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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
- 20
- 21
- 22
Seasons of faith
Chapter 21
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~

Buffy , as quietly as possible, disentangled herself from Faith's arms and got out of bed.

She needed to think. Thinking was impossible wrapped in Faith's arms. Feeling Faith's body next to hers. Hearing Faith's soft breathing, and feeling her heart beating so close to hers. She couldn't think like that. She didn't want to think like that.
She gathered up her clothes, and held them bundled against her. She looked at the bed, and her heart went all pitter patter in her chest. Watching Faith as she slept, was something Buffy loved to do. 'She looks so sweet when she was sleeping… so young, so innocent (yeah, that's so Faith, innocent). Her face is so… and her lips… just so… God, I gotta get outta here before I go and ravish her again (that would be bad?… no… but surely wouldn't get thinking done, would I?).' Buffy whined a little. Buffy want Faith. Buffy DON'T want to think. Buffy want to… she sighed. 'Don't matter what you want, Buffy'. Buffy reached out and brushed back some hair that had fallen into Faith's face. Faith stirred a little, snuggling down into the bed a bit more
"hmmm?" Faith said, half asleep. One eye opened." Where you goin, babe?"
"Gotta pee" Buffy said, fibbing." The bladder's about to burst"
" 'K. Hurry back. Getting cold without you here to warm me" Faith mumbled, voice thick with sleep. Her eye closed.
"'K, honey. Be right back" Buffy said" Go back to sleep"
" 'K" Faith said, drifting off.
Buffy wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed, back into Faith's arms, and just drift off with her. But all sorts of stuff were weighing on her mind, and she had to sort it out.
She quietly left the bedroom, and headed to the bathroom to dress. She quietly as possible slipped down stairs, grabbed her coat, and stole out the front door.
The night was tranquil, the cool air felt good against her face. Her feet padded against the sidewalk as she wandered in no particular direction, her mind trying to gather in all the thoughts whirling about. Guilt, fear and confusion were fighting inside her head for attention.
She was feeling an enormous amount of guilt concerning Faith. She knows she hurt her bad with that kiss in the cemetery with Angel. 'Why did I do that? Why? I still can't get it straight in my own mind. How can I explain it to Faith? I told her I needed the touch, to feel connection, but that really wasn't it. I don't know why I did it. It's like my mind checked out. And Angel. God, what must he be thinking? I used him, dammit. He was there, and I was hurting, and I … god, I'm such a fucking bitch. Why can't I just let him go? WHY? What's my problem? I got someone who loves me, loves ME. She makes me feel warm and special and wanted. Needed. And do I make her feel that way? No. Why not, Buffy? You do need her. You know you need her. Need her so badly, it aches to think of life without her. But you better start thinking that way if you don't stop fucking with her. Cuz, baby, that's what you're doing'.
It hits her like hammer blows.' Think, Buffy. All this time, what's she asked of you? What did she want of you? Nothing, Buffy. Nothing but to be let in. She could be with anyone, Buffy. She's beautiful, she's smart, she's … everything you could possibly want. She wants to be yours, Buffy. She wants to be yours! But if you don't let her in, if you don't drop the walls, how can she? What're you doing, Buffy? You're throwing away the best thing that ever happened to you. The best thing that'll ever happen to you. Let her IN, Buffy, before it's too late!'
' But, what if I do? What if I let her in, and she leaves me! She's done it before. She left me! Without a word, just drove off on her bike, letting me stand there like a fool on my mom's porch. She broke my heart! So, how do I just let her in to do it again?' Buffy's pace increases, like she's running… running from a truth.' I can't. She'll leave me if I let her in. I know it.'
' That's a load, Buffy, and you know it. She left you because YOU wouldn't let her in. Because YOU weren't over Angel. What the hell was she supposed to do? Wait around 'til you dumped her?'
' That's not fair! That's so not fair. Ok, I did have issues about Angel. I admit that! But we woulda worked them out. We woulda. But she didn't even give me a chance to work it out. She just left!'
'Bullshit. You didn't even tell her about the letters. About all of it. You expected her to just be clueless, like you're clueless, Buffy. But unlike you, Buffy, she doesn't go around in her own little world. She sees things. She saw what was what. She left you, but YOU LEFT HER FIRST!!!!!'
'Not true! I wanted to talk about it, work it out. She decided to just leave!'
' And she came back for you. Put herself on the line for you. Risked it all, for YOU! She knew what she wanted, and she fought for it. You, on the other hand, couldn't decide. You put her through hell, Buffy. And, when Angel left you, who was there to pick up the pieces? Who comforted you, made you feel like going on?'
'She did' (small voice)
'Who risked her life to protect you, because she couldn't stand the thought of you getting hurt?'
'She did'(small voice)
'Who's loved you without reservation, like no one else?'
