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Wishing Changes Everything	By : Declan Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 9748 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy The Vampire Slayer Television Series. Joss Whedon does. This is done for simple fun, I'm not making any money from this.

Chapter List
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Beauty And The Beasts (Part 1: Girl Talk, Boy Trouble)

“Lehane?”
“Yep.”
“Faith Lehane,” Buffy thought about it. “I like it. It fits.”
Faith shrugged. “It’s a name, B. I don’t really think too much about it.”
The two slayers were walking side by side through the cemetery, the night was clear and the moon was full. Buffy thought it was kind of romantic, even if she was strolling about looking for vampires. With a girl. Buffy just had to use her imagination a little.
It had been a week since the two slayers had dealt with Kakistos and since then had been patrolling together for a few hours almost every night. Buffy was determined to get to know Faith a little better, between staking the undead that is.
“Is that Irish? It sounds kind of Irish.”
“Well, there is a whole lot of Irish in Boston, you know. It’s kinda known for it.” Faith looked at her and grinned.
‘Well, that’s another ‘thing I didn’t know about Faith that I should’ve known the first time round’ ticked off the list.’
“Well my full name is Buffy Anne Summers.” Buffy replied. “It’s like my Mom just knew I was gonna be a cheerleader.”
“You were a cheerleader?”
“Is that your question?”
Faith shook her head and lapsed into silence as she thought about what to say. Buffy’s brilliant plan to get to know Faith more, and also break up the boredom, was a game of Q and A.
So far she’d found out that Faith liked baseball, specifically she was a Red Sox fan (no surprise there), loved gory horror movies (yuck), hated musicals (Buffy agreed in principal since she hadn’t seen one she’d liked) and if she had to eat one food for the rest of her life it would’ve been popcorn (cookies!). All vital information, Buffy thought.
“Hey, you ever catch kids doing the diddy out here?” Faith asked. Her questions tended to be more sex-related than Buffy’s.
“Nah. There’s a smooch spot up by the woods. That’s usually where kids go.”
“Yeah? I bet you and Scott have been up there kickin’ the gear shifts.”
Buffy gave her a sidelong glance. “Hardly. We’ve only been on two dates. I don’t move that fast.”
Faith smirked knowingly as she toyed with her stake. “But you like him, right? When you think about him you get that good, low down tickle.”
“I don’t know...he’s okay I guess.” Buffy twirled one of her pigtails. “It’s just, he’s normal – very actually, and I’m not sure I’m ready to seriously date again. Don’t suppose you’d have any advice you’d care to share.”
“I get it, the whole secret ID thing, it kinda screws things up. You’re thinking how a normal guy fits into all that crazy shit, or if it’s even possible. Personally, it looks like you’re overthinkin’ things, y’know. Just go with what feels good, forget about the rest.”
Buffy was impressed. “That made a sort of sense, don’t dwell or over think. Live in the moment.”
Faith smiled in mock admiration. “Man, B. You make me sound so smart.”
“Okay, sorry- didn’t mean to patronize. Anyway, it was my turn to ask a question. Um, okay, what’s the first thing you look for in a guy?”
Faith’s smile widened into a grin. “Gotta say I like a guy with rhythm, I meet someone in a club who can keep up with me while dancin’ then maybe he knows his way round a little horizontal two-step, y’know?”
Buffy frowned at that. “So what, no conversation, no witty jokes, no finding out if you have anything in common?”
Faith smirked. “Nope, not an issue. A cute smile, a nice butt and stamina- the only things I’m interested in. Look B, when are y’gonna learn, nine times out of ten, a guy wants one thing from a girl. And I don’t care how sensitive they act, their all just in it for the chase.”
Buffy was a little taken aback, even though she though she knew Faith’s view of relationships pretty well. “Gee, that’s nice and depressing. How did you get so cynical?”
“Not cynical. Realistic. Every guy who sees a girl like you or me,” Faith’s gaze drifted down Buffy’s form to emphasise what she was saying. “Guaranteed there’s one on his mind; wild, animal sex as soon as possible. Rest is just talk.”
“Yeah? What about Oz or Xander, they don’t think like that.”
Faith raised her eyebrows. “You see the way Xander was checkin’ me out? Besides high school ain’t the real world. Sooner you learn that the better off you’ll be. Believe me.”
Buffy sighed. Faith’s world view had a way of profoundly depressing her. How could a seventeen year old have the same thought process as a bitter old spinster? Faith’s trust issues probably had trust issues.
Faith looked around. “Place looks dead tonight. And not the fun walkin’ around type of dead either.”
Buffy agreed. “A whole lot of no fun for Buffy.”
“B, when you start referin’ to yourself in the third person even I know that’s a bad sign, so what’s up?”
Buffy glanced at the other girl. “Nothing...It’s just, what you said about people, guys, it seems way too grim to me. I don’t think you can be happy with that outlook. Y’know, maybe it’s just Boston guys, like that Matt Damon character- I never liked him- kinda shifty.”
Faith shrugged expansively. “Hey, I’m five-by-five here, B. You’re the one who doesn’t seem to be having any fun.” Faith stepped in a little closer. “Is it Scotty- hasn’t he been pulling you into the janitor’s closet and giving you the old…”
With that Faith made her trademark grunting noise that made Buffy simutaneously blush and roll her eyes.
“I told you I don’t…”
“Have any speed other than ‘good girl’, I got it.” Faith was now walking backwards in front of Buffy as she talked, she then looked a little uncomfortable for a moment. “Is it, y’know, the whole Angel thing?”
Buffy looked at the ground, Faith seemed to have forgotten her moment of insight about Buffy’s state of mind when they had first met, and Buffy was fine with that- she didn’t even begin to know how to explain this whole screwed up situation to anyone, never mind Faith.
“Angel...the Angel-y part of my life, it’s over now. I have to accept that he won’t be coming back. It was great while it lasted.” Buffy saw Faith’s sceptical look, “It was, Faith. Being with him...I loved him more than anything, and I know he loved me. Even with the bad stuff- pain, heartbreak, so much crying that I regularly had to hydrate myself, I’m still glad it happened.”
Faith cocked her head like Buffy had just suddenly started speaking Spanish, and then shook her head. “Whatever. Point is you’re movin’ on right. I don’t see the prob.”
“No problem, let’s just forget it, okay. You’re happy then I’m happy.” Buffy thought about it and smiled. “It’s nice, actually. Talking to someone about Angel, everyone else- there’s a history there, they wouldn’t understand and I wouldn’t feel comfy with it. So thanks.”
Faith gave her a cocky smirk. “Y’know me Buffy, built for comfort.”
“And speed, apparently.” Buffy snarked.
“I can’t help it if I know what guys want.”
“And so modest too...”

