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Independence	By : norwalker Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Faith/Willow Views: 7379 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
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.

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Independence

By Norwalker

Part 26 of

Summary: What did Willow and Faith discuss in that little car trip from L.A. to Sunnydale in season 7? And what were the consequences? A Willow/ Faith story

Rating: R, Very R
Category: romance/drama/angst
Spoilers: Possible season 7 spoilers. Possible season 4 Angel spoilers. C'mon, you must have seen 'em by now!
Time Line: Mid season 7(after the return of Faith) and beyond
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon , Mutant Enemy and Fox own them.

Warnings: Adult themes, violence, sexual situations between members of the same gender. Please be aware, character death is always a distinct possibility. It can happen here, so don't say I didn't warn you! Any racist remarks are spoken by the characters, and are in no way shared by the author. This story is not meant for children.
Ireland

County Limerick

Layne's house.

Faith knows something's wrong. Very, very wrong.

She pulls up in front of Layne's house, and her body starts to tense. She doesn't see any lights on. She said earlier that she would be home this evening. Getting out of the car, the second clue became clear. The front door is ajar. Faith closes her eyes, shutting out all stimuli except her hearing, trying to discern whether someone is still here... but she doesn't hear anything. Even so, she cautiously approaches the front door, looking around for someone hiding or laying in wait.

Slipping quietly through the front door, she crouches, making a low hard target of herself. She notices a rear light on, and starts towards it. The moonlight coming through the front window illuminates the living room, giving it an eerie, otherworldly feeling. Her senses adjust, and she sees some glasses on the coffee table, as if someone or a group of someone's were here earlier. Weirder and weirder. Did she go out with some friends? She still moves cautiously, thinking if she is out, possibly burglars were present, somewhere. She's almost at the kitchen when a distinctive odor hits her, an odor she's smelled before, too many times. Coppery and slightly acrid. Blood. She carefully peers around the door to the kitchen, and her heart nearly stops in her chest.

Layne is lying on the ground, her chair overturned and the phone laying askew close to her. A pool of blood has formed around her. Her eyes are open, staring sightlessly into space. Faith feels the beginnings of nausea hitting her, but she swallows it down, and stands, walking over to where Layne lies. She kneels down, being careful to avoid the blood, and touches her neck.She breathes a sigh of relief when she feels a pulse. Faith gets up and grabs a towel, and careful picks up the phone, trying to preserve evidence. She dials quickly, calling for help.

She stands on the porch, watching as they load Layne's gurney into the waiting ambulance. She's finishing up with the police, who are eyeing her somewhat suspiciously. Her nerves are frayed, having just completed a very intense grilling session with the local constabulary. She's still reeling from what happened. They must've thought Layne was me, and shot her. I don't know how they could confuse us, but thank god they were as inept as the one at the Hyperion back in L.A. She starts for her car, planning to follow the ambulance back into town, when she starts to shake violently. Everything about the past couple of days seems to catch up with her, and her nerves have broken. Leaning heavily against the car, she tries to push it back down. Not now, I can't do this now! Try as she might, she can't stop the shaking, and the other signs of breakdown hit her hard. She sits heavily on the ground, as wave after wave of emotion washes over her. Her body shakes with sobs, but she bites her lip not to let them out. She just rocks back and forth, trying to get control of herself again. Finally she regains control, and with some effort stands, letting herself into her car. She sits heavily in the seat, leaning against the steering wheel, still feeling shaky.

I don't get this. Faith murmurs to herself, I've never reacted like this before. Been through lots worse... doesn't make sense. Every breath seems to burn in her lungs, as slowly the feeling passes off her. She starts the car, letting the engine run for a minute or so as she pulls herself together. She sits up and looks around, having the feeling that someone is with her. But she doesn't see anyone, and shakes off the feeling. Great, I'm getting paranoid now! Finally, she backs out the drive, and down the road, She still can't quite throw off the feeling of weakness, but she forces herself to go on. She has too much to do to break down now. She clenches the wheel, driving faster to get into town.

She's never felt so alone in her life.
Los Angeles, CA.

Hyperion Hotel

Late afternoon.

Willow stands behind the desk, trying to digest what she's learned from Layne.

Try as she might, her mind wanders off, thinking of how she got the information. Before she even realized it, she was using magic to intimidate Layne, and that bothered her. For a moment, a brief moment, she lost control, and Dark Willow came out. A deep fear strikes at her heart.

It was wrong. So damned wrong. I never should've... damn, I let go, just for a minute. I... goddess, how often is that happening? Without me even knowing it? Goddess, please, not now. Don't let me slip now. Too much is at stake... Feeling a sudden weakness, she leans against the desk, and looks down at her hands. She nearly jumps out of her skin when she sees the articulated veins appear, and her nails turn black. Then almost as quickly, they disappear, and her hands are normal again. But her heart is hammering in her chest, and she feels the shaking increasing.

Feeling scared, she pushes away from the desk, and starts to walk around it. But her legs are like water, and she suddenly finds herself sitting on the ground, her whole body starting to tremble. She tries to fight it, pull herself together, but the trembling only becomes more pronounced. She tries to stand, but her legs won't hold her. She falls flat on her back, her body convulsing as if she were having a seizure. A soul-deep sound comes out of her, she has a last violent spasm, her eyes roll up into her head, and she's still.

She feels herself hurtling through an empty place. Not just of objects, but of matter and energy or anything. This is null, a void, there is nothing here but a grayness. Faster and faster she soars, the physical laws of the universe don't apply in this place. She can't tell if she's moving up or down, left or right, north or south, because there is no reference. There is no resistance, and her essence seems to move at a speed with no measure. As she moves, her very essence seems to start to fragment, as if the force that provides it cohesion is dissipating. I wonder if this is death? If this is what it's like to die? Even as that thought passes, she's brought to a sudden and unceremonious halt. As if she suddenly plunged into an invisible wall. If she were physical at the moment, she would be dizzy and in quite a lot of pain. As is, she's dazed and confused.