' She did'( small, mournful voice).
Buffy is running now. She's not even aware. But she's running. She knows something's coming, that she has to face something she's not faced.
'All she wants is to be part of your life, Buffy. All she wants is to be needed. You need her, you know you do. But you don't let her get too close. You push her away. Why, Buffy? Why do you do that?'
'I don't . I don't .' (but she knows that's a lie)
' You can't lie to me Buffy. You can't lie to yourself! You know you're pushing her away. WHY?'
' I don't know! I DON'T KNOW!!' She starts to run faster.
'Yes you do' Her inner voice insists, but calmly.' You do know'
' LEAVE ME ALONE!'
'Hiding time's over, Buffy. Time to face the truth'.
Buffy stops running. Dead stop. She bends over, panting a little, her face red. But not from exertion. From anger, guilt and shame.
' Fine. THE TRUTH? The truth is, if I let her in, if I let her close, she's gonna know. She's gonna know! Like Angel knew.'
'Know what, Buffy?'
' Know… I'm… nothing. I'm useless. Nothing but an ex-valley mall rat. A Cheerleader that happened to get whacked with the slayer stick. But inside? I'm nothing. Not worthy. Of Angel, of her , of nobody!'
Her inner voice is quiet.
' How could she love me? Knowing what I really am? Angel gave me the truth. Not when he was all souled up, but when he lost his soul. When there was no kindness in him to hide it. He let me know that I was nothing, I should get over myself. It was harsh, it was bitter to take, but it was the truth. What would I be without my powers? Nothing! A waste of space, sucking oxygen that someone more worthy should have. Who the hell IS Buffy Summers? What's she ever done that's important. Not the slayer. Buffy. What's Buffy done? Nothing. Willow, she's smart. She's gonna do so many things, my head reels thinking about it. Faith? God, look where she came from, what she had to put up with. Even with a learning disability, she's making something of herself. Even Xander is starting to get his act together. Building up a business. But me? What am I doing? Still acting like I'm 16 years old, no plans, no future, nothing. I use the slayer as a crutch. How can I plan anything when I might be dead tomorrow? What a crock! I don't plan for the future, cuz I aint got a clue. I'm pointless, worthless, nothing but a sponge.'
' How could she love that? How could anybody? And now I got this fucking Hell god to face, and I don't know what to do about that, either. Everybody looks at me for the answer, and I don't know. I don't KNOW! How'm I gonna protect my friends, and Dawn, and Faith, when I can't even figure out what to do next? I'm so fucking scared, I'm pissing myself. All I want to do is run away, hide 'til it's over. Some hero I turned out to be. Faith's the one with the guts. She's the strong one, like mom. Mom was strong too, she always knew what to do. Me? When the going gets tough, I run like hell. Real easy to be brave when the odds are in your favor. Let's face it, I'm nothing but a coward. I'm useless, stupid and a coward. Oh, yeah, that's so attractive. She should be fallin' at my feet.'
'What did the first slayer say? In my 'vision'? Oh, yeah. Death is my gift. Great, I can kill things. Death is my gift. Well, great. Why don't I die and give everyone a gift, then?'
'Are you done?' Her inner voice asks, impatiently.
'Yeah, sure. Why? I'm boring you, too?'
'Pity me parties never are much fun, ya know'
'What? You asked for the truth, you got it. What do you want?' ( Buffy is feeling kinda foolish yelling at herself, but hey).
' I want you to face the truth, Buffy.'
' Oh great brain O mine, what is that then?'
' The truth is, Buffy, you're afraid. But not like you said. You're afraid Faith will leave you. Like Angel did. That's the simple truth. But it's deeper. Because you're blind to what's around you, Buffy. You don't see things… like that Faith loves you so much, she humiliates herself, hurts herself, just to stay with you. Now, Faith isn't a dummy, we agree on that?'
'Yeah'
' So, if you're as worthless as you say, Why would she stay?'
'Dunno'
'Stop it. Stop being so damned blind! She stays cuz she sees something wonderful in you, dummy! Faith's no fool. Faith's no pushover. There's something good in you, or she'd be gone. Thing is, you're so fucking self involved, so worried about how people will see you, that you push away the one person in this sorry planet that loves you just like you are. Stop it! Stop it now! Start looking around. Start living in this world, Buffy. Reach out to Faith, and admit you're scared. Take a risk, put it out there. You're right, Buffy. You're a coward, but only in this personal stuff. You know you'd die to protect your friends, or Faith, or Dawn. But when it comes to opening up, letting someone see the real you, warts and all? Chicken! So, get over it, take a chance. Otherwise, plan on not having Faith. Or anyone. Cuz no one'll stick around if you don't give 'em reason to. Clear now, or do you need me to draw you a picture?'
