Adult-FanFiction.org : Buffy

Seasons of Faith	By : norwalker Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 4355 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Seasons of faith
Chapter 16
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
Things seemed to be coming at them from all directions.
Time seemed to rush by for our slayers, kinda like a wild brook after a heavy rainstorm. It's funny, isn't it? The time we in retrospect want to slow down, so we can savor some of the happy moments, or try to understand the why the bad things happened, at the time moves far too quickly to reflect. We live moment by moment, and so did our slayers.
Joyce Summers went in for the tests, and the CAT scan revealed a 'shadow'. What an innocent word for something so terrifying: She had a brain tumor. This had been causing the fainting spells and the headaches. She was scheduled immediately for a biopsy. Fortunately, there was a slot open in two days. Joyce was sent home with her daughters, along with prescriptions for pain. She was cautioned that she would need to check in at the hospital the night before the procedure was to take place, so that gave them a day and a half to really deal with this news. Not enough time… but then, a year and a half wouldn't have been enough.
All of the women at Revello drive were in a daze. None of them wanted to believe this was happening. This COULDN'T be happening. Joyce was the rock that Buffy, Dawn and Faith depended on. She was the one who they came to when things got too hard. When Buffy and Faith fought(which we all know happened all too often) each would come to her for comfort. When Dawn felt left out, or just felt like Buffy was picking on her, Joyce was there to soothe and dry the tears, and make her feel special. Ok , at times she just didn't get it. She'd make mistakes, lose her temper, or just shake her head at their(and her own) foolishness. But she made the house at 1630 Revello Drive a home. And that's where you go when no one else will have you.
Dawn was in denial. She was at that age where no one close to you can die. Their immortal. To have to think that her mom was sick, might die… she couldn't do it. Not deep down. She needed her mom. That stuff happens to other people, not to us. She'd never had to face the possibility of death before, not of someone close to her. She knew in her mind that her mom was sick. She went out of her way to try to make things better for her mom( ok, well, except for getting along with Buffy. Geeze, ask the impossible, why don't ya?). She bargained with God, trying to get special favors, to make her mom well. But in her heart, deep down, she didn't, couldn't accept what was happening.
Buffy knew too well that this was happening. She knew how cruel the powers-that-be could be. She'd faced death, had seen death too close up, not to understand that this so could happen. What she couldn't understand was the why. Why is my mom being punished? Why is it happening now? Why can't I fight this, fix this, make it better? This just added to the general pressure she was under. School… what a joke that was. She couldn't concentrate in class. Not now. And Glory. What was the deal with that demon? How do we fight it? Giles' research had come to a halt, and the council was moving at glacier's pace in getting any information about her. Why did she want the key so badly. The Key. Dawn. Who was she? Why did the monks send Dawn to her? How was she supposed to protect her? Even knowing what she knew, she couldn't shake the deep belief that Dawn was her sister. The monks had done their job well. In every action, in every false(?) memory she had of Dawn, it just hooked Dawn more to her heart. When she touched her, held her… it was like she was holding a part of herself.
Often at night, she found herself staring at the ceiling, wondering what she was going to do, how she was going to deal. She wanted so much to lean on someone…Faith. But there was another problem. Faith. She knew in her heart she was pushing Faith away again. She meant to do that. She'd nearly lost Faith twice now. Faith was everything to her. The idea that she might lose her again… that was something Buffy simply couldn’t take. If she let Faith in, she knew that Faith would put her own life on the line without a thought. Buffy remembered all too well how Faith had knocked her out, taking her place to protect her from the Mayor. She remembered how she felt when she realized what Faith had done, how her heart had nearly stopped when she thought Faith was dead. How she'd spent those weeks when Faith was in a coma, how much fear and remorse and pain she had thinking that she'd never see Faith awake again. Buffy couldn't deal if something happened to Faith. She'd…die. Maybe not in body, but whatever was inside her that made her Buffy, would die. She couldn't risk it. She had to protect Faith, like she had to protect Dawn, even if it hurt her. She knew she was hurting Faith. She could see it in her look, in her reactions. But she didn't know any other way to do it. It was killing her. If ever she needed Faith, she needed her now.
