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Complicated Grief	By : PencilNeck Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female Views: 3194 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Shock
- 2-Denial
- 3-Bargaining
- 4-Guilt
- 5-Anger
- 6-Depression
- 7-Hope
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6: Depression

Buffy wakes up alone. She knew she would. She saw Faith get dressed and leave when the sun was just peeking out from the horizon. But it still catches her off guard. It still makes her a little… sad.

She hadn’t been able to sleep either, but she couldn’t just get up and wander the streets. Even if she hadn’t been shot, it still would have been too dangerous for her to go off alone.

She gets out of bed with only a little trouble. Stretches out. Pleased to see that she can fully rotate her arm. Only a little twinge. She can deal.

A big, open mouthed yawn takes her by surprise. One that forces her eyes to squeeze shut and sends a shiver down her spine. Shrugging it off, she shuffles to the bathroom. Looks at herself in the mirror. A hot shower might help the hair and skin issues, but nothing’s going to hide the bags under her eyes or the paleness in her cheeks.

She pulls off the bandages. There’s still a little mark. Like a dot, the size of a penny. Same colour too. Coppery. She twists around to see the back of it.

“Oh god.” Nobody had told her how bad…

Trying to touch it, she winds her arm around. Her fingers trail along the raised edge where old meets new. It’s jagged. Raw and red. The flesh that grew there too fast. It scares her now that she knows.

She runs the water, feeling it under her hand. When it’s hot enough to make its own steam, she climbs in. Letting it sting. Hoping it can sear and melt off the layers. Maybe if she scrubs real hard, she’ll be reborn. Into fresh skin that’s not so calloused and hard. Not so obviously broken.

She prays to anyone listening that it might be that easy.

**************************************************

“Anyone?”

Buffy watches the cream swirl in her coffee.

“Neither of you have any ideas?” Giles sips his tea.

“None that you haven’t already shot down.” Faith pushes her mug away. Coffee isn’t what she wants right now.

“We can’t rely on brawn to solve this. I’ve already explained that.” Giles clucks quietly. “If we want to avoid bloodshed…”

“Let’s not rule it out!” Buffy gets her snark on. “It’s a useful learning tool.”

“I was referring to your blood.”

“That’s different then.” Buffy gulps down the dregs from her cup. She’s gonna need a refill. Or eight.

“Faith, are you certain she hasn’t moved her base of operations?” Giles asks again. “It seems… careless. She knows that you’ve been there.”

“Because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I know.” Faith pulls her coffee back to her. Slides it back and forth in her hands. “I messed up.”

“You did nothing of the sort. You did what you needed to in order to defeat Simone and help Buffy.” Giles looks at her kindly. “You’re the hero of the hour.”

“Yeah. Go me.” Faith shoves the cup a little too hard, and it topples over. Coffee spills onto the table. Pooling there like… “I’ll get something for that.”

Buffy watches Faith swing out of her seat and hurry off to the counter.

“She’s changed.” Buffy’s eyes stay on Faith. “You were right about that.”

“She’s coming along.” Giles scrutinizes Buffy’s face. He knows the signs. “She’s still quite… fragile…”

“Faith? Fragile?” Buffy watches her grin and flirt with the hopeless boy working the till. “Those two words don’t go together, Giles.”

“You only see what she wants you to.” Giles looks at her over his glasses. “You don’t really know her. Not anymore.”

“I know.” Buffy sighs.

“If you want a relationship with Faith…” Giles is feeling very fatherly. “If you want it to work…”

“Rela-?” Buffy looks at Giles in fear. “I don’t know if I’m… And there’s Satsu… And with Faith, everything’s… I mean, what if she doesn’t…”

“Buffy….” Giles hides his amusement, pursing his lips to cut off the smile. “I meant friendship. If you choose to pursue a friendship with Faith…”

“Why didn’t you say that before? I nearly had a heart attack!” Buffy’s eyes narrow. “What do you know? Did she say something to you?”

“Buffy, I…” Giles feels his lip twitching.

“This isn’t funny, Giles!” Buffy crosses her arms, slouching dramatically back in the chair.

“What’d I miss?” Faith comes back with a cloth. And two free mochas with extra whipped cream.

“I haven’t the foggiest.” Giles can’t begin to explain.

Faith sets one of the mochas in front of Buffy. She carefully wipes the table clean. Settles into her chair, scooping the whipped cream with her finger and licking it off.

“Thanks.” Buffy stirs the whipped cream into her coffee. Watches it whirl.