*~~*

“I don’t think that’s true. That every guy is in it for the chase.” Willow commented, seemingly a little nervous.
Buffy nodded. “I know it’s an awful generalisation, she had a few bad experiences maybe?”
Suddenly at the top of the stairs they were interrupted by a shout. “Hey, Buffy! Wait up!”
Scott moved over to them quickly, Buffy rolled her eyes good-naturedly towards Willow who made an aww face at Oz, who in turn remained typically neutral.
He stood next to her. “Hey. That’s pretty much why I stopped you. Hey.”
Buffy shook her head like he was a nut, but she was pleased. Smiling she said, “Hey Scott.”
Following up behind Scott were his two friends Pete and Debbie, Buffy remembered them from last ‘year’ and had vowed to herself to keep an eye on Pete as best she could.
Debbie and Oz obviously knew each other and launched into a conversation about Jazz band, Buffy tuned them out a little, remembering that last night had been a wolf moon for Oz. So somebody had already got hurt because of Pete- a James or Jim or John something. Buffy felt pretty terrible for not remembering anything about the poor guy so that she could’ve saved him but she’d been overtaken by everything else last time.
“We didn’t miss flowers did we?” Scott was asking her, a little anxiously.
“Uh, not as far as I know. We’re still pre-posy.” ‘That reminds me.’
She checked her watch. “Ooh, I’ve got Mr. Platt today,”
Debbie brushed her hair back and made a face. “Mr. Platt, the school counsellor?”
“Yep. I’ve need to convince him I’m chock full of sanity so I can stay in school.”
Scott looked thoughtful. “Sane. Okay. Topics to avoid- the little men that live in your teeth... Your compulsion to paint circus clowns...”
Buffy looked solemn. “But if God keeps telling me to kill- it just seems snotty not too, you know?”
Scott smiled. “You’ll do fine.”
Debbie gave Buffy a warning look. “Platt creeps me out. I would totally quit going, but I’m flunking senior bio and my teacher says I have ‘success issues’.”
Buffy flicked her gaze over to Pete who had remained quiet throughout- obviously he had his own issues with Debbie getting some help. This time she’d make sure she’d stop him before he hurt Mr. Platt.
Buffy broke in. “I’ve gotta run.” She turned to Scott and gave him a quick kiss. “See you.”
Buffy, Willow and Oz separated from the others and headed down the hallway, Buffy quickly noticed Willow was giving her a sappy smile.
“What?”
Willow giggled. “Oh nothing, just you and Scott- kissing at school.”
“Not a big deal. We’ve kissed before.”
The redhead nodded. “But that was in the dark, alone. A school kiss is different- a whole ‘nother deal. Its statement-y, it says ‘hey peers, we’re smooching’.
Buffy frowned. “You think it was too much. Too fast, I’m going too fast. Ooh, damn that Faith and her cajoling- she says I’m going too slowly.”
Willow looked at her with an unreadable expression. “You talked to Faith about Scott?”
“No, about relationships in general. Will, she is the voice of experience when it comes to guys- in fact she’s like a hard-bitten veteran with a thousand yard stare, but still. I’d just thought I’d get her input.” Buffy glanced at her watch again. “Crap. Anyway, catch you later.”