Faith felt helpless. Mrs. S, Joyce, had been like a second mother… no, scratch that, like a mother to her. She was her mother, as far as Faith was concerned. She'd never known anyone to treat her more fairly, more kindly, than had Joyce Summers. All the things she'd done… encouraging her when she was in despair over Buffy. Supporting her when she tried to win Buffy back. Treating her like a daughter, when she clearly didn't have to. Giving her the necklace and earrings, the ones her mother had given her….every time she thought about that, and what it meant, Faith would feel the tears coming. She'd never known anyone like Joyce… who gave unselfishly, just because she cared. Faith in her heart knew she could never come close to paying her back all she owed her, but she swore she'd do whatever she could. Seeing Joyce like this, ill, scared, but putting on a brave face for all of them, just cut her in ways she couldn't even express. At times, for no reason, Faith would just start to cry. She wondered about a God that could be so cruel to someone who was so good.
Then there was Buffy. She just sighed. 'I can't help her, 'cause she don't want my help.' That probably hurt most of all. The one you love, you cherish, doesn't want what you so want to give. She wasn't mad; getting angry wouldn't help. 'I can't make her trust me if she don't already, and if she don't trust me, she can't love me. I'm outta tears. I've spent nearly 3 years tryin' to get her to believe in me, to trust me. I'm gonna see her through this. Try to help her with her mom, and whatever this bad is. Then, I guess I gotta face what's real, and move on. Move on' She smiled to herself, not a pleasant smile. ' Easy words, easy to say. Hard to do'.
Her thoughts shifted to Dawn.' Poor kid, she's got it bad. She don't even know Mrs. S isn't her mom, and she's got this to deal with. She's too damned young to haveta deal with this. She should be worrying about boys, and clothes, and stuff… not whether her mom's gonna die. My head knows she's not real. Not really B's sister. But I can't make my heart believe that. I look at her, and I see Joyce as a kid. She looks so much like her. And when she's being all stubborn and bratty… well, I know who that is. B … pure B. And I know B don't believe it in her heart, either. She gets all whiney about havin' to watch her and take care of her and protect her, but damn, I know she loves the lil nut. You can tell when she looks at her. Dawn pisses her off, but she'd lay her life down to protect her. Hell, come to that so would I. I guess I love the lil nut, too. Great. Another hurt when I go. For the like bazillionth time, this sucks!!!!
The biopsy was performed, with a waiting room full of concerned faces. Along with Dawn, Buffy and Faith, Willow, Tara, Anya, Xander and Giles waited for the results. When Dr. Bowen showed up, he had good news. Sort of. The tumor was benign. The relief in the waiting room was palpable. But it'd grown large, and needed to be removed. Hearts sank again. Despite the doctor's reassurances, they worried. No matter how you painted it, brain surgery was risky. They knew it had to be done, but it didn't make it any easier for them to accept. They would be back here again in 48 hours, to wait and see.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
The slayers waited with Giles in the Magic Box for the other scoobies to appear.
Giles had learned some information about Glory from the Watcher's Council, but was holding his card close to the vest. Faith and Buffy were a little irritated he wouldn't let them in on it, but he insisted it would be better to wait 'til all of the scoobies had assembled.
Giles on the other hand was worried. His news about Glory wasn't good. On top of that, he felt the tension that existed between the two slayers. They weren't mad, he could sense that. But something was between them. Whatever it was, it's timing was impeccably bad. Right now, the two slayers needed to be together in all ways; what they had to face was going to be difficult, if not impossible, with them working together. In sync, using that strange bond they share. If they don't , if they're tied up in personal issues… he didn't want to think about it.