She doesn't recognize this place; she's never been here before. In front of her is a house, and at that moment the door flies open, two men guiding out a wheeled stretcher. There's someone on it, a woman! Willow wills herself closer, and for a moment fears the worst. Faith! Dead! But the she sees the IV drip hanging off the stretcher. Not Dead! She looks closer, and sees the woman has red hair. Not Faith! But who? For a moment she's confused, not understanding why she was brought here. But then a flash of recognition tells her who it is . Layne! But... what? How...? She 'hears' something about a shooting, and panic starts to swell within her. Oh, god! FAITH! She might still be in there...lying in there...dead! She dreads going in, but she has to know... she starts to will herself inside when she hears something. A sob. Coming from behind the car in the driveway. She turns, and floats over. Huddled behind the car she finds faith, crouched down and shaking. She sees more than hears the sobs, and she sees tears flowing down Faith's face.

An intense longing to hold and comfort her overwhelms Willow. She tries to reach out, but she can't touch her. DAMN! DAMN, DAMN, DAMN! she curses this lack of physical form. Helpless, she watches as Faith drags herself up and forces herself into the driver's seat. She floats inside of the car, next to Faith, 'sitting' on the seat beside her. Faith slumps in her seat, seemingly exhausted. Willow uses all her concentration and reaches out, her incorporeal 'hand' going through Faith. Faith starts up and looks around, as if realizing someone else is there.

" I'm here, baby, I'M HERE!" Willow tries to communicate with her, but realizes she's failed when Faith shakes her head. As Faith starts the car, Willow feels herself being pulled away. " NO! Not NOW! DAMMIT NOT NOW! Please, please, let me stay with her!" But the pull is irresistible, and Willow finds herself once again hurtling through the gray nothingness. In the space of time that might have been forever, or a millisecond, Willow finds herself slammed back into her body, back in Los Angeles. Feeling bereft and useless, she starts to cry.

Buffy, white faced, is holding Willow's head on her lap. She's stroking her face, and occasionally slapping her, trying to get her to respond. When Willow starts to cry, she feels her heart start beating in her chest again.

" Shhh... Willow, it's ok, honey, it's ok. " Buffy croons at her. She shouts, " Kira! Kira! WHERE ARE YOU? I NEED SOME HELP HERE!" Buffy cradles Willow gently as Willow's eyes start to flutter.

Kira runs down the stairs, rushing to Buffy . " Oh my god. What happened?"

" I don't know... I came in from the garden and found her lying behind the desk. Call an ambulance, Kira. I think she's..."

" B-B-Buffy?" Willow croaks out, hoarsely. She struggles to rise, but Buffy holds her down.

" Lie still, honey. It's ok. We're getting an ambulance." Buffy says in a quiet, calm voice. Quite the opposite of what she feels. " I think you had a seizure of some kind..."

" No... I'm ok... really" Willow says, forcefully. She pushes herself up. " I'm ok, honestly."

" God, Will, " Buffy croaks out, her heart in her throat, " you scared me shitless. I ...I thought you... oh god.." Buffy feels herself getting a little dizzy. She leans heavily against the desk. Her breathing is heavy and deep.

Kira comes around the desk, kneeling by Willow. She touches her cheek. " Are you sure you ok? You feel a little clammy..."

" I'm fine... really, " Willow insists, panting. She feels like she's just run a couple of miles at top speed. " Just something weird... happened... I was there..."

" What? Where?" Buffy asks, still feeling a bit off, " where were you?"

" There, at the house... in Ireland. Layne's house!"

"WHAT!" Kira exclaims, staring at Willow. " You were at Layne's? How ... how do you know?"

" I saw her, I saw Layne, "Willow bites her lip. She doesn't like having to tell Kira. " Honey, I think... something happened to her. They... they were carrying her out in a stretcher to an ambulance..."

Kira goes deadly pale." Is...was... she...dead?" Her voice is barely above a whisper.

" No... they had an IV drip going, and she had an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth... I believe she's alive..."

It's Kira's turn to feel woozy. She sits heavily on the floor next to Willow. She sits silently, not making a sound except for her breathing. Her eyes are closed, and both Buffy and Willow can see she's trying to maintain control.

" It's ok, Kira. Really. I think Faith found her in time..." Willow reaches out to Kira, putting a hand on hers.

" Faith?" Buffy asks, surprised, " you saw Faith?"

" Yeah, she was there. She was huddled behind a car in the driveway. I think... I think she was really scared. She was shaking violently, and crying..." Willow's eyes start to burn at the memory.

"Faith?" Kira and Buffy say almost simultaneously. Neither has ever seen Faith cry.

" Yeah, " Willow says wearily, her little adventure catching up in a big way with her.

" Did you see where they took her?" Kira asks urgently, " Do you know where she is?"

" No...I'm sorry, Kira, I don't. Just as Faith was starting to drive away, something pulled me back here... the next thing I remember is seeing Buffy's face staring down at me."

Kira pushes herself to her feet. She stands a little wobbly, but she heads for the phone. " I've... got to call around. The hospitals in Limerick. That's where they'd take her... it's the biggest city in the county..."

"Wait... there's more." Willow says. She stands up, also a bit unsteady on her feet. She walks over to a couch in the lobby and plops down on it. Buffy and Kira, still shaken by everything that's happened, follow her and sit across from her.

" Layne called here about half an hour ago...she was looking for you, Kira." Willow says, turning to Kira, " I thought you were out and told her that." Willow pauses, to collect her thoughts. " She told me something... about Faith and the Clan and the Cammaragh... something bad..."

Buffy and Kira look at each other, then back at Willow. " What?" Buffy asks.

Willow relates her conversation with Layne to them. She edits out the parts about using magic. That's all we'd need right now, a lecture from Buffy! By the end, both Buffy and Kira look lost in thought. Kira reacts first.

" No...I really... I just can't believe that. This is Lehane. We don't... we're the good guys... you must have gotten it wrong..."

" Kira, it's not the whole clan. Just a faction, " Willow looks at her intently, " Kira, what do you know about the Triad?"

Kira sits bolt upright, and stares at Willow. " The Triad?" her voice is almost a whisper. " That's... just a legend. It's not..."

" Kira, The Triad is the group that shot Buffy, remember what the gunman said?" Willow looks at her closely, " Are you involved with them in any way?"

" NO!" Kira replies adamantly. " They... they're just a myth. The Triad, from what I've heard, is a secret society that 'enforces' the rules of the clan. But everybody knows they don't really exist!"

" Kira," Willow's voice is gentle, " Layne is a member of the Triad."

" That's insane!" Kira's face flushes, " I just told you, it's..."

" She told me as much on the phone, Kira!" Willow is adamant." That's why she called here. She wanted to warn us. The Triad has plans to eliminate Faith as leader of Lehane."