*~~*

“The Two o’clock, Buffy Summers.”
Buffy entered the office and quickly took a seat. Platt was turned away, finishing a cigarette.
Buffy looked round the room, smiling at the memory of it all. “Buffy Summers, reporting for sanity.”
Platt turned around in his chair, his expression warm and amiable. “If I didn’t know better I’d swear you sound pleased to be here.”
Buffy watched as he stubbed out the remains of his cigarette into an ashtray and then put the ashtray in his desk drawer. He then extracted a can of air freshener and sprayed the air a bit.
Buffy smiled at what he was doing. “So, you smoke and you swear. And what kind of example are you trying to set Mr. Guidance counsellor?”
Platt gestured vaguely at the wall where he had framed plaques. “See, I have my credentials. Listen Buffy, you may have your doubts about this whole process and that’s okay. But I think what you need is a trained, not-to-crazy professional who you can talk to and will always give you honest opinion. Which I offer.”
Buffy’s smile widened, she remembered why she liked this guy so much. “Okay. Well, you probably know that I ran away. My Mom and I had a big, intense fight and...I bailed, I guess I couldn’t deal. But I’m back...obviously, and I’m moving on, I even met someone new. I’m all kinds of good.”
Platt moved around the desk, leaned on it and looked at her intently. “All good things. But still- it feels like you’re bringing me in at the end of the movie.”
Buffy shrugged, deciding to take the question a bit more seriously. “Okay, well I was dating this guy. It ended badly. And that’s why I freaked.”
“So tell me about this guy. The bad-ending guy.”
Buffy looked at her hands. “He was my first... I loved him. But then he changed. Actually he broke my heart and left me. And, I guess, part of me wonders if I’ll ever really love like that again. Or, if I can even let myself.”
Platt nodded sympathetically. “You know- lots of people lose themselves in love. There’s no shame in it, Buffy. Hey, they write songs about it. The thing is- you can’t stay lost. Sooner or later you have to get back to yourself.” He paused. “Still, it sounds like you are trying- this moving on to someone new?”
Buffy smiled at the thought. “Yeah, Faith makes me feel better.” ‘Oh God what did I just say.’
Platt raised his eyebrows slightly. “Faith is a...girl, I’m guessing.”
Buffy was sure had face had caught fire. “Um...N-no, what I meant was Faith is a friend, a new friend. Not a romance friend. I mean I have a romance friend, his name is Scott and he’s very nice and obviously a boy, not that I had him checked or anything, but it’s just he looks like a boy and Faith looks very much like a girl, y’know?”
Platt nodded. “So you just got the two of them...mixed up, is that right?”
“Right, you bet. It was a slip. Two new people in my life and, I’m just not used to saying their names, so- I’m guessing a crossed wire. Not an actual crossed wire in the brain- like a mental thing.” Buffy was almost impressed at how her ability to make simple sentences had simply vanished.
Platt pulled a notebook over a made a note in it. Then smiled at her. “Are you done?”
Buffy laughed weakly. “So, I’m guessing that’s you pencilling me in for tomorrow?”