He knew they were worried about Joyce. They all were. But what was between them, nagging at them, went beyond that. It was something crucial to their relationship. His father's heart( yes, in his heart he considered both of them, and Willow, as daughters. For a man never married, he had a houseful of children) told him that they needed each other, wanted to reach out, but were afraid. Inwardly, he sighed. He knew they didn't talk about it. They went on, like nothing was wrong, all the while hurting. Someday, he wanted to just lock them in a room, and refuse to let them out until they hashed everything out, once and for all. He wondered if he'd ever live long enough to actually do that.
The bell over the door to the shop rang, and in walked the rest of the scoobies. Willow and Tara in the lead, followed closely by Xander.
"Hey, Buffy, Faith" Willow called out, leading the pack." Hi, Giles"
"G-man, what's the haps?" Xander said. " Hey guys" He directed towards Buffy and Faith." Hi, sweetie" He directed towards Anya, who smiled and blew him a little kiss. He blushed.
" If you all sit down, I have some news about Glory" Giles said, waving them to chairs around the table.
"Glory? Is that the demon you two met in the warehouse?" Willow asked Buffy and Faith.
"Yeah…that's her name. Weird for a demon, huh?" Faith replied
"We're on the Hellmouth. Life is weird, never mind demon names" Xander pipes up." How many towns you know boast one mall, one club, and twelve graveyards?" He shivers a little at the thought.
" Yes, well, about Glory" Giles says, trying to bring the discussion to the matter at hand." My sources at the Council have come up with some information about her, and what she wants."
"It would seem that Glory, or Glorificus, to be more precise, is looking for something in Sunnydale" Giles continues.
"Really?" Xander interjects." A demon, looking for something at the Hellmouth. Who woulda thought?" Giles shoots him a look, and he shuts up.
" Evidently, she's looking for the Key." At the mention of the Key, the two slayers look at Giles with worried expressions." The Key is a… well, I guess the most accurate description is pure energy, which is used to open a gateway between the dimensions. It's very old… older than man. That's why there is little mention of it. In it's pure form, it's very powerful"
" Pure form?" Willow asks, puzzled." What does that mean?"
"Has it been changed somehow?" Tara adds, quietly.
" It's believed that the monks who were guarding it, changed it's form, to conceal it" Giles adds, trying to cover his mistake.
" So, Giles. Glory is looking for the key" Buffy asks." Why does she want it?"
" Evidently, she wants to use it to get home" Giles said.
"E.T. Phone home?" Xander quips." So, why not help her find it, and get rid of her?"

" It's not that simple, Xander" Faith says. She gets a look from Buffy. " Is it, G?"
"No, actually, it's not" Now HE gets the look. The other scoobies notice the looks, and questions pop through their minds. But they are quiet." The Key, as I said, is powerful. Using it wouldn't be like opening a door between here and her dimension. It would open a door to ALL the dimensions in the universe, effectively allowing them to bleed together. Essentially, it would create chaos, and Earth would become hell."
The scoobies sit at the table stunned, the slayers the most stunned. This was so not good. Problem was, it was going to get worse.
"Well, it's easy then" Buffy says. " We find her, we slay her, game over".
"Yeah, not like we haven't done demons before, G." Faith says." Once she's dust, we party!"
" Yeah, sure." Willow adds." What kind of demon is she, Giles? I mean, we research, find her weaknesses, and poof. No more demony badness"
" I'm afraid it's not that easy" Giles says.
"Of course it is … search, fight, kill" Faith says." What's the big?"
"There's a reason we haven't been able to find much about her. There's not much written about her. She's very old… older than language, than mankind itself. And there is a reason she's affected by the Dagon Sphere, when Spike handled it without any apparent effect." Giles says. He's stalling. The next part is not going to be easy." She's very old"
" Gee, Giles, can you make that a little more vague? I almost understand that… not!" Buffy says, feeling a bit irritated.
"G… a demon's a demon" Faith says." I admit she's pretty damned strong, but we've got numbers on our side. We can open some whoop-ass on the bitch!"