'Do I gotta?' Buffy says, feeling petulant.
' Do you wanna keep Faith?'
' Do I gotta now?' Buffy pouts. God, just put it off, why don't ya?
'No. Right now, I'd duck'
'HUH?'
Buffy ducks just in time to avoid a sword aimed at her head. Behind her, while she was arguing with herself, 3 of Glory's minions have snuck up on her, trying to capture , or kill her.
"God, don't you uglies play fair? You don't attack unless you warn a gal, got it?" Buffy springs into action, kicking the sword bearing minion in the solar plexus, knocking him back and down. The other two, wielding clubs, circle around her. They start swinging at her, but she manages to block one. The other connects, but she manages to deflect most of the blow. She roundhouse kicks one, sending him flying. The other, none to brave to start with, turns and flees. She turns back on the other two, who have recovered, and are starting in on her. She punches the first, knocking him back down. The other swings his club, catching her on the back, knocking her forward onto her knees. She sits there, a little stunned. He comes up to hit her again, but she reacts by grabbing his club, and flinging over herself and onto his back. Without thinking, she takes the club and returns the favor… knocking him way out of the game.
The last one, recovering from her blow, gets up…and runs.
That just left the one she beaned. She looks around, and notices that the one with the sword dropped it. Picking it up, she goes over and kneels by the unconscious minion( god, they're butt ugly, she thinks to herself… and smelly…phew!).
As she sees the scabby little demon stir, she puts the point of the sword to its throat. It wakes up, seeing a smiling slayer, and a sword pointed right at its neck. Its eyes go wide.
" Hi, cutie. We're gonna have a little chat" Buffy says
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
Faith watched Buffy slip out the front door from the bedroom window.
Her calm expression belied the storm brewing in her mind. Why did she lie to me? Where is she going? Who was she going to meet?
Was she going to him?
Probably.
He left town. Well, Buffy said he left town. I didn’t check myself. He could still be here.
And Buffy could be going to meet him. Probably was.
As Buffy receded down the block, then turned the corner, Faith felt her heart sink lower and lower. She finally turned away from the window, and started to pick up her clothes. To dress. She didn't really care that they were yesterday's clothes. She needed something on her. She felt more naked, more exposed that she was. She'd never felt so naked before.
She walked into the bathroom, and splashed some cold water on her face. Looking in the mirror, she pondered about who she saw there. Herself, reversed. She saw her, Buffy, looking out at her. She looked into her eyes, but she saw nothing. A shiver ran through her. She blinked, and she saw herself again, reversed.
She paused as she passed Dawn's room, and quietly opened the door. Dawn lay there, all curled up and sleeping. Faith quietly entered, standing over the young girl. She looked so… childlike. So small, so very young. Faith felt her heart soften for the girl, knowing how rough she's had it . Finding out you're not who you think you are, Your mom dying… it was terrible for her. She could be such a pest, such a pain… but she looked so sweet at this moment. On impulse, Faith bent over and kissed her forehead. Dawn stirred a little, but didn't wake. Faith smiled a small smile, and quietly left the room.
She made her way downstairs, careful not to waken Dawn. She sat moved through the hallway into the living room, sitting down in the armchair facing the entrance. She wanted to see Buffy come in when she came home.
Home. Is this a home?
'It was a home, when Joyce was here. It felt like a home, a safe place to be when the world was crashing in on you. Joyce made it a home, there was an air about the place, a feeling of belonging.'
'Now, it seemed so different. A house, with three people living in it. Two sisters, and a third person, not really anything. An outsider.'
'Me.'
'Buffy tries. She works to make it seem like a home. Like I belong, as much as Dawn belongs, or she belongs. But, do I really belong here? In this house? In this town?'
'Maybe I wanted to belong somewhere so much, wanted to be loved, and love, so much, that I've been kidding myself. That I belong here, in the sticks, with Buffy.'
' Maybe I gotta start thinking differently. Begin thinking about making a place for myself , somewhere. A future not here. A future without Buffy.'
'Without Buffy.' The thought makes Faith's heart chill. The thought is like a future without her arm, or her leg, or her heart. ' Without Buffy. Without Buffy.' Her mind seemed stuck there. She couldn't see any future without Buffy.
But she knew she had to start thinking about it. Because a future with Buffy seemed tenuous, at best It seemed to be built gossamer clouds and fragile silk. The smallest thing could rend it.
She loved Buffy. With all her heart, her body and soul. She loved the blond slayer. And in her heart, she knew Buffy loved her, as much as she could. Sometimes, love just wasn't enough. There had to be more, other pieces that made the bond strong. Faith wondered if those pieces were just hidden, or didn't exist at all.
She sat in the darkened room, thinking it over, waiting for Buffy to come home.

