Summary: Desperate times call for desperate measures where the First is involved. In order to prevent the end of the world, Buffy asks Willow to do a spell that's supposed to fix everything, and Spike goes along for the ride.
Rating: PG-13
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Buffy walked down the hallway, trying to make as little noise as possible. It looked deserted, which seemed odd for a hospital in Sunnydale. She wondered what this section was for, or if it had been set aside specifically for crazy Slayers.
Glancing around her nervously, Buffy slipped into Faith’s room. She wasn’t sure if the Council or police were watching for signs of life, but she knew that the Council had seemed to know that Faith was awake and moving before anyone else.
She stared down at the still figure in the bed. Faith looked younger, more innocent, against the white sheets. Buffy reached for her hand, wondering what Faith would have done with the opportunity to go back and change a few things.
“Hi, Faith,” Buffy said softly. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can…” She trailed off, unsure of what to say. Faith had turned herself into the cops, and then she’d willingly stayed behind bars. Buffy knew better than anyone what a Slayer was capable of, and she knew that Faith could have escaped at any time.
This wasn’t the same girl, though. So many things had happened before Faith had gotten to that point.
“I just want to say that I’m sorry,” Buffy finally said. “For everything. I wish things had turned out differently. If you can hear me, come find me when you wake up, okay? I’ll do anything I can to help you, I promise. There are things you need to know, and we’re going to need your help. We’ve got to stick together this time, Faith.”
Maybe what she said didn’t mean anything. Maybe the same thing would happen all over again, although at least Spike would be warned about the body switch.
Since Tara had been pretty clear about needing Faith’s help to defeat Adam, it could already be a done deal. Or it could be the event that everything else hinged upon.
Buffy turned to leave, not wanting to be caught in Faith’s room. Xander stood in the doorway, watching her. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve got the day off,” he explained. “I thought I’d do guard duty for a while.”
She frowned. “You don’t have to do that, Xan.”
He shrugged. “I brought comics, so I’m good. It’s better if the Council people don’t see you here, right?”
“And if Faith wakes up and sees you?” Buffy pointed out. “Last time—”
“Last time was bad,” he agreed. Xander looked at her, his eyes troubled. “Do you really think this is going to work, Buffy?”
“I don’t know.” Buffy shared his doubt, although not because she didn’t believe Faith capable of reform. It was just the timing of events.
That, and she’d never completely trusted the other Slayer. Buffy still missed Kendra, and she wasn’t sure that getting Faith was a good trade. Of course, there had been rivalry with Kendra, too.
“I guess we don’t have a choice, do we?” he asked.
Buffy knew what he was referring to immediately. “No, we don’t. Not according to what Tara saw.”
“What are you two doing here?” The sharp question came from the doorway, just behind Xander.
“We’re just visiting our friend,” Buffy replied, thinking that it wasn’t a complete lie. She and Faith had almost been friends at one point, and they could be friends again.
It would be a miracle, but it was at least possible.
“This is a restricted area,” the nurse said, glaring at both of them impartially. “You’re not supposed to be down here. I’m going to have to ask you to leave before I call security.”
Buffy nodded. “Sure. We’ll go.”
She was pretty sure that this did not bode well for Faith’s chances of getting free of the Council, and if they came after her again—
Well, that could mean that she was fighting a battle on two fronts: one with the Initiative and one with the Council.
“What was that about?” Xander whispered as they walked towards the elevator. “And do you want me to double back?”
“I don’t know,” Buffy replied, concerned. “I guess the Council is keeping a pretty close eye on her, which worries me. We need to reach her before they do.”
Xander frowned. “I can come back.”
“She’ll need some different clothes,” Buffy said. “If I get them for you, do you think you can sneak them into her room, along with a note? It’s the only way I can think of to prevent her from beating anybody up for something to wear.”
Xander grimaced. “I really wish we didn’t need her, Buf. She’s bad news.”
“We all are, Xander,” Buffy replied soberly. “Any one of us is capable of doing what Faith did.” She could tell that he didn’t believe her, but Buffy was well acquainted with her own darkness at this point. In a way, she hoped that for her friend’s sake, he never lost that innocence, as Willow had done.
She would give anything to have a little of her innocence back.
~~~~~
Giles knocked on the door gently. Buffy had told him what Willow had done over the phone, and while he wished she hadn’t performed the spell, perhaps it was for the best. He’d been in contact with Gertrude Harkness, the head of a coven in England. He knew her well, and she had made it clear that while she was willing to take Willow on as a student, the girl had to be willing to learn.
He knew that Willow hadn’t been fully convinced that she needed help, even after the last disastrous spell. She’d been open to the idea, but no more than that.
Buffy told him that she’d told Willow everything, and that the other girl had cried through the night. “I have to go see Faith,” Buffy had finished. “We’re going to have to make arrangements to get to her before the Council does. Would you talk to Willow?”