*~~*

Buffy walked into the library, still thinking about her slip. Faith did make her feel better- but not in a romance way. Just helping her made Buffy feel good about herself...and Faith. Stupid counsellors and their stupid confusing questions.
Then she stopped as she noticed Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia sitting round looking glum.
“I’m afraid to ask.”
Cordelia piped up. “Oz ate someone last night.”
Willow looked stricken. “He did not!”
Xander jumped to Oz’s defence. “Oz does not eat people. It’s more like werewolf play. You know- I bat you around a little bit, like a cat toy. I have harmless wolf-fun. Is it Oz’s fault that, you know, side effect, people get cut to ribbons and then...”
Buffy frowned. “Not helping, Xander.”
Giles was calmer, although even he sounded worried. “Oz may have out of his cage last night.”
Oz’s usual unflabbable-ness was strained. “Or there’s another werewolf roaming the woods.”
Giles scratched his forehead. “Perhaps. Or perhaps it was something else entirely.”
‘Oh, don’t worry guys- it’s just my new boyfriend’s best buddy on a rampage. What are the odds, huh?’
Buffy walked towards them sounding confident. “Look, guys, its okay. We’ll work together and we’ll figure this out. I mean, Oz was in the cage this morning, right? That probably means it was someone else. A vampire or an animal, maybe even a person.” She looked at Oz. “We look at everything before we jump to any conclusions.”
She looked at Giles. “Who was the guy?”
“Um, Jeff Walken, he was a student here.”
“Jeff...” Buffy had been pretty far from guessing the actual name, but still.
Giles looked at her a little concerned. “You knew him?”
“Only a little, from last year.”
Giles nodded. “Well, uh, anyway, Buffy- you should patrol the woods. The rest of you check out the morgue.”
“Right, we can check if it’s a werewolf kill or not,” Willow tried to sound positive. Then she looked concerned, “But what about Oz?”
Giles thought for a moment. “Um, well I have some research materials at home that I need to look at but, uh, we could ask Faith to watch over him.”
“Oh, you’re having a slayer watch me. It’s good we’re not over-reacting.” Oz, freaking, got up to go leave but Willow hurried after him and put a hand on his shoulder.
Oz turned to her. “Okay. You know that thing where you bail in the middle of an upsetting conversation? I have to do that. It’s kinda dramatic, I know but sometimes it’s a necessary guy thing.”
Willow nodded in understanding. “I know. And I want you too. Do the guy thing- but...” She gestured at the clock, which showed it was close to sunset.
Buffy watched as they both walked over to the cage, seeing Oz’s frustration and Willow’s worry made her more determined that there wouldn’t be anymore people hurt, she just had to figure out how.
She looked at Giles. “I’ll swing by Faith’s and tell her what’s up before going out, then I’ll see if we can find another suspect.”
Giles looked out the window at the approaching night. “I hope we do.”
Willow turned away from the cage looking like she was going to be sick. Buffy walked over to her and put a hand on her arm. “It’s going to be alright. We’ll find the bad guy and stop them, trust me.”
Willow nodded like she wasn’t really listening. “I need to get all burglar-y, find out who did this.”
Buffy let her leave with Xander and Cordelia in tow. Sometimes knowing the truth and been unable to tell anybody was just no fun at all. She sighed- other things that were no fun included hunting the woods for an animalistic Angel-shaped person and then chaining him up in a nearby mansion.
Buffy was sure nobody else had trouble like this with their ex.

*~~*

Faith smiled as she opened the door. “Hey, B. You’re a little early for patrol, just gimme a sec.”
Buffy walked in and as Faith turned away she found herself looking over the other girl, in a totally not checking her out kind of way. Faith was dressed in black boots, a tight black t-shirt and a short denim skirt.
‘Wait, Faith owns a skirt?’
Faith looked good, Buffy could admit that, with her taste in clothes and makeup, tattoo and long dark hair Faith had the ‘bad girl’ appeal that Buffy knew a lot of guys went crazy for. Maybe some girls too, for all she knew. But not Buffy. After all, this girl had at one time held a knife to her throat after threatening to torture her. Admittedly she had then kissed Buffy on the forehead, which made her the only girl to do that since Hemery High. And even then those had been friend kisses on the cheek not big, sloppy evil kisses.
And of course there had been the other Faith kiss. The sweet, shy kiss from last week that Buffy didn’t want to think about because it was confusing.
Because Buffy had felt something from that kiss, her heart had sped up and her skin had flushed. Like it had been a romantic kiss and not a ‘thank you’ kiss, and Faith hadn’t mentioned it again anyway which meant Buffy should just forget about it as well.
At the moment Buffy was thinking that therapy was damaging to her mental health.
Putting on a denim jacket that matched her outfit Faith caught Buffy staring. “What?”
“Nothing,” Buffy managed not to splutter, since she’d been doing that a lot earlier today. “You, um, look nice.” She figured Not-evil Faith deserved a compliment.
Faith flicked her hair away from her jacket. “Figure I’d hit the Bronze a little later after we finish up.”
“Actually, um, you might have to change your dance plans. I need a favour. Someone from the school got killed last night- looks like an animal attack, maybe even a werewolf.” Buffy sat on Faith’s bed. “The others are doing research- looking at the body and stuff, so I was wondering if you could watch Oz tonight; make sure he stays in his cage. I know it’s not fun- but it is important.”
Faith frowned and scratched the back of her head. “I guess I could. What’re you gonna be doing?”
“I’ll poke out in the woods to see if anything else is roaming about.”
Faith crossed her arms. “Well, y’see, t’me that seems a bit more fun. Why can’t I do that?”
Buffy rolled her eyes. “Because I know the woods, and I’ve hunted werewolves before. Look, if I get done early I’ll come and relieve you, okay.”
Faith smirked. “Always on the lookout for a little release.”
Buffy reddened a little. “I said relieve. Relieve.”
Faith’s smirk widened into a cocky grin. “You’re so easy, B.” Faith then started collecting a few items to take with her, including a walkman and some tapes.
Buffy cleared her throat. “Actually, there’s something else I wanted to ask you.” She found herself nervously fiddling with the bedspread.
“If it’s for me to stop teasin’ you Buffy, sorry -no chance.”
“No, it’s just, um, would you like to come and stay at my house for a while?” Buffy looked at the other girl, trying to gauge her reaction.
Faith wrinkled her nose. “What -like a sleepover?”
Buffy nodded. “Sort of like a sleepover...except it would be for more than one night, and you would, um, move all your stuff from here into a room at my house.”
Faith scowled suspiciously. “What for?”
Buffy stood up and moved around nervously. “Lots of reasons, like I wouldn’t have to walk over here all the time, and also, when we patrol we would start and finish in the same place. That would probably save a lot of time, right?”
Faith shook her head. “Look, Buffy...”
“And you would get free food. My Mom cooks, which you probably remember, and there’s always leftovers for a hungry slayer- my mom has no portion control.” Buffy smiled at Faith, “Plus I’d pretty much love to have you. Um, have you over. At my house. As in the location. My Mom too.”
Faith expression had changed from puzzled to pissed and now she just looked bemused. “Look, if your mom’s worried about me or something just tell her to chill, okay. I’m a slayer.”
Buffy nodded. “Exactly. You’re a slayer who fights evil for a living, and I also consider you my friend. Those are two very good reasons for you not to stay in this crap-tastic place any longer. Faith, just think about it okay?”
Faith softened. “Alright, I guess I’ll think about it.”
Buffy beamed at the brunette. “Okay, I’ve got to run. Good luck with the Oz-watch.”