"That's the problem, Faith. Glory's not a demon" Giles says.
"Well, what IS she then, G?" Faith asks, puzzled by Giles' reluctance to just spit it out.
"She's a God" Giles says, finally.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
For a moment, you could hear an ant crawl in the Magic Box.
Then pandemonium broke loose.
Everyone at the table started speaking at once " What?" "What're you talking about?" " A GOD?" " That's insane, Giles"
The slayers looked at each other, and their hearts sank. It was hard enough trying to protect Dawn, without letting her know what she is, when they thought Glory was a demon. But a God?
"From what the Council has been able to learn, Glory was a god in a Hell dimension on another plane of existence. She ruled that dimension with two other gods, a Triumvirate. Over time, her lust for torture and misery grew, as did her power. The other gods saw her change, and trembled. They feared she would eliminate them, and rule singly. They struck first, and defeated her… but only by luck."
"As punishment, she was sent to our dimension, and imprisoned in the form of a human male. She is to remain there, in this prison, until the death of the host. At that time, she'll cease to exist."
"Ummm…G? Me and B have seen Glory. I know the difference between boys and girls. She's not a boy" Faith said.
"Yeah, Giles. She wasn't much with the hairy-chestiness" Buffy added.
"Evidently the prison isn't perfect. She can at times escape her confinement, become her own form. What you saw was a glimpse of her true self." Giles said.
"Well, it's fairly clear what we gotta do then" Xander says.
"Huh?" Buffy and Faith both ask, simultaneously. They're trying to figure out how to fight a god.
"We have to find the key, and destroy it" Xander finishes.
"It's not that simple, Xander" Buffy says, her voice reflecting some anger.
"Sorry…I'm just saying, I'm sure we can find it. Once we do that" Xander starts, but Willow finishes
"I can research, find a way to destroy it" Willow says.
"That's not what B means" Faith says. She looks at Giles and Buffy. " We know where the Key is. It's safe".
" Then we gotta figure a way to destroy it" Xander says." We’re not safe as long as that thing exists."
" Tara and I can research, find some spell to try to …eliminate it" Willow volunteers.
"WE CAN'T!" Buffy yells. " We can't destroy the Key!" She gets up. She's upset, has to move. Faith tries to restrain her, settle her but Buffy shrugs her off.
Anya speaks up for the first time." Well, that’s just stupid. Of course we have to destroy the Key. We're not safe with it in existence. The world isn't safe with it in existence!"
Faith, hurt by Buffy's rebuff, turns on Anya. " Shut up, Anya, you don't know what you're talking about!"
"Faith, don't talk to Anya that way" Xander says, his voice low but threatening.
"What're you gonna do about it, Harris? Hit me? Wanna try?" Faith says, turning on Xander. " Think you can, Hammer boy?"
" QUIET!!! ALL OF YOU!!!" Giles yells, in a rare show of emotion. Everyone goes quiet, staring at him. " This is not helping!"
Willow breaks the silence. "Xander is right, Giles. We can't fight a God, can we? We have to destroy the Key. What other choice do we have?"
"Red, it’s not that simple. There's more involved to it than that" Faith says.
"Then, O Mighty one, do inform us!" Xander says, sarcastically. " What more is there to it?"
" You just hafta trust me on this, Xan-man" Faith says. She won't reveal the secret unless B says so.
"And I should trust you…why?" Xander shoots back.
"DAMMIT XANDER!!!" Buffy explodes." WE CAN'T DESTROY THE KEY. DAWN IS THE KEY!!!!!!"
All heads, except for Giles and Faith, turn to Buffy, mouths agape.
"Dawn is the key" Buffy repeats, quieter, calmer now.
Xander looks at Giles, and then at Faith. " That's not possible. I know Dawnie. She's not a Key"
Willow looks at Buffy. She sees she's not kidding " Buffy? How? I don't understand. I've known Dawn since you moved to Sunnydale".