~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
Buffy runs towards the house on Revello Drive.
She has to get Faith, and Giles, and the rest of the scoobies together. This is terrible. This is a disaster.
Glory has Spike. Spike knows about Dawn, knows her secret. How long could he, would he hold out under the hell god's torture? Would he even hold out? What's in it for him? That's how he thinks. What would stop him from spilling it all.
She runs up to the porch of the house, and stops. She can't disturb Dawn. She's freaked enough with everything goin' on. This would drive her over the edge… dealing with a panicky Dawn right now isn't in the plans. What plans? What the hell are we gonna do? Don't know. Gotta talk to Faith and Giles. Maybe they can figure out how we can get Spike out… or kill him before he can say anything. C'mon Buffy, think. You can't go dead head on us now. You gotta think, too. There's gotta be a way.
She quietly slips in the front door, hoping that Dawn is still asleep. It's almost 6 am, and the sun is just barely rising in the east. Hopefully she can wake Faith quietly, and they can get out of here soon. Leave a note for Dawn , and rouse Giles and the Scoobies.
She just reaches the stairs, ready to go up, when a quiet voice from the living room stops her.
"B? Is that you?" Faith's voice quietly calls out.
" Faith? Are you up?" Buffy says, turning towards the living room.
" Yeah. Been up for awhile". Faith replies, quietly." Where've you been?"
"Out" Buffy replies, then adds, " walking".
" Walking? Kinda early for a walk, isn't it?" Faith asks.
" I needed to think" Buffy replies, getting a little defensive. What's going on here?
" You couldn't think here?" Faith asks.
" I needed some air, ok?" Buffy replies, getting a tiny bit irritated. What's she driving at?
" That's what you needed?" Faith asks, her voice tense." Or, did you need something else?"
" What? Something else?" Buffy looks at Faith, puzzled. " Ok, Faith. What's going on? What're you trying to say?"
" I dunno, B. Just kinda weird" Faith says, quietly. " I wake up, and you're standing over me. Telling me you gotta pee, be right back. Next thing I know, I hear the front door closing. I look out, and there you are, motoring down the street. So, I gotta wonder. Why'd you lie to me, and where'd you go? And to whom? I mean… who'd you visit before dawn?"
" What're you talking about, Faith? I didn't 'visit' anyone. I was out walking, thinking, like I said" Buffy says, getting more irritated.
" Walking and thinking. About what? Angel?" Faith asks
" Is that what this is about? Angel…" Buffy sighs." Faith… I fucked up, I admit it. I screwed up bad. I want to talk about it. But not now."
"When, B? When? When I finally get tired of it, and leave?" Faith says, her voice weary. " When?"
" Later, Faith. Right now, we got trouble"
" And this isn't trouble?" Faith asks.
"Wait a minute. Did you say leave? What?" Buffy asks. Her voice is shaking." You're leaving me?"
" I dunno, B. I don't know what to do" Faith says, her voice sad.
"Don’t . Don't leave me! That's what you do!" Buffy says.
" B, it's killing me. Every day , I feel little bits of me dying. I… can't go on like this" Faith says.
"Faith" Buffy says, getting on her knees, clutching at Faith's legs." Please, baby. I realize, I know I've been horrible to you. I'm so sorry, baby, I can't … but…don't leave me, please. I need you, I need you, Faith!" Buffy says, begging.
" B… I'm not leaving right now. I… wouldn't leave you to face a hell god alone. I… just don't know about afterwards" Faith says. She really doesn't know.
"Hell god? Oh damn, I forgot. Glory has Spike. We gotta get Giles, the Scoobies…gotta do something!" Buffy says, panic rising." Spike might…he knows about Dawn. He might tell her."
"No, he won't" A voice comes in from the hall. Dawn walks in." He won't tell"
"Dawn? What? How do you know? He might tell if he's tortured" Buffy says." What're you doing up?"
" I heard you two down here. So, I got up… and came down." Dawn says, covering a little.
" You were eavesdropping, P-nut?" Faith says, but not really angry. More a grin playing on her lips.
"Well… Yeah. I mean, after all the secrets around here… especially about me. How am I supposed to learn anything?" Dawn says.
"Wait, Dawn. You said Spike wouldn't tell. Why do you think that?" Buffy asks.
Dawn makes an impatient noise. " God, Buffy, you're kinda like…dense, huh? Spike's in love with you, don't you get it?"
Buffy's mouth drops open. " HUH?"
Faith grins." Gee, B. I figured you got that one, at least. Really don't see much goin' on around you, do you?"
Buffy is still in shock" Spike… loves me?" She almost gags. " Ewwww! That …that's just sick!"
Faith mumbles something to herself. Buffy doesn't quite hear it.
"What?" Buffy says.