“So, I was thinkin’…” Faith starts, leaning in.

**************************************************

“…and this big dude’s tryin’ to flip me over, see? So I take him out with that thing you showed me. The twisty whirly thing? And he flies about ten feet! Then his little friend starts up…”

“That’s great, Faith.” Buffy scowls down the dark street ahead. “Glad to know you’re embracing the violence.”

“Just making conversation.” Faith shoves her hands in her pockets. “No need to get testy.”

“I’m not…” Buffy shakes off her frustration. “I’m just tired. And all this waiting around to get attacked by the bad guys… It’s making me a little…”

“Testy.” Faith offers.

Buffy huffs.

“I get it, B.” Faith completes her thought. “You haven’t thrown a punch since you got here. You gotta be just itchin’ for a showdown.”

“You wanna volunteer?” Buffy laughs wryly. “I’ll go easy on you.”

“Not a chance. I’m too busy saving your ass.”

“Ogling my ass, more like.”

“No way! You’re the one getting grabby!”

“It was sleep groping!” Buffy crosses her arms. “It doesn’t count!”

“I bet you say that to all the girls…”

“You’re right. I’m such a pervert.” Buffy rolls her eyes. “I accidentally brushed up against you in my sleep. So sorry! It will NEVER happen again.”

“You accidentally…” Faith doesn’t believe what she’s hearing. “Whatever. I gotta pee.”

“I told you to go before we left!”

“And yet…” Faith takes a few steps down a side street.

“Fine.” Buffy leans up against a post. “I’ll wait out here.”

“Sure you don’t wanna hold my hand?” Faith calls back to her, already unzipping.

“Just go!” Buffy wishes she had something to throw.

She watches Faith hustle deeper into the alley. When she disappears behind a dumpster, Buffy turns away. And pulls out her cell phone.

“Harris.”

“It’s Buffy.” Her voice is flat.

“Buff! Are you OK?” Xander shouts his worry into the phone. “You’re supposed to check in every twenty-four hours!”

“I know, but I ran into Faith. Things got a little crazy.” Buffy makes excuses.

“Holy cats! What happened?” Xander buys them.

“I don’t have time to talk. She’s right around the corner.”

“What’s going on?” Xander sounds frantic. “Is she after you? Are you working together?”

“I need you to do something for me. I need you to send me a chopper.”

“You need an Evac?” Xander gets professional. “I can get you out in four hours!”

“Xander, I’m fine!” Buffy sighs. “I have some… cargo that needs moving, that’s all.”

“What kind of cargo?” Xander’s confused.

“It’s… sensitive.” Buffy isn’t going to elaborate. “Need to know basis. Just get that chopper here by midnight. Should be ready then.”

“What about Faith?” Xander thinks he needs to know. “Are you two…”

“What Faith doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” Buffy says it fast. “And Faith’s on my side. For now.”

“Buffy, I’m not really understanding…”

“You don’t have to understand.” Buffy snaps. “Just follow your orders, Harris.”

“Jawoll Mein Herr!” Xander knows Buffy can’t see him. But he salutes anyway.

“Gotta go. She’s coming back.” Buffy flips her phone down with a sigh. There’s gonna be a lot of explaining in her future.

“Who are you talking to?” Faith walks out of the darkness. Pulling on her belt buckle.

“Nobody…” Buffy feigns innocence.

“Talking to yourself?” Faith calls her on it. “You miss me that much?”

“Hardly.”

Faith looks at her hard. Inspecting her. Buffy cringes under the glare.

“What did you do?”

“I didn’t…” Buffy is such a bad liar.

“Did you call her?” Faith grabs Buffy, searching her pockets. She pulls out Buffy’s phone. “Did you?”

“I just wanted…”

“I know what you wanted.” Faith doesn’t bother to check. Just smashes it against the brick wall.

“But…” Buffy looks at the fragments of her phone. It’s the last thing she’d brought with her. The only thing she had left.

“Well, you wanted a showdown.” Faith cracks her neck. “Looks like you’re gonna get one.”

Buffy turns. She can make out three figures walking out of the darkness. The light hits their faces. She recognizes them from the airport.

“Lucky me.”

**************************************************

“Buffy!” Faith ducks under a fist. “Quit distracting me! I’m workin’ over here!” She gets her knee up and drives it home. Shoeshine falls to the ground with a squeak.

“And you!” Faith turns her glare to the man rolling around in agony. “Get up, and I guarantee you’ll never breed!”