Buffy, with help from Giles and Faith, explain to the others about that night at the warehouse, and the monk, and the spell. When it's over, they are all silent.
"No," Xander says, shaking his head, breaking the silence." I've got memories of Dawn. They're real, I know they are"
" They're not Xander. I wish they were. I've memories of Dawn since mom and dad brought her home from the hospital. But they're manufactured, they're not real." Buffy says
"Does she know?" Willow asks." What she is?" She's still uncertain, herself.
"No, she's an innocent" Buffy says." And none of you can tell her… got me?"
"Tell her what?" Dawn asks, coming towards the table. All of the scoobies jump. Damn, in the heat of the moment, they didn't hear the bell.
" Dawn!" Buffy says, surprised. Her tone is harsher than she meant." What are you doing here? How long have you been here?"
" Geeze Buffy, don't birth a cow, or anything. I just got here!" Dawn snaps back, annoyed. God, will she ever just be normal, once? " I came here after school, as you told me to, remember?"
" Were you listening in?" Buffy demands. This is so not good.
Dawn rolls her eyes. Like, anything these guys got to say is of any interest." No, Buffy, I wasn't listening in. God, would you get over yourself!"
Buffy, relieved, calms down somewhat. " I'm sorry, Dawnie. I just …well.. you know, slayer business. You're too young for it and all…."
"God, Buffy. Don't you get it? I don't care?" Dawn says, totally irritated." Anyway, you were 15 when you became a slayer…I'm almost 15 now…so please! Don’t give me that stuff!!" Dawn huffs off towards the bookshelves.
Buffy starts after her, but Faith stops her. She mouths " Let me" and follows Dawn. Buffy watches as Faith catches up to Dawn, then turns back.
"So, you guys know what to do now?" Buffy asks, covering for Dawns sake.
"Yeah, we'll get right on that!" Xander says, moving towards the front door. " Later, Buff"
" If you need anything…to talk? Just let me know." Willow says, quietly. Out loud." I'll check that lead on the ' Net, Buffy. See ya"
" Bye Buffy" Tara says. On impulse, she hugs Buffy, who's a little taken aback…but then returns the hug." It's ok, Buffy" Tara says, whispering into Buffy's ear. " Whatever, we're with you". She breaks the hug, and follows Willow out.
Faith cautiously approaches Dawn in the book stacks. " Hey, lil nut" Faith says, smiling. Dawn studiously ignores her.
" Aw, c'mon lil nut, you're not mad at me, are ya?' Faith asks.
"Go away, Faith." Dawn says, not turning around.
"Awww, my lil P-nut doesn't love me no more" Faith whines a little, pouting big time.
"I'm busy, Faith, go 'way " Dawn says.
"C'mon , lil nut. Talk to me." Faith says, placing her hand on Dawn's shoulder. Dawn shrugs her off.
"So that's the way you're gonna play it , Dawnie. Ok, gotcha. You know what that means, don't ya?" Faith says, evil grin spreading on her face.
Dawn turns, hearing the tone in Faith's voice. Her eyes are wide. She's got a baaad feeling….
Faith holds up her fingers, and wiggles them. Dawn mouths " Don't you dare" But Faith just grins.
"Time for a tickle slay, I guess" Faith grins.
"No, don't …" Dawn says, covering her tickle spots….not too well.
Faith just moves in for the tickle, catching Dawn and tickling her unmercifully. Dawn starts to giggle, and slaps away at Faiths arms and hands… but not too hard, she's really enjoying the attention.
" No…NO…Stop it!!!" Dawn is giggling, and backing away. But not too quickly." Please, please stop!"
" I don't hear what I'm wanting to hear" Faith says, continuing to tickle Dawn.
"Ok, ok, ok" Dawn says, a little breathless. " Uncle…UNCLE!!!"
" You sure?" Faith says, stopping the tickling, but keep her hands close, ready to begin again.
"Yes, yes, sure. UNCLE!" Dawn says, backing just out of reach. Her mood has brightened considerably. She just wanted a little attention, not of the Growly Big Sister kind.