*~~*

‘Maybe if I’d thought this through a little bit more I would have brought along some sort of Angel-catching device, like a net. Or a club. Or both. Anything to make this easier.’
Buffy walked through the undergrowth, which was just as spooky as she remembered, trying to mentally prepare herself for Angel.
Angel -back in her life, ready to start the whole doomed love cycle all over again. Brooding, Thoughtful Angel and Concerned, Sensitive Angel, not to mention Sweaty, Half-Naked Angel- can’t forget him after all.
“Here, Angel.” She called softly, straining to listen for rustles in the undergrowth. “C’mon, I haven’t got all night. Can we please get this over with...”
Buffy stopped as she heard a noise in the bushes, something moving through them that was larger than the usual night critter. She saw a flash of movement, a pale shoulder illuminated in the moonlight for a moment and then gone. Buffy gave chase instantly, bursting through greenery and knocking a few branches aside as she entered a small clearing.
Event though she was prepared Angel’s speed caught her off guard, slamming into her as she turned towards him. Buffy fell sprawling in the dirt, the growling figure running past a little before stopping to look back. She saw Angel, his face snarling and savage and his mouth smeared with blood. His body was caked with dirt and scratched and his skin was red in places like he’d been sunburnt.
Buffy flipped to her feet, ignoring the knotted feeling in her stomach from seeing him again. She knew that Angel was in there somewhere, traumatised and in pain, and she could reach him. Even if she had to kick his ass to do it.
Angel ran at her again snarling, Buffy backed up and dropped backwards, timing it to stick a foot upwards that caught Angel in the chest and launched him over her head- sending him flying into a nearby tree. Buffy then rolled so she was next to him, smacking him in the face and then trying to pin him to the ground. With a roar he threw her off and leapt after her, Buffy managed to grab his outstretched arms and flip him over her shoulder, then she twisted to kick Angel in the face. Another solid punch later and the vampire lay comatose, overcome with pain.
Buffy stared at him for a moment, letting her thoughts slow and settle. Angel was here and she had to decide what to do. Who did she tell? Giles? Willow? Faith? Secrecy wasn’t the answer- she knew that, the others deserved to know. Blowing out a breath she decided to secure him first then think about it.
Later, at the mansion she managed to get Angel manacled to one of the wrought iron fixtures that dotted the walls, she picked a studier one than last time, it was more important now that he didn’t end up running around any time soon.
As Angel came to Buffy quickly wiped some of the blood off his mouth with a tissue and stepped well back. “Angel? Um, I hope I didn’t hit you to hard- you didn’t leave me a lot of choice.”
Angel seemed to shy away from her voice, growling under his breath.
“Can you understand me? I know you’re in there somewhere...” Buffy resisted the urge to reach out and touch him. She glanced at the charred silhouette on the floor of the mansion, Angel’s return back into the world etched in stone.
“So, did those pants survive Hell with you or did you mug some poor homeless guy for them?” Buffy hoped that Angel remembered how she joked in times of stress because this- this was a doozy of a time. Unfortunately all he seemed to be doing now was remaining hunched over, his body tense and ready to attack if she came near.
Buffy backed away from him slowly. “I’ll come back...I promise.”