"Spike loving you is sick… But Angel loving you…isn't ?" Faith speaks up, her voice tinged a bit with bitterness.
" Difference, Faith. Angel has a soul. He's a good guy. But Spike…" Buffy shudders.
" God, B. And remember when Angel didn't have a soul? How sick was that?" Faith says.
" Can we let it drop for now, please?" Buffy says, an edge to her voice." We still got Spike to deal with".
" Fine" Faith says, sulking
"Fine" Buffy says, ditto.
" B. Go call Giles and the scoobies. I'll get the weapons" Faith says. She heads toward the locker where they keep their slaying stuff.
" Dawn, you stay here. I don't want you going out today" Buffy says, heading towards the kitchen and the phone.
" I've got school, Buffy" Dawn says.
" I'll write you a note. Stay indoors" Buffy says, a little more insistently.
"Can't I come with? I wanna help" Dawn says, hopefully.
" Oh, yeah. That's a great plan, Dawn. Why don't I just tie a bow on you and deliver you to Glory?" Buffy says, angry still at Faith, but taking it out on Dawn.
"Fine. FINE!" Dawn says, storming upstairs. She stops halfway up and calls down. " I hope she DOES leave you, Buffy! You're just mean!" She storms into up into her bedroom, and slams the door after her.
The two slayers look at each other, red-faced. They didn't realize Dawn had heard that.
Silently, out of embarrassment and anger, the two slayers complete their tasks.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
Spike was hanging by a thread.
Well, literally, he was hanging by a set of chains hanging from the ceiling of Glory's living room, but he was in pretty bad shape. Glory had been having fun with him, torturing him, trying to get him to give up what he knew about the key. So far he'd held on. But there wasn't much left in him.
" Why did you even bring me this?" She'd asked when they first hauled him in. " He's not the key. He's not pure. The key is pure. This is a vampire"
" Right then" Spike said." I'll just be running along"
" I mean, I can't even brain suck him. He's useless" She glowered at her minions
"He was skulking around outside." Jinx said, afraid of the wrath of his god." Most radiant one, we've observed him hanging around with the slayers. We thought…"
" Yes, well, thinking isn't your strong suit, is it?" She said, kicking Jinx." Hanging around with the slayers? A vampire? C'mon, do you take me for an idiot?"
"Take you for one?" Spike says. " Hardly. ARE you an idiot?… Well…." Glory slaps him, hard. He winces.
"But it's true, Oh most holiest of holies. We've seen him talking with them" Murk put in." Maybe he knows about the key"
"Indeed. You think?" Glory smiles, approaching the vampire." So, vampire. Do you know about my key?"
" Key? What, did you lose your house key? Well, haven't you heard of locksmiths?" Spike asks, smirking.
" You know very well what I mean" Glory says, laying a hand on his chest." But, you're thinking you can hide it away" She pulls her hand back, and points towards his chest." But, maybe we can get a peek inside you, vampire. What do you think?" With that, she pushes her finger into Spike, digging around a bit. He screams." What will we find?"
It’s later now. Spike is in pretty bad shape. His face and upper body is a mass of bruises and wounds. He's hanging semi- limp in the chains.
"I'm really, really getting tired of this, vampire. The fun's gone out of this. So, unless you want to wind up a pile of dust in a vacuum bag., tell me what I want to know. Where's my key?"
" Ok, ok" he gasps out, throat raw." The key. I'll tell you. Just … I need some water"
Glory smiles. At last! " Get him some water" She orders one of her minions. The minion runs to fetch it. After a bit, it returns with the water. Glory takes the glass. She walks over to Spike, and allows him to drink.
"Better?" She asks.
"Yes…" he coughs a bit. " The key…give me a second…brains rattled a bit"
Glory waits…and waits. Finally, impatient, she breaks the glass across Spike's face." I'm really tired of these games. Get me a stake!"
"No…wait. The key. It's… that guy on TV." Spike mutters.
" TV?" Glory asks, looking puzzled.
"Yeah. The one that gives away a million dollars if you guess the answers…" Spike says
"Who wants to be a millionaire?" Murk says, excited " Regis Philbin!"
" We'll fetch Regis Philbin, Most exalted one! We'll bring him for you!" Jinx exclaims
" You idiots! Regis Philbin is old… the key is new to this world. And, anyway, the key couldn't be anything as annoying as Regis Philbin!"
Spike chuckles, despite the pain.
"What are YOU laughing at, vampire?" Glory says, growling at him.
"You, you idiot! You're never going to get your key! You might be strong, but here, in this world, you're a moron. "
"I'm a god!" Glory declares.
"Of what? Bad hair day? The slayers are going to kick your lop-sided ass( Glory checks her ass, with a pained expression) back to whatever hell dimension would have a skanky, whorish, fashion victim of an ex-god like yourself!"
