Buffy. I get this is hard. I wouldn't want your job, but it's not about you. It never has been."
The Slayer growled; she didn't like being challenged. Buffy didn't, either. "I don't see you taking on Adam," she snapped.
"No, and you won't." Joyce wasn't backing down. "I'm not the Slayer. You are. I thought you'd gotten over the 'Woe is Me' party a long time ago. There are a lot of people depending on us. On you! You may be on the front lines, but the rest of us are still here. We just do all those little things you don't like to be bothered with."
Yanking away, Buffy stalked across the room. No matter how much the Slayer howled in her head, Buffy knew her mother was right. "Sorry, Mom." The words sounded stiff; although, Buffy meant them.
"Don't be sorry, Buffy." Joyce's voice moved away. "Be in the kitchen, helping out."
The kitchen door thumped softly as it swung closed behind her.
"You OK, Buffy?" Willow asked.
Buffy spun on her heel. "Been better," she admitted with a wry smile. Walking to Willow, she took her hand, entwining their fingers. "Sorry for earlier — and for making you stand here for the Mom and Buffy Show."
"It's fine, Buffy." Buffy raised an eyebrow a la Joyce, and Willow giggled. "Well, I could do with a little less of Rambo Buffy."
"Me, too." Shrugging, Buffy pulled Willow toward the kitchen. "Remind me to ask Faith how she handles the Slayer so well. I mean, she was ready to go at me in the bar, but only after I went after her. Until then, she was just trying to talk you into getting out of the way."
She paused, one hand on the kitchen door.
"Buffy?" Willow leaned into her.
"Looks like I'll get a chance to ask sooner than I thought." Buffy looked over her shoulder, meeting Willow's eyes. "Faith's back."