*~~*

Buffy entered the library to see Faith, in front of Oz’s cage, dancing away to her music. She felt the anxiety in her gut melt a little seeing the other slayer; at least here she knew what she was doing.
Buffy walked carefully over to the brunette and tapped her on the shoulder, Faith spun round and Buffy managed to catch her arm before in smacked her in the face.
“Buffy! Jeez, you scared me. Um, sorry I almost...” Faith took her headphones off and shrugged apologetically.
“That’s okay- I saw it coming this time.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Anyway I figured I’d give you the rest of the night off, just like I promised.”
“Cool. I was goin’ nuts here anyway. No luck on patrol, huh?”
Buffy tensed up a little. ‘Here goes.’ “Actually, yeah, I found something pretty important- but I need to do research.” Buffy gestured around the library. ”I want to be able to give Giles and the others some real answers in the morning, y’know.”
Faith nodded. “Right, so, where do we start?”
“Um, you want to help? I thought you couldn’t wait to get out of here?” Buffy was surprised- she thought Faith was allergic to books.
“I was going crazy being here alone, doing nothing. If this is so important and y’want some company, I’ll stick around.”
Buffy smiled, she knew that Faith would rather be out slaying things, it was sweet she was offering to do something not fun to help out. “Okay, well I, um, need to research into demon dimensions and also wish-granting entities. Which do you want?”
Faith made a face like she was already regretting her decision. “The wish one, I guess. Is that like genies and monkey’s paws and stuff?”
‘Ooh, monkey’s paw- hadn’t thought of that one...’ “And stuff. I’ll look through Giles card catalogue, you get some stuff from the snack machine, okay?”
Faith grinned. “Good idea, I’m starved.” She walked out of the library quickly.
Buffy started researching, she already knew that researching Angel was a waste of time but she could use the whole thing as a cover to look at wishes, and maybe alternate realities while she’s at it. Find out what was happening to her, and if any bad stuff came along with it.
She’d already collected a small stack of books to look through and was sitting at the top of the steps when Faith walked in, arms full of snack food and a few cans of soda.
“Delivery.” She said dumping them out in front of Buffy.
Buffy gaped. “Faith, how much did you spend? There’s like twenty bucks worth here.”
“Yeah, well, since this is all in the line of duty I might’ve, relieved the machine of all this tasty, world-saving fuel.” Faith did her best innocent smile, which was surprisingly good.
Buffy sighed. “You mean you broke the machine and stole all the candy?”
“Way I figure it- I’m just robbing that Snyder guy you all hate so much.” Off Buffy’s look. “C’mon, at least I paid for the sodas.”
Buffy shrugged. “Fine, fine. If we get caught I’ll just deny all knowledge of this terrible crime. Ooh, Three Musketeers, gimme.”