Glory, losing her temper, hits spike, hard. So hard, it breaks his chains, throwing him through the front door, which breaks out. He lies there, stunned. He recovers, and starts to get up, trying to escape.
"Well, don't just stand there!" Glory yells at her minions." Bring him back!"
They start towards the door, but at that moment, the elevator doors open. The Slayers, followed by Giles, Tara, Willow, and Xander get off . The slayers , armed with crossbows, fire into the advancing Demons.
"Quick, pull him out of here!" Buffy says, while she and Faith hold off the demons. Giles and Xander each grab one of Spike's arms, pulling him towards the elevator. The demons attack, attempting to recover Spike. But Buffy and Faith are on them, landing punches and kicks, driving them back. Glory, seeing that they're getting away, starts towards the group. Willow joins hands with Tara, and mutters a spell under her breath. She waves her hand out towards Glory and says " Thicken!". Glory is stopped by an invisible force shield. She punches at it, but is weakened by not having fed for awhile. She glares at the group.
"This isn't over, Slayers" She threatens.
"It's over for now" Faith calls back, as she and Buffy, along with the rest of the scoobies, retreat into the elevator. They descend for the first floor, and with Giles and Xander carrying Spike, they make a quick escape. The spell Tara and Willow used is strong, but they know it's only a matter of time before Glory breaks through it.
The dawn is breaking as they exit Glory's manse. Wrapping Spike in heavy blankets, Xander and Giles carry him off to his crypt. The rest of the scoobies split up, heading for home.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
Spike lay recuperating on the stone sarcophagus in his crypt
He's in better shape than when they brought him here a couple of hours ago, but his face is a mass of bruising. His eyes are nearly swollen shut. His upper body bears the wounds and scars from his little encounter with the hell god. He's able to get around now, but it's hard …he aches and hurts in a dozen places. So, it was extremely painful when, startled by his crypt door opening, he jumped up to defend himself.
" Who's there?" he calls out, trying to sound stronger than he is." Show your sodding ass, quit hiding in the shadows"
" It's just me, Spike" A voice calls from the shadows. Dawn, looking worried, emerges from the shadows.
"Lil bit? What're you doing here?" Spike says, turning away from her so she can't see the extent of his wounds. He leans on the sarcophagus, exhausted.
" I… I wanted to see how you were. They wouldn't tell me anything" Dawn says, her voice a little soft." So, I snuck out and came here to check on you"
" You shouldn't have done that, nibblet." Spike replies, not turning towards her." It's dangerous. All sorts of bad things wandering around out there, wanting a tasty morsel like you"
" I had to know" Dawn says, firmly. She moves towards Spike, and for the first time gets a clear picture of how badly he's beaten up. She rushes to him." God, what've they done to you?"
"It's nothing," He covers, turning away again." If you'll give me a moment, I'll get dressed and walk you back". He starts for the chair where a shirt lies, but his movements are slow and stiff.
" Spike, stop it! I'm fine" Dawn says, pulling out a cross and stake." I came prepared"
Spike, seeing the cross, flinches, and moves back… groaning because of his injuries.
"Think you can put that away?" He says, a bit harshly.
"Oh…yeah, sorry" She says, putting away the cross.
"Those won't help you much in the daylight. Not many vampires around" Spike said
"Right. Dumb. Got it" Dawn said, feeling foolish.
" Ok, well now, you know. I'm fine. Now go home. It's not safe here" Spike said. His voice reflected his weariness. He lies down on the sarcophagus.
" Why , Spike?' Dawn asks, quietly.
"Why? Because I'm hurting, and I don't feel like company." Spike replies, sardonically
" That isn't what I meant Why'd you do it? Why didn't you tell Glory? She wouldn't have beat you up so badly" Dawn says, gently touching him. He flinches.
"What?" Spike sighs." Did the slayers send you? You can tell them I didn't say anything" Spike growls, turning away." Go away".
" No, they didn't send me" Dawn says." If they knew I was here, they'd have a cow. I have to know, Spike. Why didn't you tell?"
" Look, bitty bit, what you're sister says about me is true. I'm evil. I've killed hundreds of people. Tortured hundreds. Including little bits like you" He turns his head, looking at her. He sees her swallow, hard." Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. The point is, there is no nobility here. No pangs of conscience. I enjoyed what I did. I didn't tell Glory… because she cheeses me off. She comes into this town, throw around her skanky hell god ass, and expects all to fall into line. Well, I don't like it! She can sod off for all I care."
"That's all?" Dawn asks, her eyebrow arched
"That's it. Now get lost. Go back to your sister and let me heal" Spike growls, turning away again.
" I don't believe you, Spike" Dawn says simply.
"Well, you Summers sisters have always been a bit dead from the neck up" Spike mocks her.