Buffy throws Latte into the ratty chain link fence. “I’m just saying…” She watches the woman’s body bounce back into her fist. “It’s not really stealing if it’s already been stolen by someone else.” She elbows Sunglasses Guy in the face as he tries to sneak up on her. “It’s more like… finding.”

“Finding and taking are different things, B.” Faith grabs Latte from behind. “This isn’t some long dead Nazi’s haul. It’s real money from real people. It’s not gonna happen.” Wraps her elbow around the woman’s neck, twisting her arm behind her back.

“But if we could…” Buffy spins around. Tackles Sunglasses Guy into the brick wall. Hears his breath whoosh out of him. Watches him fall bonelessly to the asphalt.

“No.” Faith hears a snap. “Oops.” She loosens her hold. Turns to Latte apologetically. “Got a little carried away.” And punches her in the face.

“What are you doing?” Buffy runs over to intervene. “That’s enough, Faith!”

“No! It’s not!” Faith punches the woman again. “After what they’ve done? I really…” Faith raises her fist. “…really want to hurt these people.”

“Faith!” Buffy gets in between them.

Faith swings out. Buffy blinks hard when it hits her, swaying back on her heels. She holds her jaw. Looking at Faith with the old fear. The old sadness and pain.

Buffy walks backwards. The defeated assassins forgotten on the ground.

“You hit me.”

“You got in my way!” Faith is a better liar.

“I didn’t want you to…” Buffy stares her down. “I didn’t want you to kill her.”

“And everything’s about what you want?” Faith clenches her fists. “No matter what…” Her body convulses. Her eyes go wide with surprise.

She falls to the ground. Shoeshine steps over her legs, waving his taser gun and smiling with glee.

Buffy watches stupefied as Sunglasses Guy and Latte struggle to stand. Their groans fill the air. Her eyes dart back to Faith.

Faith on the ground. Looking at her with wide eyes.

“I’m sorry.” She mouths it.

And she turns and races away.

**************************************************

Giles watches the warehouse. From his position he can see the lookouts that Simone has planted around the perimeter. He counts them off. Two at the front. Three spread out around back.

He opens a long black case. Begins the task of assembling the pipes and mechanisms. Tightens every bolt. Methodically checks and re-checks every part. When he’s satisfied, he attaches the long thin scope, and takes a step back to inspect his work.

It should be sufficient.

Giles takes off his glasses, putting them carefully into his breast pocket. He peers into the scope, adjusting the focus. He can see the head of a young girl, at most eighteen. He widens the sight. No head shots today.

He reaches for his ammunition. Aims with precision. He can’t get this wrong.

His finger pulls back on the trigger. A muffled snap. A whizzing resonates through the air.

Through the scope, he watches the girl turn in surprise. Trying to pull the dart out of her rear end.

Splendid.

He’s the only witness to her stumbling. To her leaning on the wall, sliding down as the drugs take effect. Once her shoulders slump and her eyes close, he pans across the alleyway.

Another girl. This one with short white-blonde hair.

Giles adjusts the scope.

**************************************************

Faith leans up against the wall. Tries to struggle against the arms holding her back.

“Relax. We’re not here for you.” She glares up at Latte.

“Funny how things work out…” Faith spits. Literally.

“But seeing as how we’ve got this opportunity...” Latte wipes it from her face. “We’ve heard so many good things about you.”

“Whatever.” She looks away.

“Every time we choose a girl, you seem to be the one to take her down.” She runs a hand through her graying hair. “It’s very upsetting.”

“You gonna get all teary?” Faith pulls her old mask on. “Or you gonna tell me why you’re here?”

“Why are you here, Faith?” Sunglasses Guy interrupts. “Why didn’t our favorite blonde heroine save you? Return the favour, so to speak?”

“I’m already bored.” Faith tugs at her arms again.

“I’ll tell you why.” Latte leans in. Crouches in front of her. “She will never put herself on the line for you. She doesn’t think you’re worth it.”

“Last guy who gave me that speech was dead.” Faith sneers. “Wanna join him?”

“That’s what we’ve been missing!” Shoeshine laughs. “Killer instinct!”

Latte stands up. Nods to the other two. They let go of Faith’s arms, and she forces herself to stand.

“As long as you’re on the wrong side, you’ll never get the respect that you deserve.” She offers her arm. She looks at Latte like she’s crazy. She shrugs it off.

“I’d like to make you an offer…”

“..I can’t refuse?” Faith grimaces. “Watch me.”