" I can't believe this..." Kira shakes her head, " I won't believe this!"

" Kira," Buffy says softly, " Will wouldn't lie about something like this."

" Kira, have you ever heard of Menoch's hope?" Willow asks, calmly. She's trying to keep the woman from more upset.

" Yes. It's a relic. Something from the old times. It's kept in some museum or something, " Kira replies vaguely.

" Well, evidently, it's a pretty damned powerful relic. According to Layne, it's an amulet forged by shamans to protect the wearer from harm in combat. It makes him or her nearly invulnerable, and drains the life force of his attacker." Willow pauses to catch her breath, " evidently, the Triad has somehow gotten ahold of it, and they have plans to use it in the Cammaragh against Faith..."

" No!" Kira's voice is soft, as she stands up. Her expression is tight and closed." You must've gotten it wrong. You're saying the people I've known all my life, the people I grew up with, these people are plotting to take out Faith? That's... it's not true. Yeah sure, there've been some troubles over how Faith is running things; that's natural enough in something as large as Lehane. People argue and disagree... they don't murder over it! This isn't Wolfram and Hart, Willow. We're the good guys here." Kira paces agitatedly, " and you're saying Layne is a part of this? She's my sister, Willow. Yeah, no real love lost between us, she can be a bitch. I'll be the first one to say that. But she's not a murderer!"

" I know that, Kira, " Willow says quietly, " that's why she called. She was scared, I could tell that. Whoever she's been talking to has really scared her. She didn't want to be part of this."

" What ' this '?" Kira shakes her head, " you talk about some plot to get Faith that sounds like it came from a bad TV show. Who would do that? Faith's the one mentioned in the prophecy. Who would go against that?" Kira looks a little lost, " These people, I've known them my whole life, Willow. They're just regular folks. Their not some zombie brigade out to rule the world. They my friends. My family, " Kira turns to Willow," You grew up in a small town. How would you feel if someone told you that everyone was evil, and they were plotting against you?"

Buffy and Willow exchange a look, then look back at Kira with perfectly blank expressions.

" Oh yeah, Faith told me about Sunnydale. Bad example, I get that." Kira's voice gets an edge to it, " you're asking too much of me. To believe everything I believe in is wrong. It's just too much." Kira turns and starts walking towards the garden, " Too much."

" Wait, Kira. That's not what I'm saying at all, " Willow stands up to go after her. Buffy puts out a restraining hand. " What?" She turns to Buffy, impatiently.

" Let me talk to her"

" But Buffy, I've got to make her see that I wasn't trying to ... "

" I know, Will. Just... give me this chance , ok?"

Willow is about to protest when she sees something in Buffy's face that stops her.

" Ok, Buff. I'll go check out the 'net, see if I can find out more about this Menoch's Hope. You talk to Kira..." Willow tilts her head and looks at Buffy , smiling a half smile.

" What?" Buffy says, a little weirded by Willow's expression.

" Nothing, Buffy, " Willow says, as she gets up and walks towards the stairs. She stops and looks back at Buffy, her grin widening.

" WHAT?" Buffy is getting a little irritated.

" Welcome back. Been missing you, " Willow says enigmatically. She climbs the stairs.

Buffy watches Willow climb the stairs, feeling bewildered. Shrugging, she turns and walks out of the lobby into the garden. She finds Kira standing there, staring up at the early evening sky. Buffy approaches her, but Kira puts up a hand, stopping her.

" I'm ok, Buffy. You don't have to coddle me, I'll be ok, " Kira says, not looking around. She sighs, and sits down on the bench by the fountain, still gazing with a thousand yard stare." I've just got to get my mind wrapped around this concept. I believe in Faith, and what she's doing... but you've got to admit, Willow's scenario sounds a little on the fantastical side."

" I don't want to coddle you, Kira. I respect you far too much to do that, " Buffy says, quietly, " I just want to talk to you."

" Talk about what, Buffy? How my clan seems to be bound and determined to kill Faith? Is that what you think?" Kira turns to look at her, " what do you expect me to feel, Buffy? These are the people that raised me, the ones I grew up around. My values, my ideals? I got them from them. So, does that make me evil too, Buffy?"

" Evil?" Buffy starts to move closer, but Kira backs up. Buffy stops." Look, Kira, I've gotten to know you. I know the kind of person you are. I wouldn't ever think you're evil. I know your parents must be proud of you..."

" My parents are dead, Buffy. Have been for awhile." Kira sits.

Buffy stands looking at her. " I'm sorry..."

" No, like I said, it's been awhile."

" I'm sure your parents were fine people, Kira. I know their daughter turned out well..."

" My parents belonged to the Triad, Buffy, " Kira says quietly.

" What?" Buffy suddenly finds it hard to breathe, " I thought... didn't you say you didn't ... that they... it... didn't exist?"

" What was I going to say, Buffy? My parents were members. My sister, " Kira's face turns grim, " my very sister is a member..." Kira notes Buffy's expression, and her own is grimmer, still. " So, what do you think now, Buffy? Am I evil? I mean, this is where I got my values from..."

" Kira, what should I say?" Buffy feels stuck between a rock and a hard place, " The Triad tried to kill Faith. They shot me, Kira... what should I think? What should I believe?"

" I think I should go," Kira rises, heading for the lobby entrance, " I think it's pretty clear I shouldn't be here."

" Kira, wait!" Buffy calls out.

Kira stops, but doesn't turn around.

" Are you... are you part of it? The Triad? Do you... are you a member?"

" Is that what you think, Buffy?" Kira says over her shoulder, not turning around. She doesn't want Buffy to see her face.

" You just dropped a nuclear bomb on me, Kira. I'm not thinking so well. I know... what I know about you. What I feel about you. But I need you to tell me, Kira. Are you?"

" What does it matter, Buffy?" Kira says, her voice sharp, " guilt by association, wouldn't you say?"

" I don't believe in that. Guilt by association. That's bogus, " Buffy says, " and it does matter, Kira. Believe me. It matters."

" Believe what you must, Buffy," Kira says, walking to the door, " I've got to go." She starts to open the door.

" I believe..." Buffy hesitates for but the barest moment, " ... I love you."

That stops Kira in her tracks. She stands facing the lobby. " What?"

" I believe I love you, Kira, " Buffy repeats herself. By her look, it's almost as if she doesn't believe she actually said it out loud.