" Ok, then" Faith says, smiling. She knows pretty soon she's gonna have to stop playing tickle monster with Dawn. She's getting too big for this, but for now, it worked.
" Faith? Why's she do that? Why's she gotta bite my head off for everything?" Dawn asks." I didn’t do nothing. I just came here like she told me"
" I know, Dawnie." Faith says, trying to soothe the youngest Summers' ruffled feathers." It's just she's got a whole lot on her mind right now. What with your mom, and this new Badness and all".
" I'm worried about mom, too, Faith" Dawn says." But I don't go around taking it out on you, or Buffy, do I?"
Faith looks at Dawn, and her heart goes out to her." I know, honey. Try to understand. She's got the whole world on her shoulders, and with your mom sick, and worrying about this Glory chick, she's just afraid you'll get hurt. Her temper gets short, I know, but she really loves you. She just wants you safe, is all."
" I know" Dawn concedes. " I just wish she'd stop treating me like I was a baby. I'm … grown up".
Faith smiles. "You’re getting there, lil nut, I've gotta admit. You're getting to be one hot lil chickie" Faith says. She whispers conspiratorially, " So, Dawnie, breaking all the boys hearts yet?"
"FAITH!" Dawn protests, and blushes. She loves it.
"C'mon Dawnie. Cute lil nut like you? Bet they're fallin' all over themselves over you" Faith says
"Nawww…Well…there is one guy…" Dawn blushes, and looks down.
"Really? Is he like, totally studmeister?" Faith asks. She's grinning big now. Dawn is so cute, sometimes." What's his name?"
" Oh, yeah, he's sooo cute! His name's Tom, and he's…" Dawn just gets all dreamy eyed. Then she frowns. " But he doesn't know I exist. That Melinda Peters is making time with him…. Grrr."
" Well... if he wants some hag like Melinda Peters, over the cutest girl in Sunnydale Jr. High, all I can say is …he's blind, and gets an F in Dawniosity!" Faith says. Dawn smiles.
"Faith?" Dawn asks. " Can I divorce Buffy and take you as my sister?"
"Well, I dunno, Dawnie" Faith says. " I mean, who gets custody of the stuffed animals?" Dawn giggles." Look, Dawnie. Make you a deal. If you try not to get upset with Buffy, I'll try to talk to her, to ease up a little, ok?"
" 'K " Dawn says.
"So, can we head back to another part of the store? All these books are giving me a major wig!" Faith says
Throwing her arm over the youngest Summer's shoulder, Faith leads her back towards the counter. As they approach, Dawn notes that Giles is writing into a notebook. Looking up, he sees her. He slides the book under the counter, into a secret drawer. Dawn thinks to herself " Hmmm… secrets. Cool. Might have to check that out sometime". She stores that little bit of information into the back of her mind for later review.
A contrite looking Buffy walks over to Dawn. " You ok, Dawn?" Buffy asks, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm ok… no thanks to you!" Dawn shoots back, instinctively. Then she thinks. " Yeah, I'm ok, Buffy"
" Look, Dawn. I'm sorry, I just worry about you." Buffy says.
" Yeah, I know. I'm sorry too" Dawn says. She almost chokes over that last part, but remembers what Faith asked of her. She just hopes Faith can get Buffy to ease up a little.
" Wanna go home now?" Buffy asks Dawn. " See how mom doin?" Buffy asks.
"Yeah, sure" Dawn responds. She calls back to Faith. " You comin?"
" In a while, Dawnie. Got some stuff to do" Faith calls back. The two sisters leave the store.
Faith needs a little think time, and prefers to do that alone.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
The next 36 hours are trying for everyone at the Revello Drive home.