“We don’t want you to kill Buffy. Not just yet. Although I don’t see why you have such a big problem with it.” She rolls her eyes. “The girl does whine, doesn’t she?”

“Like a jet engine.” Faith tilts her head, her hair settling around her shoulders. “You got a point?”

“Absolutely.” She looks her over, appraising her worth. “She’s not on your side. We are.”

“Right. And I’ll just take your word for it.”

“You don’t have to. You can take Buffy’s.” Shoeshine pulls a slim black device from his pocket. Clicks down on a button and hands it to Faith.

Faith listens to the fuzzy voices. Hears the conversation between Buffy and Xander.

She keeps her mask on. It nearly breaks her. But she doesn’t flinch.

“Now do you see?” He tries to look less triumphant. “You’re a means to an end for her, nothing more.”

Faith glances at the empty road ahead. She sets her jaw. Turns back to them, her eyes blazing.

“So...” Her voice is hard. She stares Latte down. “What can I do for you, Boss?”

**************************************************

Giles watches the tranquilizer dart shoot past the final target’s legs and hit the wall with a smack. Watches her look around. She picks it up. Her eyes travel up, scanning the rooftops.

He watches her confusion build as she searches for her associates. And finally he watches her bolt away, a flash of colour and speed.

That’s right. Good girl.

Giles begins to disassemble his rifle. Putting the pieces back into the case with care. He snaps it shut, and tucks it under his arm.

He’s got to get inside before Simone arrives.

**************************************************

Faith flattens her back against the wall. Grateful for the darkness in the warehouse. She can be quiet. She can be still as death if it means she’ll get the upper hand.

Voices now. One yelling and angry. The others shrill and apologetic, deferential.

Uh oh. Daddy’s home.

She closes her eyes. Focuses on the details. The creaking floorboards. The slamming of doors. The inflection in their speech.

“What do you mean they disappeared?” Simone is pissed.

“They were just… gone!”

“Dammit! Did you check the room?”

“No! I just ran to get you!” A thump. Then another.

“Did you have to hit her? She was only following your orders!” This one’s voice is high pitched. Mousy.

“You watch it.” They’re closer now. She can hear the tap as Simone’s gun hits something metallic. Belt buckle maybe.

Faith opens her eyes. They’re predatory. Feral.

Showtime.

“You’re too late.”

“Who’s there?” Simone raises her gun.

“You don’t remember me?” Faith struts out. “Damn! Thought I left an impression!”

“You are so dead.” Simone racks the chamber. Signals to her crew to back off. It’s her kill.

“Just thought I’d give you the heads up.” Faith raises her hands. “But if you don’t wanna know, I’ll just head out.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Simone waves the gun. “You tell me where Buffy is. Then I shoot you.”

“That plan’s missin’ a few key details.” Faith counts them off on her hand, steadily walking forward. “One, if I knew where Buffy was, I’d kill her myself. Two, you shoot me? Your bosses are gonna be pissed.”

“Doubt it.” Simone sneers. “I’ll probably get a bonus for taking the both of you out.”

“Not so much.” Faith grins wide. Runs her hands along the sides of her body. “Check out your replacement.”

Faith watches Simone’s face fall.

“Your sugar daddy pulled the plug on you.” Faith says it casually. “Figured he wasn’t gettin’ a good enough return on his investment.”

“They wouldn’t do that!”

“Because life is fair and people don’t lie?” Faith laughs out loud. “You failed, Tank Girl. You don’t get do overs.” She raises her brows for emphasis. “They hired someone more qualified for the job.”

“You?” Simone scoffs. “There’s no way! Unless you’re planning to lick her to death.”

“Not today.” Faith gets a visual. It’s nice. She’ll hang on to that for later. “Today I got a different mission.”

“What’s that?” The gun is heavy in Simone’s hand. It wavers.

“Take the cash.” Faith coils her body. “And take you out.”

It takes Simone a moment. For it to sink in. For her to gather herself and squeeze the trigger. But it’s too late.

Faith’s hand is on her wrist, twisting and bending it into painful positions. The other rams into her throat. Slamming her through the cheap plaster wall and into the main room. The gun flies out of her hand. Sailing through the air, and then clattering across the concrete.

Simone lands on her back. She can see Faith push her way through the plaster, looking wild and determined. Throwing the lackeys out of her way with irritation as she focuses on her prey.

Neither of them notices the gun stop at the toe of an extremely expensive strappy heel.