" You believe you love me?" Kira's face is hidden in shadow, " You don't know?"

" I guess I've always believed that love is great passions, great emotions sweeping you up and consuming you. Incredible bliss , then maybe incredible pain. You know, big, huge, larger than life. Carried away with the currents and all. Like what I had with Angel, or sort of what I had with Spike..."

" Or how you felt about Faith?" Kira's voice sounds strange.

" Yes, like that, exactly. " Buffy agrees excitedly," Romance and sweep you off your feet passion and all the stuff... you know, right?"

" Aye, I know, " Kira says, softly.

" And I don't feel that about you."

" Oh," Kira says, softly. So many layers all in that one single word.

" When I'm with you, I feel... better. Do you understand? I feel stronger, somehow. Things that confuse me, make me feel weak? Don't seem to matter so much when you're there. Like everything's going to be ok, and that the world is right, somehow. I feel quiet inside, peaceful. When you leave? This sureness, this confidence I feel seems to go with you. I don't feel right, like I'm missing something... something damned important! I feel the world pressing in on me again, and I feel all the old doubts and confusions. I feel like a picture puzzle with a couple of pieces missing. Is this making any sense at all?"

Kira nods.

" I'm saying this all so badly, Kira. But I don't know how to say it right, I guess. I just know when you look at me, when I see you looking at me like you believe in me, I believe in me, too. Like I can do anything, because you believe I can. All I know is when I'm with you, I feel happy and complete. When I'm not, I feel sort of lost."

Kira doesn't say a word, doesn't move a muscle.

" Even when the others kind of didn't believe in me, I sensed you did. You stick by me, you seem to care about me. Why, I don't have a clue; I certainly haven't earned it." Buffy stops, as if trying to get what she wants to say just right, " So, I've got to tell you now. I don't blame you if you think you want to leave. I understand you might think we don't believe in you. But I have to let you know, I do believe in you, Kira. I believe in you, with all my heart. It might not mean anything, but I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt any of us. I know you, I know you couldn't do that. I believe in you."

" Buffy, " Kira says quietly.

" Let me finish, ok? I always believed love had to be some grand thing, something that hit you like a ton of bricks, that swept you away, that was full of pain, and intense joy, and bigger than your life. But when you said you had to leave, you should go; when I thought you might leave, and never come back? I thought my heart was going to break into a thousand pieces. The thought of never seeing you again? Of you being away from me? It ... oh god, it really hurts. I don't get it, Kira. Love is supposed to be flowers and romantic places and fervent kisses, isn't it? So why does it hurt so much?"

" Buffy?" There's a catch in Kira's voice.

" Please don't go! I know you think we don't trust you, Kira. But that's so not right... I believe in you, I know Willow does. She didn't mean anything right now. Please?" Buffy looks at Kira, but she hasn't moved since Buffy started. Buffy thinks Kira is unaffected by her words. " Ok, bricks don't have to fall on my head. I've bollixed it up again, I've got it all wrong. I've had my say, so if you want to go, go. Just go now, ok? Don't stand there looking at me." Buffy waits, but Kira doesn't move. " Why are you just standing there? Go, ok? Do you want to see me cry? Is that it? Would that... god, I'm not gonna cry, so just go... oh, crap... ok... I'm crying..." Buffy starts to feel the pain hit her, " Ok, happy now? I'm crying... that should make you feel real good, right? Damn you, just go away!" Buffy turns around, feeling humiliated and hurt. She crosses her arms over her chest, and bites her lip, trying to keep from crying. She's only partially successful, as the tears keep rolling down her face. She listens, but doesn't hear anything. Looking over her shoulder, Kira is still there, not having moved an inch. " God, why are you doing this? Do you hate me so much that..." and then Kira is on top of her, arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. Buffy feels kiss after kiss on her face. She collapses into Kira's arms.

" God, Buffy, would you shut up? You talk WAY too much!" Kira says, kissing her deeply. Buffy slips her arms around Kira's neck, and the kiss is returned with fervor.

Willow, holding a book in her hands, comes down the stairs. She's found reference to Menoch's hope, and in another book, possibly a way to help out Faith. She looks down into the lobby, but it's deserted. She frowns. I guess Buffy wasn't so successful talking to Kira. Sighing, she reaches the lobby and starts to cross to the desk. As she does, she glances out into the garden, and stops dead in her tracks. A large smile breaks out on her face. Feeling slightly voyeuristic, she watches as Buffy and Kira kiss as if they've discovered the meaning of love.

" Well, it's about damned time, " she chuckles, and turns away, to give them some privacy.

Ireland

County Limerick

St. Camillus Hospital

Faith stands at the foot of Layne's bed, staring down at the sleeping woman.

She's been at the hospital for a number of hours now, while Layne went through emergency surgery, then into recovery, and finally here... in a semi private room. Fortunately, the bullet hadn't hit any major organs, and she would recover. That didn't make it any better for Faith.

That should be me lying there. The bullet was meant for me. Faith felt guilt. If Layne hadn't invited her to stay at her house, she wouldn't be lying here now. She knows the assassin or assassins had just made a mistake; once they found out they would be on her again. This is the second time someone's taken a bullet for me. It's going to be the last, if I can help it.

Of course, Faith wasn't even supposed to be here. Visiting hours were long past, and there were rules against her being here this late. As if that ever stopped her before. When they stopped her the first time, she didn't argue; she just found a way to sneak in. Standing here now, looking down on Layne as she slept, questions started to pop into her mind.

I don't understand it. If they were gunning for me, why shoot her? It's not like we look anything alike. There was a light on; they couldn't have mistaken her for me. Why did they shoot her? Fuck, who knows? Maybe it was a warning or something. Kind of " Quit or we kill more of your friends." But still, not making much sense. Layne and I knew each other, but us being friends is really stretching it. She kept her distance; probably didn't approve of me not being all Irish and all. Don't know about that. I do know she opposed me in the meeting. Even this 'Triad' must've known we weren't close. So why shoot her? How did they think I would react? It just doesn't make sense.