"It's Buffy, isn't it?" Dawn says, a little crossly." It's always about Buffy. You got a thing for her".
" Have you gone gaga, bit? I don't give a rat's arse for your sister. Frankly if that hell bitch turned Buffy into a punching bag, I'd probably cheer her on" Spike says, contradicting her.
"Liar! I see the way you look at her" Dawn says, disgusted. Of course, she wouldn't admit her own crush on Spike." You get all googly-eyed when she's around."
"Your balmers, pet. But believe whatever you want" Spike rejoins, waving her off.
"Fine. Whatever. Ya know, I'm tired of everyone getting hurt because of me. Maybe I should just run away, go to Glory, get this over with…" Dawn says, upset. She starts to walk away.
" Wait. Stop!" Spike says, forcing himself up. Dawn isn't listening. She's heading for the crypt door. Obviously in pain, he runs and cuts her off. "STOP!"
"WHAT?" Dawn says, annoyed and angry.
Spike makes a disgusted noise, mostly aimed at himself." Alright, fine, swell. Look, I admit it. I care about you. Alright? Don't make a deal about it. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
" Because of Buffy" Dawn retorts, still angry, but is an itsy bitsy tiny bit pleased, too. Conflicted, much?
"Alright, nibblet. I'll admit that sis is in there too. I know that you getting hurt would … hurt her, kill her. I don't want that. But that isn't it, not by a far shot. Somehow, I care about YOU, too. It means something to me that you're ok, safe. Got it?" Spike is not believing what's coming out of his mouth, like someone else is saying it. Unfortunately for him, it's the truth… not something he's particularly used to.
" Really?" Dawn asks, her tone saying she's not believing it. Her heart saying she so wants to believe it.
"Look, little bit. You've always treated me fair. Never like I was something stuck to your shoe. You're a pest, a pain in the arse, but…" He shrugs.
Dawn impulsively hugs him. He grimaces. " Ow, that really hurts!" He growls.
"Sorry" She says, but doesn't stop hugging him. He hesitantly pats her back, to comfort her
"Now go home, nibblet. You're sister's going to be bonkers wondering where you got to. I don't need a stake in the heart on top of everything else" Spike says, trying to sound casual, but the caring softens his tone.
"Thank you" She whispers, her eyes wide and moist with tears. " Thank you". She repeats. She hugs him one last time, and then before he can say or do anything else, she's out the door.
"Stupid gits" He grumbles, making his way back to his sarcophagus. He starts to lie down, and groans. He feels like he's been through the masher a few times." Idiot. It's what you bleedin' well deserve for trucking with humans." He growls to himself.
But for some reason, he can't wipe the small smile off his face.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
Ben stood in the middle of the living room, looking around.
He was still dressed in Glory's clothes, as the transformation had just occurred. All around him lay dead minions: some had arrows sticking out of them, looking like they'd been shot. But most of them looked as if they'd been torn apart by a wild beast.
A wild beast named Glory.
The remaining minions slowly and abjectly crawled back into the suite, for once almost glad to see Ben there rather than Glory.
As he looked around, the odor of the demons, combined with the coppery smell of blood and the visuals, got to him, and turning green around the edges, he ran to the bathroom. After relieving his stomach of whatever food had been ingested, he stared into the mirror.
He was tired of it. All of it. All his life he'd had to wake up to this nightmare. Finding himself waking up in strange places, dressed as a woman, not remembering how he got there, where he'd been, what he'd( or, she'd) done. Always left with her messes, trying to clean it up.
" She's ruining my life" he said to himself in the mirror. " What life? I don't get a life since she emerged back in puberty. I can't do anything, plan anything. It's always the same. I start doing something, and she comes along and messes it up for me. Like being a doctor. That's pretty much finished. All I wanted to do was help people. I like helping people. Now she's messed that up for me, big time. Like always". He's bitter. He'd just been fired from Sunnydale General for too many absences. Because she kept coming out. Even that small avenue of accomplishment had been closed to him, because of her.
The worst of it , though, was that he wouldn't have time to make a life. Not now. If she gets her ' key', his life is over. She returns to her hell dimension, and he ceases to exist. Like he never was. His anger rising suddenly, he lashes out, smashing his fist into the mirror, smashing it.
"Damn" He yells, his hand cut." Damn it all". He inspects his hand, but sees there are no breaks. His hand is cut, and bleeding, but not enough to need stitches. Cursing himself, he opens the now ruined medicine cabinet door, and takes out some bandages. He bandages his wound, then leaves the bathroom.
"What happened here?" He asks, as the remaining minions move around to clean up the damage. The front door is a loss, it's been broken out of its frame. Have to call a carpenter on that one, he thinks. Things are smashed all over the place, and of course theirs the dead minions and blood. Fighting down the nausea , he corners one of the minions, and after threats, gets the story.