A delicate hand picks up the gun. Slips a manicured finger onto the trigger, and points the gun.

“Faith?”
Chapter 6: Depression
Buffy wakes up alone. She knew she would. She saw Faith get dressed and leave when the sun was just peeking out from the horizon. But it still catches her off guard. It still makes her a little… sad.
She hadn’t been able to sleep either, but she couldn’t just get up and wander the streets. Even if she hadn’t been shot, it still would have been too dangerous for her to go off alone.
She gets out of bed with only a little trouble. Stretches out. Pleased to see that she can fully rotate her arm. Only a little twinge. She can deal.
A big, open mouthed yawn takes her by surprise. One that forces her eyes to squeeze shut and sends a shiver down her spine. Shrugging it off, she shuffles to the bathroom. Looks at herself in the mirror. A hot shower might help the hair and skin issues, but nothing’s going to hide the bags under her eyes or the paleness in her cheeks.
She pulls off the bandages. There’s still a little mark. Like a dot, the size of a penny. Same colour too. Coppery. She twists around to see the back of it.
“Oh god.” Nobody had told her how bad…
Trying to touch it, she winds her arm around. Her fingers trail along the raised edge where old meets new. It’s jagged. Raw and red. The flesh that grew there too fast. It scares her now that she knows.
She runs the water, feeling it under her hand. When it’s hot enough to make its own steam, she climbs in. Letting it sting. Hoping it can sear and melt off the layers. Maybe if she scrubs real hard, she’ll be reborn. Into fresh skin that’s not so calloused and hard. Not so obviously broken.
She prays to anyone listening that it might be that easy.
*****
“Anyone?”
Buffy watches the cream swirl in her coffee.
“Neither of you have any ideas?” Giles sips his tea.
“None that you haven’t already shot down.” Faith pushes her mug away. Coffee isn’t what she wants right now.
“We can’t rely on brawn to solve this. I’ve already explained that.” Giles clucks quietly. “If we want to avoid bloodshed…”
“Let’s not rule it out!” Buffy gets her snark on. “It’s a useful learning tool.”
“I was referring to your blood.”
“That’s different then.” Buffy gulps down the dregs from her cup. She’s gonna need a refill. Or eight.
“Faith, are you certain she hasn’t moved her base of operations?” Giles asks again. “It seems… careless. She knows that you’ve been there.”
“Because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I know.” Faith pulls her coffee back to her. Slides it back and forth in her hands. “I messed up.”
“You did nothing of the sort. You did what you needed to in order to defeat Simone and help Buffy.” Giles looks at her kindly. “You’re the hero of the hour.”
“Yeah. Go me.” Faith shoves the cup a little too hard, and it topples over. Coffee spills onto the table. Pooling there like… “I’ll get something for that.”
Buffy watches Faith swing out of her seat and hurry off to the counter.
“She’s changed.” Buffy’s eyes stay on Faith. “You were right about that.”
“She’s coming along.” Giles scrutinizes Buffy’s face. He knows the signs. “She’s still quite… fragile…”
“Faith? Fragile?” Buffy watches her grin and flirt with the hopeless boy working the till. “Those two words don’t go together, Giles.”
“You only see what she wants you to.” Giles looks at her over his glasses. “You don’t really know her. Not anymore.”
“I know.” Buffy sighs.
“If you want a relationship with Faith…” Giles is feeling very fatherly. “If you want it to work…”
“Rela-?” Buffy looks at Giles in fear. “I don’t know if I’m… And there’s Satsu… And with Faith, everything’s… I mean, what if she doesn’t…”
“Buffy….” Giles hides his amusement, pursing his lips to cut off the smile. “I meant friendship. If you choose to pursue a friendship with Faith…”
“Why didn’t you say that before? I nearly had a heart attack!” Buffy’s eyes narrow. “What do you know? Did she say something to you?”
“Buffy, I…” Giles feels his lip twitching.
“This isn’t funny, Giles!” Buffy crosses her arms, slouching dramatically back in the chair.
“What’d I miss?” Faith comes back with a cloth. And two free mochas with extra whipped cream.
“I haven’t the foggiest.” Giles can’t begin to explain.
Faith sets one of the mochas in front of Buffy. She carefully wipes the table clean. Settles into her chair, scooping the whipped cream with her finger and licking it off.
“Thanks.” Buffy stirs the whipped cream into her coffee. Watches it whirl.
“So, I was thinkin’…” Faith starts, leaning in.