All Faith knew was that she didn't really want to be here. She hated hospitals with a passion, and avoided them like the plague. More than that, all this was beginning to make her question what she was doing in Ireland, anyway. Is this what I want? Friends and acquaintances shot, because of my 'vision'? What is ' my ' vision, anyway? Some super-duper organization to fight evil? Does that sound lame, or what? What good would it do, anyway? Like, Evil's going to go " Oh, no, we better get out of here now! The white hats are coming!" Yeah, that's gonna happen. Evil's not going to be put down, not going to go away with its tail tucked between its legs. It'll always be here, so what the fuck good would it do to fight, anyway? Seems like, just get the people I know killed. Is that it? Just keep fighting til you die? You and everybody else that means anything? Feeling exhausted, she sits down in one of the chairs. She leaned back and closed her eyes. Just for a minute, just to stop the burning.

What drove her to keep going? Remorse? Guilt? The desire for redemption? What did that mean, anyway, she wondered. She remembers Angel telling her, long ago, that you can never balance the scales, that what you've done is never washed away. That you get through the next 10 minutes, then the next 10 minutes. What if I can't? She'd asked, desperate with guilt and remorse. Then get through the next 5 minutes, he'd replied.

Now what, Angel? Buffy got shot; Layne got shot. What do I do now? Keep going until Kira gets shot, too? How 'bout Willow? Do I stop then? God, is this crap all worth it anyway? Who cares? Look around, no one gives a rat's ass. People still treat each other like shit. Why should I care? What good am I doing here? All I see is my friends hurt, and nothing, not a damned thing to show for it!

" Did I lie to you, Faith?" A familiar voice , almost next to her ear, whispers, " Did I tell you it was going to be easy?"

Faith's eyes fly open, and she turns, looking straight into the Angel's dark, intense eyes. He grins, and she nearly faints.

" Hey, hey... not here..." Helping her up, they walk out into the hall.

Recovering quickly, she backs off. Her tone is less than friendly.

" Ok, who the hell are you? A shape shifting demon? What is this? Some kind of new torture?" Almost by instinct, her stance turns defensive.

" Well, it's good to see you too, Faith, " Angel, with a small smile, approaches her.

" Don't even get closer, " Faith growls, " I'll break your neck before you can blink."

" Ok, ok, don't get hostile, Faith," Angel puts up his hands, stopping, " I mean, I get it. I'm dead and you can't believe I'm really here. Ok, fine. Anyone ever tell you, you've got some real trust issues to work out?"

" Do you think I'm a moron? I know Angel died... well, ceased to exist, when he fought the hordes Wolfram and Hart sent after him. So, who are you? Not the first, cuz your physical... and we sealed it up in the hellmouth. What are you?"

" I'm Angel, Faith. Ok, I don't live HERE anymore" he indicates around, " but I still exist... just on another plane. But I can see that convincing you of that is going to take a lot more time than I've got. Took pulling a lot of strings to let me make a guest appearance here. PtB aren't real fond of messing with reality. But they owed me a couple, so ... here I am."

" Look, whoever the fuck you are, it's not gonna work, ok? Don't even bother, don't waste your time. " Faith starts to walk past Angel, moving to leave the hospital, " I gave up on being rescued long time ago."

" Like you gave up on me, Faith?" Angel asks, quietly, " When I became Angelus again, to learn more about The Beast, I know you wouldn't let anything stop you from helping me. Not prison, not Connor, not even your life."

Faith stops, and turns, " I owed Angel... that's all. He never gave up on me, either."

" Not your life, Faith. You didn't owe me your life. I know you took Orpheus to stop Angelus, and it nearly killed you. I remember we shared that dream journey together. You saw my life with a soul, while having to be with the demon. I remember that alley, at the end, when I told you to get out, and you stayed. You kept fighting for me. You did leave, finally, in time to keep Connor from staking me. I know that, Faith. I'm just returning the favor now."

Faith is standing stock still. Her expression is neutral... there is no way to see the emotions she's feeling, except her hands are shaking. A lot.

" Angel?" Faith says in a low, dry voice. Half of her wants to run to him, but half is still wary.

Angel doesn't say anything. He just smiles that goofy, self effacing smile of his.

The walls break, and Faith runs to him, nearly knocking him over when she hugs him. Angel, bemused, just folds his arms about her.

" Whoa, ease up, Faith. What is it about you slayers?" Angel is almost laughing, " You're going to crack a rib if you keep hugging me so tightly!"

" Sorry, god... Angel... but... you... this ... it's all wrong!" For a second, she tenses up. Then she relaxes. " Don't care, I just need it to be real right now."

" I'm as real as you need me to be," Angels says, holding her quietly. " So, how's the gang?"

Faith looks up at him, and a smirk forms on her face, " Don't you mean, how's Buffy?"

" Busted, I guess, " Angel smiles, " never could put it over on you."

" She's fine. She... had a bad patch for awhile, but she's getting better now..."

" That wouldn't be about that obsession she has with you....now would it?"

" Huh.. hey, how did you know...?"

" Ummm.. on higher plane, sure, but we still get the news you know" Angels smiles ruefully, " anyway, anybody with eyes could see she had a thing about you all the way back when you first showed up in Sunnydale..."

" You didn't think I would've like to know this... why?" Faith gets a little testy. Wise assed Vampire with a soul.

"Well, if you remember, I was having my own thing with Buffy at the time, then you went all evil and shot me with that killer arrow... kind of makes you not wanting to start meaningful dialogues." Faith looks at him with arched brow." Ok, ok, I was a little jealous, too. I mean, I was with Buffy first...". Angel puts on his best broody face.

" My god, are you EVER going to get over her?" Faith shakes her head in amazement. She looks at him closely, " nope. Thinking not." She gets a wicked smile on her face, " B is so gonna freak when she sees you..."

Angel shakes his head.

" What?"

" I'm not here for long, Faith. I've got to go back... I just came because, well, frankly, you looked like you needed someone to talk to..."

Faith immediately closes up. " I'm fine, Angel. I've got it under control."

" I see. That's why it sounded like you were ready to quit back there?"

" What? I don't get to have doubts now?"

" That was more than doubts, Faith. I know . I've been there. You're feeling all alone, right? Isolated, like no one cares. You're thinking why am I even doing this? Who am I helping, anyway? And really, what does it matter? People will go on being crappy to each other, no matter what I do. Evil isn't going away, it's here to stay. So why should I even fight?"

" Did anyone ever tell you that a person's private thoughts are just that... private?" Faith sounds irritated.

" You think you're the first one to feel that way? I had those same thoughts, and a lot more, when I was alive... running Wolfram and Hart. All the compromise, the half truths. The paranoia. Who can you trust, who can't you trust? Making deals to do good, and having some evil just get worse. Two steps forward, one step back. Sometimes the other way around. I was on Autopilot, Faith. But inside, I was feeling really empty."