*~~*

Buffy must have nodded off at some point because the next thing she knew she woke up in a chair, a book draped across her lap. Light was streaming through the windows and Giles was standing next to her sipping a cup of coffee.
He picked up one of the books she’d been looking at. “Good morning.”
Buffy tried to shake off the sleep. “Um, hey...”
“’Exploring Demon Dimensions’, ‘Mysteries of Acathla’, ‘Von Gretz Guide To Alternate Realities’.” Giles raised a quizzical eyebrow at Buffy.
“Long night. Very long night, actually.” Buffy stood up and looked around; spotting Faith slumped over the table, surrounded by books.
‘Huh, I figured she would’ve gone home after I fell asleep.’
“Buffy...?” Giles looked across at the still sleeping slayer. “Well, whatever’s going on it must’ve been serious if you persuaded Faith to partake in research.”
Buffy glanced nervously at Giles, hoping she was doing the right thing. “She volunteered, actually. And it is- um, serious. Really, it’s grade A, code red serious.”
“Would you care to elaborate?” Giles asked dryly.
“It’s about Angel.”
Buffy saw her Watcher’s jaw tense a little; his eyes shifted away. “Oh?”
Both of them turned at the sound of a low groan, Faith sat up slowly and wiped her chin with her hand. She looked at them both bleary eyed. “Uhh...Mornin’.”
“Hey,” Buffy said, and then turned to Giles. “I had a dream- recently, where I wished Angel, um, that is my Angel not the soulless, evil version. That he would come back. And then the wish came true...it brought up some questions.”
Giles nodded. “It must have been some dream. I didn’t even know you knew what a card index was for.”
Buffy nodded, her breathing felt kind of shaky. ‘Here goes,’ “That’s not all- last night while patrolling...I saw him.”
Giles looked concerned. “Buffy, it’s understandable that you would see- glimpses of someone you thought...”
Buffy interrupted. “No, I didn’t just see him, Giles. I fought with him. Beat him up and dumped him in the mansion.”
Giles’ eyes widened. “Angel’s returned.” He started pacing and took his glasses off- always a bad sign. “That’s...it isn’t possible, Buffy.”
Faith looked on frowning as she sleepily tried to follow the conversation. “What’s up?”
Buffy went after Giles. “Angel wasn’t himself- he was all savage, like an animal. I couldn’t get anything out of him so I went looking here for answers – anything I could think of.”
“Wait a sec; this is Angel- as in your psycho vampire-ex?” Faith said in disbelief.
Buffy glared at Faith. “Not now Faith, okay?” She turned to Giles, “Look I know you’re freaked, I am too. But I chained him up so he can’t go anywhere. Plus its daytime, which means we’re totally safe.”
Giles turned to Buffy. “Could he be responsible for the attack two nights ago?”
Buffy shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so, I mean, he had blood on his mouth- I, uh, got a sample.” Buffy fished the bloody tissue out of her pocket. “Willow should analyse it, but I’m guessing its animal blood.”
Giles took it from Buffy and made a visible effort to calm down. “You say he’s secured? You’re positive?”
“Manacles plus iron fixtures equals secure, I made sure Giles, I promise.”
Giles nodded again and put a comforting hand on Buffy’s shoulder. “You did the right thing in telling me, Buffy. But we need to look into this immediately, you understand.”
Faith stepped forward. “Uh, someone wanna fill me in here? I thought you wasted this guy already.”
Buffy nodded and headed down the stairs towards the other girl. “I ran him through with a sword and sent him to a hell dimension- I figured that was as good as.”
Giles was thinking. “I don’t believe there’s any record of someone returning from a demon dimension once the ‘gate’ is closed. I can’t imagine how it would happen or why. From what I, um, have read the dimension accessed by Acathla it suggests a world of, brutal torment. And time moves differently there.”
Buffy nodded. “I remember. He would’ve been down there along time.”
“Hundreds of years most likely. Buffy, I must warn you not to...” Giles seemed to hesitate, “It would take somebody of extraordinary will and character to survive that level of suffering and retain any semblance of self. Most likely he would be a monster.”
Faith looked grim. “So killing him would be like putting him out of his misery or somethin’?”
Buffy looked stunned. “Which we are not doing. I’m not going to just off him if there’s even a chance...”
“Hey, I know you’ve got the warm fuzzies for the guy, B- but bottom line, he’s still a vampire.”
Buffy regarded Faith coldly. “With a soul, Faith. As in humanity, something you might want to look up.”
Faith glared at her. “I was up half the night lookin’ shit up for you- if I’d known what for I might not’ve bothered.”
“Hmn, I wonder why I didn’t tell you.”
Giles snapped at them. “That’s enough! Both of you.” He hesitantly stepped between them. “Faith, your points are well taken but this situation, as Buffy has pointed out, is more complicated than it appears. Angel has, um, acted as both ally and enemy in the past. If he is the latter then no doubt you will be needed.”
Faith was still glaring hotly at Buffy but she seemed to un- tense at Giles words. “Damn right I will,” she muttered.
He turned to Buffy and seemed to take extra effort to say what he said next. “If there is a chance of reaching Angel, Buffy, then you are almost certainly the one able to do it. If he can be reached or redeemed somehow...nobody will do anything to harm him, I assure you.”
Suddenly another voice piped up from behind them, Willow sounded alarmed. “Harming who? There’s harm now?”
Buffy looked over at Willow and gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Will, we’re not talking about Oz.”
Willow walked over to them holding a box of donuts. “Then why all the tension? And why this early?” She looked round at the books scattered about as well as candy wrappers. “Did you guys have a research party without me?” Willow failed to hide the tinge of hurt from her voice.
Faith looked pointedly at Giles. “You gonna tell her or what? That Buffy’s ex-meat did the killing and Oz’s getting the blame.”
Buffy hissed. “Damn it, Faith! Wait, my ex-what?”
Willow was so startled she almost dropped her box. “Angel...Angel’s back, h-how did that...And the spell, Giles said the spell worked. That I did it right.”