*****
“…and this big dude’s tryin’ to flip me over, see? So I take him out with that thing you showed me. The twisty whirly thing? And he flies about ten feet! Then his little friend starts up…”
“That’s great, Faith.” Buffy scowls down the dark street ahead. “Glad to know you’re embracing the violence.”
“Just making conversation.” Faith shoves her hands in her pockets. “No need to get testy.”
“I’m not…” Buffy shakes off her frustration. “I’m just tired. And all this waiting around to get attacked by the bad guys… It’s making me a little…”
“Testy.” Faith offers.
Buffy huffs.
“I get it, B.” Faith completes her thought. “You haven’t thrown a punch since you got here. You gotta be just itchin’ for a showdown.”
“You wanna volunteer?” Buffy laughs wryly. “I’ll go easy on you.”
“Not a chance. I’m too busy saving your ass.”
“Ogling my ass, more like.”
“No way! You’re the one getting grabby!”
“It was sleep groping!” Buffy crosses her arms. “It doesn’t count!”
“I bet you say that to all the girls…”
“You’re right. I’m such a pervert.” Buffy rolls her eyes. “I accidentally brushed up against you in my sleep. So sorry! It will NEVER happen again.”
“You accidentally…” Faith doesn’t believe what she’s hearing. “Whatever. I gotta pee.”
“I told you to go before we left!”
“And yet…” Faith takes a few steps down a side street.
“Fine.” Buffy leans up against a post. “I’ll wait out here.”
“Sure you don’t wanna hold my hand?” Faith calls back to her, already unzipping.
“Just go!” Buffy wishes she had something to throw.
She watches Faith hustle deeper into the alley. When she disappears behind a dumpster, Buffy turns away. And pulls out her cell phone.
“Harris.”
“It’s Buffy.” Her voice is flat.
“Buff! Are you OK?” Xander shouts his worry into the phone. “You’re supposed to check in every twenty-four hours!”
“I know, but I ran into Faith. Things got a little crazy.” Buffy makes excuses.
“Holy cats! What happened?” Xander buys them.
“I don’t have time to talk. She’s right around the corner.”
“What’s going on?” Xander sounds frantic. “Is she after you? Are you working together?”
“I need you to do something for me. I need you to send me a chopper.”
“You need an Evac?” Xander gets professional. “I can get you out in four hours!”
“Xander, I’m fine!” Buffy sighs. “I have some… cargo that needs moving, that’s all.”
“What kind of cargo?” Xander’s confused.
“It’s… sensitive.” Buffy isn’t going to elaborate. “Need to know basis. Just get that chopper here by midnight. Should be ready then.”
“What about Faith?” Xander thinks he needs to know. “Are you two…”
“What Faith doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” Buffy says it fast. “And Faith’s on my side. For now.”
“Buffy, I’m not really understanding…”
“You don’t have to understand.” Buffy snaps. “Just follow your orders, Harris.”
“Jawoll Mein Herr!” Xander knows Buffy can’t see him. But he salutes anyway.
“Gotta go. She’s coming back.” Buffy flips her phone down with a sigh. There’s gonna be a lot of explaining in her future.
“Who are you talking to?” Faith walks out of the darkness. Pulling on her belt buckle.
“Nobody…” Buffy feigns innocence.
“Talking to yourself?” Faith calls her on it. “You miss me that much?”
“Hardly.”
Faith looks at her hard. Inspecting her. Buffy cringes under the glare.
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t…” Buffy is such a bad liar.
“Did you call her?” Faith grabs Buffy, searching her pockets. She pulls out Buffy’s phone. “Did you?”
“I just wanted…”
“I know what you wanted.” Faith doesn’t bother to check. Just smashes it against the brick wall.
“But…” Buffy looks at the fragments of her phone. It was the last thing she’d brought with her. All she had left.
“Well, you wanted a showdown.” Faith cracks her neck. “Looks like you’re gonna get one.”
Buffy turns. She can make out three figures walking out of the darkness. The light hits their faces. She recognizes them from the airport.
“Lucky me.”
*****
“Buffy!” Faith ducks under a fist. “Quit distracting me! I’m workin’ over here!” She gets her knee up and drives it home. Shoeshine falls to the ground with a squeak.
“And you!” Faith turns her glare to the man rolling around in agony. “Get up, and I guarantee you’ll never breed!”
Buffy throws Latte into the ratty chain link fence. “I’m just saying…” She watches the woman’s body bounce back into her fist. “It’s not really stealing if it’s already been stolen by someone else.” She elbows Sunglasses Guy in the face as he tries to sneak up on her. “It’s more like… finding.”