" Ummm... we're not going to like talk about God and Jesus and you start trying to like baptize me or anything, are we?"

" Uh... no." Angel gets a half grin, " but someone very close, who cared about me, used up a favor to remind me what it was all about, why I was fighting..."

Faith looks at him questioningly.

" Doesn't really matter now who it was, Faith, " Angel deflects, " the important thing is it came at just the right time. So, now that you're kind of where I was... I owe you that, Faith."

" Look, big guy, I appreciate the concern and all, but I haven't lost my way. I'm doing good here, and I'll get through this..." suddenly a thought occurs to her, " I'm going to get through this, right?"

" Not a gypsy, Faith. I don't do fortunes. Not my thing, " Angel puts up his hands, " I'm only here to remind you what it's about."

" Well, again, thanks anyway, but I know why I'm doing this, so... you can go back and sit around strumming harps, or whatever it is you're doing these days..."

" Why are you doing this, Faith?" Angel asks, calmly.

" Well, duh. Prophecy girl, remember? Lead the pack, road to rightness, all that stuff..."

" No, Faith, that isn't what I meant. Why are YOU doing it, Faith?" Angel is patient. " What's it mean to you?"

" To me?" Faith puzzles it over for a minute, or so. " It means, well... It's my redemption, you know? My way of making it up...for being you know a killer? On the good guy's team now, gotta fight the bad guys. And hey, I want lots of firepower against the baddies, ok? I mean, this is my shot to make it right, right?"

Angel sighs. " We talked about that, remember, Faith? Making it up? Not the point."

Faith looks confused. She thinks some more. " I owe it to you, Angel. I need to do this, because, you never gave up on me. Even when I tried to kill you, and Buffy came looking for my head on a pike, you believed in me. You fought this fight, and I now I've got to keep at it. Keep it alive. Because, I owe you, and I know it's what you'd want."

Angel smiles." That's very sweet, Faith. And very wrong."

Faith shakes her head impatiently. " Ok, smart guy, you tell me, then."

" Faith, I can't tell you the reason, or it's no good. You've got to figure it out on your own," Angel reaches out to her, " but I'll give you a hint. It has to do with waking up in the morning, and looking at yourself in the mirror...ok, for me, bad analogy, but you get my point. Every day you wake up, and you have a choice. You can live your life as if you don't know what's happening. You can give in to evil, accept it, and be done. Or , you can live it as if it counts. It's your choice, Faith. No one can choose for you." Angels' expression turns grim, " Evil is never going away. Not completely. As long as humans are human, evil will have a home in some hearts. All you can do is live your life as if each day counts. As if what you do matters, in some small way. You can't destroy evil, but you can surely give it a big headache." Angel sees Faith's expression , and continues, " look, Faith, it's never easy. The choices you make are never going to be black and white. It's all gray, well...mostly, anyway. Sometimes you'll do things that seem ... wrong at first. But it's here, " Angel points at her heart, " here where you'll know it's right. That your choice was right. Sometimes you'll slip, sometimes you'll fall. But if you really believe in what you're doing, you'll get back up again, and keep fighting. The whys you'll find in your heart. If you really listen to it. Find out what's important, and make it count."

"Well, that was... vague, " Faith says with a sarcastic edge, " I'm really not getting it here."

" Not now, but you will." Angel says. " You will."

" So that's it, then? Figure it out?" Faith looks at him intensely, " that was the big pep talk? Ummm... not very peppy!"

" I've told you everything you need to know, Faith. That's all I can do." Angel returns her gaze.

"What?"

" Hey, you! Miss? What're you doing here?" The security guard comes running down the hall. " No one's supposed to be here at this hour!"

" Umm... Hey, we were just visiting a friend... we'll go." Faith says.

" What 'we', miss?" The guard says, stopping in front of her, " I only see you here."

" Are you legally blind, pal?" Faith says," or do 6 foot guys just fall off you radar?" Faith turns around and sees Angel's gone. " Uhhh, ok, he was here a minute ago..."

" Of course he was, Miss." The security guard says, a fixed expression on his face. " Why don't you come with me now, and we'll come find your little friend later?"

" He was right..." but Faith can see the guard's expression, and gives up, " Ok, I'll go...never mind, I was here all by myself. Just kidding with you, you know?"

" Very amusing, miss. But I'm afraid you're still where your not supposed to be, and I'll be showing you out now!" The guard gently takes her elbow and steers her towards the elevators.

Faith allows herself to be led out. As they wait for the elevator, she looks back at the spot where Angel was standing. Her brow furrows. The doors to the elevators open, and the guard escorts her in.

The last thing we see is Faith's puzzled expression as the doors close.

Los Angeles, CA.

Hyperion Hotel

" Will ! This is great! This is perfect!"

Buffy, excited, gets up and walks over to Willow, giving her a big hug, " You're the man, Will !"

Willow doesn�t feel like ' the man'. She doesn't feel like anything, except maybe like the big fat loser that's going to let everyone done. Like always. She smiles tightly at the others.

It's a couple of hours later, after the little blow up with Kira, and the subsequent smooching in the garden. Willow, Buffy and Kira are back in the lobby, discussing ways to help Faith. Kira has come around, and is actively participating in the discussion.

Willow has revealed the findings of her research. Menoch's hope has one weakness, as told to her by Layne, and confirmed in her own research. The stone is the key; destroy the stone, and the power of the amulet is destroyed. But there's more. Evidently, the amulet itself is linked to the wearer when first put on. His own life force is channeled through the stone, increased as more and more of the opponent's life force is taken. This is part of its power, but it has a down side, a big one. IF the stone is destroyed, there's a good possibility that the wearer will be gravely injured, or worse.

This little factoid casts a small cloud over the group's excitement. None of them like the idea that they might be responsible for a human's death. Buffy finally speaks up.

" Look, guys, you know I'm not all happy about this, any more than you are. I've been in the position where I've taken life... it's not something I do with a song in my heart and dancing in the fields. But, hey, we didn't ask them to cheat. And they're cheating. We didn't set up this situation; they did. I know, taking a life is bad. But I hate the alternative worse, don't you?"

" I agree, Buffy," Kira says, a little sadly, " they aren't following the Marquis of Queensbury's rules here. They've got to take the consequences."