Joyce's tumor is starting to give her 'episodes'. It was something the doctor's warned Buffy about. The pressure of the tumor was affecting other region's of Joyce's brain. She started saying some really Un- Joyce like things. Thing is, a few seconds after she said them, she forgot she'd said them. It was unnerving, to say the least. One time, she told Buffy she should stop eating like a pig, she was getting grossly fat. Another time, she looked at Faith in fear, and swore at Faith, saying she was here to kill Joyce. Buffy and Faith were able to shrug these things off. They knew it was the tumor talking, not Joyce. Dawn, however, wasn't so resilient. Joyce said the one thing that played into her secret fear. Joyce looked at Dawn with an odd expression, and then said " Who ARE you? You're not my daughter! You're not real! Get out of here!" Dawn, her face stricken, ran out of the room. In a second, Joyce had recovered and called after her, but it was too late. Buffy, also in the room, excused herself and followed Dawn.
She found Dawn sitting on her bed, picking at the bedspread. She walked into the room, and sat beside her, and ran her hand through her hair.
" She hates me!" Dawn complained.
"No, she doesn't Dawn. That's not her. That's the tumor talking" Buffy reassured her.
"Buffy?" Dawn looks up, her expression hurt and puzzled. " I don't understand. It's not just mom. I mean… the people…the crazy ones? They all say that to me. That I'm not real, I don't belong here."
"Dawn? I'm no expert, but I think when you're…well… disturbed, like these people are, they can't tell what's real. They only think themselves as being real. So, you can't believe what they're saying, Dawn. They don't know what is or isn't real, ok?" Buffy looks at Dawn, hoping she'll buy that. Fortunately, she seems to. She hugs her younger sister. "Believe me, Dawn, when I say you're real. You belong here as much as I do."
Dawn hugs Buffy back, but looking in the Slayer's eyes, you can see the fear and confusion she's feeling.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
The morning of Joyce's operation her three daughters are with her in her room.
After hugging Dawn again, and saying some reassuring words to her that she'll come through this fine, she asks her to wait out in the waiting room. She needs some time alone with Buffy and Faith. Dawn, reluctant to leave her mom, gives her another hug, then turns to go, but not before giving the older girls a look saying " What so special about you two?" . She leaves the room.
Joyce waits for a minute or so, until she sure Dawn is out of earshot. Then, she waves the two girls over. Her face has a puzzled expression on it.
"Faith, Buffy? I have to know something" Joyce starts. They look at her, wondering where this is going. " The night before last, during the time when I was acting so crazy… I… well, I looked at Dawn. And I had a…clearing, I guess you'd say. I don't know…it's strange, but…if you know something about Dawn…" Joyce is finding this extremely difficult to say. She finally just cuts to the chase. " She's not mine, is she? I mean, Dawn's not my daughter. God, that sounds so crazy".
The slayers look at each other. They don't know what to say. They turn back to Joyce, who is waiting for an answer. They read her face, and realize she really has seen the truth. Buffy speaks up.
"No, mom… Dawn isn't" She says, feeling weird.
" I know that somehow…don't ask me how" Joyce said. The revelation obviously bothers her, but she also knows it's true." But she's something special, isn't she?" Buffy and Faith both nod. " Something important?" Again, they nod." Ok, I have to ask you both something. If something should happen to me…" Joyce starts, but neither girl lets her finish.
"Mom, no, you're going to be fine" Buffy says, with conviction. She just wished she felt it.
"Mrs. S, You're gonna come through this ok, believe me." Faith adds, but is scared.
" If something happens to me" Joyce continues, insistent. " You've got to promise me, both of you, you'll look after Dawn. Make sure she's taken care of, ok? It's important!"
They promised her, though they both protested that it was unnecessary. She smiles, and then hugs Buffy.
"My sweet Buffy. It's been so hard on you, I know. I love you so much" Joyce said. Buffy is near tears, but holds them back, not wanting to start crying. Not sure she'll be able to stop. Joyce, ever the mom, soothes her daughter, rubbing her back to comfort her.
"Buffy, honey? Can you give me one minute alone with Faith?" Joyce asks, after the hug ends.