"So she had the vampire here?" he asks, looking at the hole in the ceiling where the fixture had been.
" Yes, sir" the minion replied, shaking." Her perfectness was trying to 'persuade' the vampire to tell her who the key was. Until the slayers showed up."
"The slayers? Here?" He says. Well, that would explain some things.
"Yes" The minion replied." They rescued the vampire. She was … upset about that" it said, looking around.
"So, he didn't say anything, then?" Ben asked." About the key?"
"No… they got to him before she could…persuade him" The minion replied, looking forlorn.
"Thank god" Ben says, forgetting himself." He didn't mention Dawn…". Oh, crap, did I say that…
"Dawn, sir?" The minion asks." The slayer's sister, you mean?"
SHIT! Not turning towards the minion, he looks for something, anything he can use to kill it with. He can't allow it to live! But what? A knife… there's a knife on the floor over there… he starts for it, but suddenly he feels a blinding pain in his head, and the lights go out. The minion, suspecting that Ben was ready to kill it to keep the secret, beaned him with a statuette. It stood over him, smiling.
"Her Radiance will be most interested in this!" It muttered to the unconscious Ben.
Glory awoke half an hour later.
She found herself on the floor, her head aching. She pushed herself up and looked around the room. The minions had finished the clean up, all except for the damage to the walls and door.
"What the hell…?" She said, standing up. " I'm on the floor. My head is hurting like someone hit me. There BETTER be a damned good explanation …." She threatened.
The minion who'd been talking to Ben groveled at her feet.
" Oh most Magnificent and Luminous one." The minion chanted. " We have news. Wonderful news!"
"Indeed?" Glory asks, a bit edgily. " I do hope this is BETTER news than the last " She said, looking around, disgusted." For your sakes"
" The key, most Blessed one. We know who the key is!" The minion blurts out, joyfully.
" I already told you morons. Regis Philbin is NOT the key!" She says, disgusted with the lot of them.
" No, most Beauteous and Divine one. It was not the vampire that revealed it . It was Ben. He let it slip, accidentally. We had to knock him out, to keep him from killing me, before I could reveal it to you". The minion beamed at its cleverness, then realized the consequences." We are sorry, most Magnificent one" It groveled abjectly before Glory.
"I should break your neck!" Glory says, angered. But then she calms down, and kneels by the craven minion." But, I will be merciful… THIS TIME… seeing how you've brought me good news" She gently starts to pat it on its head…then stops. Like, Ewwww!
" So, Benny has been keeping secrets, has he?" Glory continues, a smile on her face." Tsk, tsk, tsk." A thought occurs to her." You're not kidding me now, just to keep me from killing you, are you?" She lifts the scabby demon up.
"No… No… Most Phenomenal and Exquisite one." The minion says, trembling.
" Then tell me" Glory says, excitedly. " Tell me who it is ! Most faithful and loyal …er… thing"
The demon, beaming, reveals " It's Dawn. The slayer's sister!" It basks in the radiance of its god.
" Really?" Glory says, musing. The pegs drop into their holes, the gears begin to mesh, and the light bulb goes on in her head. Perfect. It all fits. Very clever, those monks. Make the Key the slayer's sister, implant the memories… of course she'd protect it. With her life. Brilliant… but not quite brilliant enough.
" Most Exalted and Divine one. Should we get her. Get the key and bring her to you?" The minion asks.
" Yes… no, wait!" Glory says, thinking(something she's not terribly good at). " How long until the alignment is ready?"
" Four days, most Resplendent one!" The minion informs Glory.
A slow, wicked smile covers Glory's face. " Very good. They've done such a wonderful job of protecting my key up 'til now, why not let them keep guarding it?" She asks. " After all, if we take the key now, we just have to hold it, defend it, feed it and all that other bothersome and boring stuff. No. We'll wait 'til we're ready to proceed with the ceremony, then snatch it away from them."
" You… and you… and you two!" Glory barks out." Keep an eye on the key, and her friends. Make sure NONE of them try to leave town with the key! If they make a move to do so, kill them and bring me the key. Kill them all, if necessary. But the key must be unharmed. Understood?" She says.
" Yes, most Illustrious and Extraordinary Glorificus. We live to serve!" They chant as a group, then leave on their assignments.
" The rest of you, stay with me. We must prepare for my Triumphal return to my rightful Godhood. Oh, and if Benny boy returns, make sure he doesn't leave, to warn the slayers. Understood?"
They nod.
Home, home at last. Away from this awful, pestilence ridden dimension with all its…insanity and ugliness. Home, where I can rule again, and get the revenge I so richly deserve. Home.
The thought widens the evil smile on her face.
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~
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Seasons of Faith