" That still doesn't make it right," Willow says, staring at her hands.

Sensing her friend's distress, Buffy goes over and sits next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. She lifts Willow's chin.

" Hey, Will, this is me, ok? I know this is really tough for you, especially for you. After what happened to Warren." She hugs Willow, " I know how bad you feel about what happened with Warren. I know it's hard to live with. But this is different, honey, honestly. If we don't do something, Faith will probably die. Her chances are real slim unless we do something. I don't want to say this, but she'll die, and it'll be on our hands because we didn't do anything."

" How could you know what I feel, Buffy? You never killed anyone..."

"What about Ted?"

" Ted was a robot, Buffy. He wasn't real."

" Ford was real, " Buffy says, quietly.

For a minute, Willow doesn't recognize the name. Then it hits her. Ford. Billy Fordham, Buffy's friend from L.A. that came to Sunnydale.

" But he ... he betrayed you, Buffy. He nearly got you killed. He tried to turn you over to Spike and Co. so they could kill you!" Willow feels for her friend, but it's not the same, " anyway, you didn't kill him, they did! The vampires!"

" I let him die, Will. I could've gotten him out. I had Drusilla, Spike knew I'd kill her. I could've forced them to bring him up, I could've saved him. But I was hurt and angry, Will. I hated what he did to me, even though I knew he was dying. I hated that he used me, and our friendship, that way. So, I didn't save him. I let them kill him. It's the same as if I did it myself."

" He tried to have you killed, Buffy!"

" And Warren killed Tara. Even if he didn't mean to, he still killed her."

" But I killed him with my own hands. I ..."

Kira is listening to the two of them in utter amazement. She never knew about this aspect of their lives. She can see the pain and guilt they feel, and her heart aches for the both of them. After all they've done to save the world, after all they've given up, and they still feel remorse over this. Kira sighs to herself. Being a hero? Not so easy.

" Willow, you were insane with rage and grief. I'm not trying to excuse what you did. Killing someone? Never a good thing. Never. But you can't stay stuck in that place, not forever. Look at Faith. She's killed more people than you, and for reasons that weren't nearly as justified. Do you think it's been a walk in candy land for her? She's accepted what she's done, and she's learned to live with it. Not easily, I'm sure. But she's strong, Willow, and so are you. You've got to find a way to get past this, and deal. We don't have big choices here. You know that."

"I'm trying, Buffy, I really am trying, " Willow cries, " but I can't...I just can't get past it... I can't do this..."

Buffy senses there's something Willow's not telling. Something she's hiding. She pulls a bluff.

" It happened again, didn't it?" Buffy says, her tone growing hard.

"What?" Willow looks up, guilt written all over her face. Buffy knows.

" You went dark again, didn't you Will? You used the magic, and you went dark."

" No... Buffy... not ...no...I..." Willow breaks down. " Not while I was doing it, after... when you found me...I , oh god, Buffy, I saw myself start to change... " Willow is shaking.

" So, you couldn't let it alone, right Will? You just had to use it again, didn't you?"

" Buffy, you don't understand, she wouldn't tell me about Faith. She was being a real..."

" Then you call her a bitch. You don't scare her with dark forces, Will," Buffy's almost on top of Willow now, grinding it in.

" Let her alone, Buffy!" Willow gets support from an unexpected front: Kira.

" Kira, stay out of it. I know Willow and what she can become a lot better than you do," Buffy snaps.

" Granted. But I know my sister a lot better than you do, Buffy Summers, and I know exactly what SHE can do... And I'm pretty sure she was doing it to Willow."

" I said, butt out, Kira." Buffy turns to Willow, " So, now, you're scared of what you've become, again. And you're just going to retreat back into weak, helpless Willow mode, right? When we need you, you're going to let us down. You're going to let Faith die... because YOU don't have any self control... right, Willow?"

" I'm sorry, Buffy, I'm really sorry!" Willow cries out.

" You're not sorry. You don't give a rat's patootie, Will. Faith might die, and all you care about is you. Well, boo hoo, Willow Rosenberg..."

Buffy would've gone on, but she was blindsided by a furious Kira. She finds herself on the floor, looking up into intensely smoking mad gray eyes.

"What the hell is your problem. Can't you see she's sorry? Why're you bullying her like that. God, I didn't know about this side of you, Buffy. If I did, I don't know if I would've..."

Kira would've gone on, but suddenly she finds herself flying through the air, along with Buffy. Both women find themselves pinned to a lobby wall.

Willow is standing up, arms raised. Her eyes aren't black, but they're definitely angry.

" BE QUIET! BOTH OF YOU!" She shouts, her face flushed red.

"What in the hell..." Kira exclaims, trying to struggle free... but she can't even see what's holding her. She looks over, and stops. Instead of struggling, Buffy is next to her, grinning like an idiot.

" Do you really think I'm stupid, Buffy Summers? Do you think I don't know what you were doing? Trying to piss me off so I'd get angry and stop whining?" Willow looks at her sideways, " Well, dammit, it worked. Now the both of you, stop this fighting. We've got work to do!" She gestures and says something, and both women float back to the ground. Buffy starts over towards Willow, but Kira stands where she is, shaken.

Buffy looks back, and waves to Kira. " C'mon, Willow's ok. Trust me, this isn't even close to evil Willow. Sometimes when she gets like that, you just got to get her mad enough to break out of it." Buffy turns and grins at Willow. " I did my homework on Willowosity 101."

" No thanks," Kira says, softly, " I think I'm just fine right here."

" Willow, you scared her, " Buffy chastises Willow.

" Awww, I'm sorry, " Willow says." Look in your hand, Kira."

Kira, wary, looks down, and opens her palm. Lying there is the most perfect rosebud she's ever seen. Right before her eyes, it opens, into a beautiful golden colored rose. It seems to glow. Shaking a little, she holds it to her nose. In her mind she sees her home, back in Ireland. It's summer, and the fields are green, full of flowers. She can feel the dew on the grass, and smell the soft sweet scent of the flowers. She feels the sunshine on her face, and an intensely happy feeling flows through her.

" It's called the bloom of sweet memories. Any time you need to feel a little better, just hold it to your nose, and a happy memory will be recalled." Willow approaches her, smiling. " I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

" Thank you," Kira smells the rose again, and another memory of a happy day flows through her, " it's so beautiful." As she watches, the rose changes back into a bud. "What happened?"