“Finding and taking are different things, B.” Faith grabs Latte from behind. “This isn’t some long dead Nazi’s haul. It’s real money from real people. It’s not gonna happen.” Wraps her elbow around the woman’s neck, twisting her arm behind her back.
“But if we could…” Buffy spins around. Tackles Sunglasses Guy into the brick wall. Hears his breath whoosh out of him. Watches him fall bonelessly to the asphalt.
“No.” Faith hears a snap. “Oops.” She loosens her hold. Turns to Latte apologetically. “Got a little carried away.” And punches her in the face.
“What are you doing?” Buffy runs over to intervene. “That’s enough, Faith!”
“No! It’s not!” Faith punches the woman again. “After what they’ve done? I really…” Faith raises her fist. “…really want to hurt these people.”
“Faith!” Buffy gets in between them.
Faith swings out. Buffy blinks hard when it hits her, swaying back on her heels. She holds her jaw. Looking at Faith with the old fear. The old sadness and pain.
Buffy walks backwards. The defeated assassins forgotten on the ground.
“You hit me.”
“You got in my way!” Faith is a better liar.
“I didn’t want you to…” Buffy stares her down. “I didn’t want you to kill her.”
“And everything’s about what you want?” Faith clenches her fists. “No matter what…” Her body convulses. Her eyes go wide with surprise.
She falls to the ground. Shoeshine steps over her legs, waving his taser gun and smiling with glee.
Buffy watches stupefied as Sunglasses Guy and Latte struggle to stand. Their groans fill the air. Her eyes dart back to Faith.
Faith on the ground. Looking at her with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry.” She mouths it.
And she turns and races away.
*****
Giles watches the warehouse. From his position he can see the lookouts that Simone has planted around the perimeter. He counts them off. Two at the front. Three spread out around back.
He opens a long black case. Begins the task of assembling the pipes and mechanisms. Tightens every bolt. Methodically checks and re-checks every part. When he’s satisfied, he attaches the long thin scope, and takes a step back to inspect his work.
It should be sufficient.
Giles takes off his glasses, putting them carefully into his breast pocket. He peers into the scope, adjusting the focus. He can see the head of a young girl, at most eighteen. He widens the sight. No head shots today.
He reaches for his ammunition. Aims with precision. He can’t get this wrong.
His finger pulls back on the trigger. A muffled snap. A whizzing resonates through the air.
Through the scope, he watches the girl turn in surprise. Trying to pull the dart out of her rear end.
Splendid.
He’s the only witness to her stumbling. To her leaning on the wall, sliding down as the drugs take effect. Once her shoulders slump and her eyes close, he pans across the alleyway.
Another girl. This one with short white-blonde hair.
Giles adjusts the scope.
*****
Faith leans up against the wall. Tries to struggle against the arms holding her back.
“Relax. We’re not here for you.” She glares up at Latte.
“Funny how things work out…” Faith spits. Literally.
“But seeing as how we’ve got this opportunity...” Latte wipes it from her face. “We’ve heard so many good things about you.”
“Whatever.” She looks away.
“Every time we choose a girl, you seem to be the one to take her down.” She runs a hand through her graying hair. “It’s very upsetting.”
“You gonna get all teary?” Faith pulls her old mask on. “Or you gonna tell me why you’re here?”
“Why are you here, Faith?” Sunglasses Guy interrupts. “Why didn’t our favorite blonde heroine save you? Return the favour, so to speak?”
“I’m already bored.” Faith tugs at her arms again.
“I’ll tell you why.” Latte leans in. Crouches in front of her. “She will never put herself on the line for you. She doesn’t think you’re worth it.”
“Last guy who gave me that speech was dead.” Faith sneers. “Wanna join him?”
“That’s what we’ve been missing!” Shoeshine laughs. “Killer instinct!”
Latte stands up. Nods to the other two. They let go of Faith’s arms, and she forces herself to stand.
“As long as you’re on the wrong side, you’ll never get the respect that you deserve.” Latte offers her arm. Faith looks at her like she’s crazy.
“I’d like to make you an offer…” Latte shrugs it off.
“..I can’t refuse?” Faith grimaces. “Watch me.”
“We don’t want you to kill Buffy. Not just yet. Although I don’t see why you have such a big problem with it.” She rolls his eyes. “The girl does whine, doesn’t she?”
“Like a jet engine.” Faith tilts her head, her hair settling around her shoulders. “You got a point?”