" Sure, mom" Buffy says, looking at Faith quizzically. But Faith doesn't have a clue, and shrugs." I'll be right outside".
Joyce watches as Buffy leaves the room, shutting the door behind her. She waves Faith closer. She smiles at Faith.
" Faith, my poor Faith" Joyce says, stroking Faith's face." You've been having a tough go of it, I know."
"Everything's cool, Mrs. S" Faith lies convincingly. "Honest". She smiles at Joyce.
"Ah, Faith. I know my daughters pretty well, even if they don't think I do" Joyce says. " All my daughters" Joyce smiles at Faith, who almost breaks down crying right there." I know when you're hurting here" She says, pointing at Faith's heart." Faith smiles crookedly at Joyce. She forgot how perceptive she is." Believe me honey when I tell you, Buffy loves you. My blonde daughter sometimes can be silly and stupid, especially when it comes to you. But, she really loves you deep inside. I know that for a fact." Faith just looks at Joyce. She fears maybe this time she's got it wrong, but doesn't say anything.
" Faith, I need you to promise me something" Joyce says, continuing.
"Anything, Mrs. S." Faith says.
" No matter what happens, please, stick by Buffy. She really needs you now. This is very hard on her, though she won't admit it. Please, promise me you'll stick with her, ok?" Joyce says. Her face tells Faith she needs to know Buffy will be taken care of, in case.
Faith looks at Joyce. The last thing she wants to do is lie to her. She's not sure how she and Buffy are going to turn out. But she sees that Joyce needs this reassurance. Drawing in a breath, hoping her soul isn't damned forever for lying to this woman, she promises. Joyce smiles and says simply " Thank you, Faith".
At that moment, the door opens, and two orderlies come in with a gurney. Buffy is behind them. They transfer Joyce to the gurney, and wheel her towards the operating room, Faith and Buffy flanking the cart up to the OR doors. They watch as they wheel her in. She is still smiling at them when the doors swing shut behind her.
They both hope that's not the last time she smiles at them. They go to waiting room to join the others.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
4 hours later, they're still waiting.
The scoobies have the waiting room pretty much to themselves. Dawn is flanked by Buffy and Faith, each holding one of her hands. Xander and Anya sit on the other side of the couch, and Willow and Tara are between. Their faces are a study in worry. Giles is standing off to the side, keeping watch.
"What time is it?" Willow asks.
"About 5 minutes since the last time you asked, Will" Xander says, looking again at his watch.
They fall into silence.
"What's taking so long?" Dawn asks, clearly upset. Tara notices this, and gets up, kneeling in front of her.
"M-Maybe, Dawnie, it’s a good thing" Tara says, trying to reassure Dawn.
" You think?" Dawn asks, doubtful.
"Y-Yes, I do. I'd be more worried if they came out quickly…like there was nothing they could do" Tara replies.
Dawn seems to accept that answer, and Tara returns to Willow, sitting down and taking her hand.
They wait some more.
Finally, Dr. Bowen, flanked by Ben, comes down the hall. They are talking together. Buffy and Faith are on their feet, walking towards them. Dr. Bowen looks up, his face neutral
" Ms. Summers" Dr. Bowen begins." We were able to visualize the entire tumor." Buffy looks confused. " We were able to get all of it" He continues, clarifying it for her." Barring post-op complications, I think I can say she's got an excellent chance at a full recovery".
The relief in the room is obvious. A collective sigh is heard, and then everyone begins hugging each other… well, except for Xander and Giles, who are too manly for that, and shake hands, instead. Most telling, perhaps, is the hug that Buffy and Faith share. For the first time in awhile, they're so relieved, so full of emotion, the caution they've been treating with each other is forgotten. They pull each other in, and share a warmth and affection missed by both. They kiss, a brief but definitely passionate kiss. For a little while, at least, they put aside their doubts, and just hold each other.
They don't know how much they'll need this moment to hang onto in the days to come
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
- 15
- 16
- 17
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Seasons of Faith