" It senses your mood. Once you're calm, it reverts to its sleeping state. Keeps you from using it all the time. It's only for times when you really need it."

Kira, touched to her heart, hugs Willow. She whispers softly into her ear, " I can understand why Faith loves you so much." She feels Willow start to shake, and hears her quiet sobs. " Hey... hey... it's ok. She'll be ok. We'll see to that."

" I know... I just wish... that things hadn't been so bad when she left. She...must feel so alone..."

" Shhh... don't. Faith's not a fool. She knows you love her. "

" I just wish I could see her and tell her that..."

" You will. I promise, you will."

"Hey, guys? I really hate to poop on the party here, but we've got a lot to do. Is touchy-feely time over now?" Buffy, standing at the other side of the lobby, calls out.

Willow looks at Kira. Kira looks at Willow. They exchange a smile. Turning, they start towards Buffy.

Buffy, suddenly getting a clue as to what they're up to, starts to back towards the garden exit.

" Oh no... oh, no you don't." She says. Turning, she runs out the garden door.

" You come back here, Buffy Summers!" Kira calls out , as she and Willow chase after her.

Ireland

County Limerick

St. Camillus Hospital

2 days later.

Layne Hearne opens her eyes. Sitting next to her bedside is Faith, looking pale and a little worried. The room is dark except for a small lamp in her headboard.

" You!" Layne says, and coughs. " What're you doing here?" Her expression is a little grim.

" A lot of people are worried about you, Layne Hearne. Getting shot is kind of a big deal. They want to know how you're doing."

" I'm hanging in there. But that still doesn't tell me. What're YOU doing here?" Layne looks around, and winces. " Matter of fact, what'm I doing here? I figured I be strumming a harp somewhere by now."

" Yeah, well, I'm the one who found you. Guess I feel responsible for you now, god knows why." Faith makes a face, " anyway, I would've been here sooner, but ... well, things are a little crazy right now."

" Indeed. Things. Lehane things, I presume, " Layne says, a brittle quality to her voice. She turns her head away from Faith." So, am I fired, then?"

" Huh?"

" Ok, you aren't the sharpest needle on the pine tree , are you Faith? Fired. As in terminated, without position, between jobs, you know, unemployed?"

" I know what fired is, Layne. Why would I be firing you, Layne?"

" Oh, I dunno. Going against you at the board meeting a few days back. Doing things to make your position weaker. Maybe puttin' that shiv in your back... those sound good?"

" Oh, I see. You disagree with me, so I fire you then?" Faith is only half kidding.

" Oh, I did more than disagree with you, Faith."

" I know. You kind of actively campaigned to get my ass in a sling, right? Well, not saying I'm not totally pissed at you. Wanting maybe to knock you around a little. Would've been real nice if you respected me and came to me with your concerns. Fire you. Hmmm... novel concept. Have to think on that." Faith pauses for a moment. " So, what's the deal? Why didn't you come to me?"

" You're the clever one, aren't you? You figure it out."

" Oh. Maybe because you think I got your job?" Faith smirks. " You think I'm that stupid, Layne? Never mind, I already know the answer."

Layne looks at her, surprised.

" Oh yeah, I know Layne. You thought you had a lock on being head of the clan...til that pesky prophecy and I interfered, right?"

" I should've had it. It was mine. It was mine by rights. I was born into it. What're you, but some interfering American half breed ? You come here, thinkin' you can change everything around. Who're you to tell me what's right?"

" I'm your boss."

Layne just stares at her, lips tight.

" So, is that why you did it, Layne? Is that why you sicced the Triad on me?"

Layne doesn't say a word, just stares.

" I know you're part of it, Layne. Don't try to lie to me. I've done some checking around while you've been in here. So, I'm asking again...and believe me, what you say counts. Is that why you sicced the triad on me? Is that why a close friend of mine got shot, oh... and why I've had a few assassination attempts on me while I've been here? "

" It wasn't supposed to go like that. I didn't want you dead, only out. But some elements of the Triad felt that wasn't enough... and they took matters into their own hands."

" But, you just kept quiet, didn't bother to like, warn me?"

" I didn't know what they were up to until after. Honestly, Faith. I didn't. When I learned they were gunning for you...that's why I invited you into my home. I figured they'd back off at that. And they did. But again, I didn't know they had other plans for you..."

"What're you talking about?" Faith asks.

" What? Didn't your friends get ahold of you?" Layne exclaims. " I told the witch everything."

" Willow? You told Willow? What did you tell Willow?" Faith leans closer, " What is this all about."

" I told her about the Cammaragh. Told her to warn you off. Didn't she tell you?"

" I haven't been anywhere she could reach me. I can't go back to your place, it's a crime scene. It's sealed off. And hotels? Not feeling real safe there... wonder why that is?" Faith's tone is sarcastic, " frankly, I've only been to Lehane and here... sleeping mostly here."

" Damn, " Layne mutters. She turns to Faith." The Cammaragh. You've got to stop it. You can't go through with it. Not now. It's rigged, girl. That's what I was trying to warn them about when..."

"When?"

" When they shot me. The Triad. Well, Sean to be specific. He shot me, right after I got done talking to the Witch."

" Shot you? Your own people shot you?" Faith looks at her sideways," there's almost an ironic justice in that."

" They shot me... he shot me, because he didn't like that I spilt the beans about his plans."

"What plans?"

Briefly, Layne explains Sean's plans about the Cammaragh. Faith listens silently, her face a mask.

" ... so you see, you've got to stop it. You can't go through with it. Not now. You don't have a chance."

Faith's face is grim. She stands up. She looks down on Layne.

" It's too late, I can't back out now. I've got to go through with it."

" Too late? Why? When is it?"

" Tomorrow morning."

" Damn, " Layne curses, " Faith, I never meant for it to go this far..."

Faith is almost at the door of the room when she turns.

" Layne, I wouldn't be worrying so much about me right now."

" What do you mean?"

" You called Willow a witch, so I'm assuming she did something to you to make that fact known to you."

" Er... yeah." Layne winces a little at the memory.

" Well, if you believe in a god, you better pray to it now. Pray that I make it through this. Otherwise..." Faith trails off, and looks at Layne with some pity.

" What?"

" You don't want to know what she did to the person who killed her last girlfriend ."

With that, Faith turns and walks out of the room.

The door closes behind her, on a very scared looking Layne.

To be continued.
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Independence