“Absolutely.” She looks her over, appraising her worth. “She’s not on your side. We are.”
“Right. And I’ll just take your word for it.”
“You don’t have to. You can take Buffy’s.” Shoeshine pulls a slim black device from his pocket. Clicks down on a button and hands it to Faith.
Faith listens to the fuzzy voices. Hears the conversation between Buffy and Xander.
She keeps her mask on. It nearly breaks her. But she doesn’t flinch.
“Now do you see?” He tries to look less triumphant. “You’re a means to an end for her, nothing more.”
Faith glances at the empty road ahead. The road Buffy ran down when she deserted her. She sets her jaw. Turns back to them, her eyes blazing.
“So...” Her voice is hard. She stares Latte down. “What can I do for you, Boss?”
*****
Giles watches the tranquilizer dart shoot past the final target’s legs and hit the wall with a smack. Watches her look around. She picks it up. Her eyes travel up, scanning the rooftops.
He watches her confusion build as she searches for her associates. And finally he watches her bolt away, a flash of colour and speed.
That’s right. Good girl.
Giles begins to disassemble his rifle. Putting the pieces back into the case with care. He snaps it shut, and tucks it under his arm.
He’s got to get inside before Simone arrives.
*****
Faith flattens her back against the wall. Grateful for the darkness in the warehouse. She can be quiet. She can be still as death if it means she’ll get the upper hand.
Voices now. One yelling and angry. The others mousy and apologetic, deferential.
Uh oh. Daddy’s home.
She closes her eyes. Focuses on the details. The creaking floorboards. The slamming of doors. The inflection in their speech.
“What do you mean they disappeared?” Simone is pissed.
“They were just… gone!”
“Dammit! Did you check the room?”
“No! I just ran to get you!” A thump. Then another.
“Did you have to hit her? She was only following your orders!” This one’s voice is high pitched. Squeaky.
“You watch it.” They’re closer now. She can hear the tap as Simone’s gun hits something metallic. Belt buckle maybe.
Faith opens her eyes. They’re predatory. Feral.
Showtime.
“You’re too late.”
“Who’s there?” Simone raises her gun.
“You don’t remember me?” Faith struts out. “Damn! Thought I left an impression!”
“You are so dead.” Simone racks the chamber. Signals to her crew to back off. It’s her kill.
“Just thought I’d give you the heads up.” Faith raises her hands. “But if you don’t wanna know, I’ll just head out.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Simone waves the gun. “You tell me where Buffy is. Then I shoot you.”
“That plan’s missin’ a few key details.” Faith counts them off on her hand, steadily walking forward. “One, if I knew where Buffy was, I’d kill her myself. Two, you shoot me? Your bosses are gonna be pissed.”
“Doubt it.” Simone sneers. “I’ll probably get a bonus for taking the both of you out.”
“Not so much.” Faith grins wide. Runs her hands along the sides of her body. “Check out your replacement.”
Faith watches Simone’s face fall.
“Your sugar daddy pulled the plug on you.” Faith says it casually. “Figured he wasn’t gettin’ a good enough return on his investment.”
“They wouldn’t do that!”
“Because life is fair and people don’t lie?” Faith laughs out loud. “You failed, Tank Girl. You don’t get do overs.” She raises her brows for emphasis. “They hired someone more qualified for the job.”
“You?” Simone scoffs. “There’s no way! Unless you’re planning to lick her to death.”
“Not today.” Faith gets a visual. It’s nice. She’ll hang on to that for later. “Today I got a different mission.”
“What’s that?” The gun is heavy in Simone’s hand. It wavers.
“Take the cash.” Faith coils her body. “And take you out.”
It takes Simone a moment. For it to sink in. For her to gather herself and squeeze the trigger. But it’s too late.
Faith’s hand is on her wrist, twisting and bending it into painful positions. The other rams into her throat. Slamming her through the cheap plaster wall and into the main room. The gun flies out of her hand. Sailing through the air, and then clattering across the concrete.
Simone lands on her back. She can see Faith push her way through the plaster, looking wild and determined. Throwing the lackeys out of her way with irritation as she focuses on her prey.
Neither of them notices the gun stop at the toe of an extremely expensive strappy heel.
A delicate hand picks up the gun. Slips a manicured finger onto the trigger, and points the gun.
“Faith?”
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Complicated Grief