Buffy went over to Willow. “Will, we don’t know anything yet. Angel came back from a hell dimension, um, somehow and we don’t know if he did anything. But he’s chained up at the mansion all the same, okay? We’re safe.”
Willow nodded in relief, and then gave Buffy a pained look of sympathy. “God, Buffy, are you okay? I mean, of course your not and that’s fine. Not fine but, um, understandable so I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”
“Everything alright?” Oz stepped out of the cage, having just finished buttoning his shirt. He came over close to Willow, concerned at her worried expression.
Buffy looked to Faith. “Go on, you want to blurt it out in the worst way, go ahead.”
Faith sneered at her. “Screw this.” With that she turned and strode out of the library.
“Buffy...” Giles sighed at her. “You could try to be a bit more accommodating; I know this must distressing for you...”
Buffy sat down in the chair Faith had been using. “I am being accommodating. I’m a four-star hotel of accommodation. But you saw her, Giles- it’s not like she was being helpful.”
Giles agreed. “Faith is, um, blunt I think would be the word. But if you recall it took all of us a little while to get used to the very idea of a vampire being, well, friendly.”
Buffy slouched on the desk and pouted. “So you’re saying I should be all mature and be the bigger slayer?”
“Precisely,” Giles turned to Willow. “Did you gather anything pertinent at the morgue?”
Willow shook her head. “It wasn’t conclusive, a-a lot of tissue damage to the, um, body. I’ll know more after I do hair and fibre tests. See if anything taken from the body is wolf-y.” She turned to Buffy. “It didn’t look drained of blood or anything, the body I mean.”
Buffy smiled at her. “Thanks Will. But let’s worry about Angel when we’ve cleared Oz.”
Oz, who’d been listening intently, smiled slightly. “Strange morning so far.”
Buffy couldn’t help but agree, but biting the bullet had been the right thing to do. She just hadn’t expected Faith’s reaction which had been pretty aggressive and insensitive. Just what was her problem? Buffy had tried to be upfront about what Angel means- had meant to her, she’d told Faith, had tried not to get all defensive or avoid-y. But still the other slayer had been pissed and now Buffy and Faith had had their first fight.
Great.
Buffy frowned down at the yellow pad Faith had used for writing notes, her handwriting was a little scrawl –y and oddly childlike and it looked like she’d copied a couple of passages straight from a book. Buffy’s eyes drifted down the page, past words like ‘Solomon’, ‘Twilight’, and ‘Book of Wisdom’ to the lower half, where Faith had obviously given up on research and just doodled a cartoon.
The drawing took up about the last third of the page; to one side was a figure drawn curled up in a ball, obviously asleep- from the pig-tails and pleated skirt Buffy guessed it was supposed to be her, her head resting on what appeared to be cheerleading pompoms. In the centre of the page there was a cartoon vampire- two triangular teeth and a widow’s peak like the Count from Sesame Street. He was in the process of being decapitated by a fierce-looking brunette, clad in black pants and halter top wielding a sword. Over on the right two figures peered over a bush, from the expressions Buffy could tell they were supposed to be Cordelia (her eyes looked annoyed) and Xander (his were bugged out in surprise). Beside the bush looking out at the battle was another cartoon girl, her haircut resembling Willow’s, who was cuddling a happy, panting dog dressed in a t-shirt. Written on the t-shirt were the words ‘I like dingoes- they’re tasty’.
Buffy smiled at the comic tableau, feeling an odd tightness in her chest as she did so. The drawing was pretty good, like something Buffy would see in the funny pages. She had no idea Faith could even do anything like this. And it wasn’t just the style of art either, the whole scene was so...goofy and innocent and completely un-Faith like.
‘I really don’t know her at all.’
“Hey, what are you looking at?” Willow came over bearing donuts.
“Just this,” Buffy held up the drawing.
Willow smiled. “Hey, that’s pretty good- Oz as a cartoon dog. I didn’t know you could draw?”
“I didn’t. Faith did. She’s got some talent.”Buffy examined the picture again, before noting the look of concern on Willow’s face. “I said I was fine, Will.”
“I know that. I do, it’s just you went through so much getting over Angel. And now he’s back, it must be awful.” Willow slid the box of donuts across the table towards Buffy. “Here, comfort food. I watched them make these myself- so they should be extra tasty.”
Buffy shook her head. “Thanks, but me and Faith gorged on too much sugar last night, my stomach feels all oogey.”
“So...did you guys have fun..?” Willow looked like she wanted to say more but Oz came over.
“Hey, so new bad stuff last night, Giles is pretty sure.” Oz regarded Buffy for a moment. “That’s good for both of us.”
Buffy gave a quick smile. “It really is. But I’m starting to think that this wasn’t a random killing, this being the Hellmouth and all. Maybe we should be looking at people who knew Jeff...um, other people I mean.”
“You mean like somebody else at school?” Willow wondered.
Buffy stood up and moved beside Willow. “Just call me a wacky optimist but after last night I think we’re all due for a break.” She and Willow headed out of the library to see students start to fill the halls in preparation for class.
“Maybe I could get a note,” Willow said plaintively. “Something that excuses me from class until that break you mentions comes along.”
“C’mon, just get to class and before you know it you’ll get swept up in that knowledge stuff all the kids are into nowadays.”
Willow sighed. “Academic excellence does sooth my thoughts. Like a balm for my brain.”
Buffy frowned. “Is that what Giles means when he says ‘that’s a barmy idea’?”
“I think that’s English for crazy.”
“I here I thought crazy was English for crazy.”
“Speaking of crazy, are you seeing Platt again?” Willow couldn’t resist a grin.
“Well gee, thanks. And yes, I’m seeing him at lunch for more deep conversation. It is the burden I must bear.”
Willow patted her arm as she peeled off for class.” Well, good luck with the Buffy-burden, hee.”
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Wishing Changes Everything