He had agreed, of course. Now he stood in front of her door, not knowing what to say. He knocked again when he got no answer. “Willow?” he called. “Buffy sent me by.”
The door opened slowly. “Hi, Giles.” Willow looked horrible, her eyes red and her face blotchy.
“Can I come in?” he inquired.
She nodded, much subdued, and stepped aside. “Buffy called you.”
It wasn’t a question, but Giles replied as though it was. “She did. She’s concerned about you.”
Willow sniffled. “I don’t know why. After what I did—”
“I think that Buffy understands that everyone makes mistakes.”
“This wasn’t a ‘mistake,’” Willow replied bitterly. “I nearly ended the world. I almost killed you.”
Buffy hadn’t told him that part, but Giles didn’t allow any emotion to show on his face. “You must remember that none of this has happened, Willow. As Xander pointed out, we all have a second chance now.”
“I’m never going to do magic again, Giles,” Willow said. “It’s the only way to prevent that from happening.”
Giles sat down on Buffy’s bed, waiting until Willow took a seat across from him. “I don’t think that will solve the problem. You have a gift, Willow. If you don’t learn how to utilize it properly, it will use you.” He reached for her hand, enfolding it in both of his, wanting to offer her an anchor of sorts. “Just think. If you hadn’t learned to use your talents, Buffy would not have returned to the past, and the world might have come to an end.”
Willow appeared troubled, but it was clear that she was coming around. “What do you think I should do?”
“I’ve spoken to the head of the coven in England,” Giles said. “Miss Harkness has agreed to teach you over the summer, but only if you are willing to learn. I think you should go.”
“England, huh?” Willow smiled grimly. “Sounds more like a reward than a punishment.”
“Do you really think you should be punished for something you have not yet done?” Giles asked. “That hardly seems fair.”
“You didn’t see what I saw,” Willow replied.
Giles took a deep breath. “I was directly responsible for someone’s death, Willow. Someone I cared for a great deal. Do you believe that I should be punished?”
“You’re being logical,” she accused him.
He smiled. “I’m trying. Is it working?”
“Yes.” Willow rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know how Buffy can forgive me,” she confessed. “After what I saw, now that I know—”
Giles gave her hand a squeeze before releasing it. “Buffy has offered both of us forgiveness,” he reminded her. “You should get some rest. I will call Miss Harkness and inform her that you’ll be coming as soon as your classes are completed.”
Willow nodded. “Okay. I think you’re right, Giles.” She met his gaze. “I wish I hadn’t started,” she confessed. “With the magic.”
“I don’t know that you ever had a choice,” he replied kindly. “We do not choose our destinies, my dear.”
~~~~~
“Let go!” Faith said, breaking away from Buffy’s grasp. “Leave me alone!”
“I can’t!” Buffy shot back. “We need you, Faith.”
Faith sneered at the other Slayer. “You want to use me. You only want me around as long as you need the muscle, and then you’ll dump me, just like last time.”
“That’s not true,” Buffy said, her green eyes earnest. “Please, Faith, it’s important. We have to stick together on this one.”
She started backing away. “Forget it.”
“Buffy!” The voice came out of the darkness, and Faith looked around the forest warily. She had no idea where they were, or how they’d gotten there. Only a moment ago, she’d been having a picnic lunch with the Mayor.
The blonde Slayer’s head whipped around. “Spike?”
Faith saw the looming figure emerge from the darkness. It was more horrible than anything she’d ever seen. “Buffy! Look out!” She felt compelled to warn the other Slayer for the same reason she’d saved her from Trick all those long months ago.
Buffy turned to defend herself, but not soon enough. The Frankenstein-like monster speared her stomach with a spike that emerged from his arm.
Faith heard her gasp, and then the monster dumped the body on the ground, turning to her. “I am glad to have found you,” he said.
She turned and began to run, branches whipping her face, leaving Buffy’s body behind. Guilt clawed at her; she shouldn’t have left Buffy. There was no telling what that monster would do to her, but Faith couldn’t make herself turn around.
Her feet seemed to have a will of their own, carrying her away from danger. She ran into a solid chest and looked up to see Angel staring down at her. “Everything has changed,” he said, his dark eyes serious. “You have to make a choice, Faith, and you don’t have any more time.”
Faith stumbled backwards. “I don’t understand!” she cried.
“You can save yourself, Faith,” Angel said. “No one can do it for you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snarled. “I don’t need saving.”
“Don’t you?” he asked cryptically.
Faith turned and ran, although she only made it a few feet away before tumbling into a freshly dug grave. She tried to climb out in a panic but kept slipping on the mud. Faith launched herself at the top, digging her fingers into the grass and soil on the edge. Slowly, painfully, she hauled herself out.
And opened her eyes.
~~~~~
Giles picked up the phone, answering absent-mindedly. He was going over his contacts list, trying to find someone who might be able to help shut down the Initiative without resorting to drastic measures. The voice on the other end struck him like a glass of cold water in the face.
“Angel?”
“I’m sorry to call so late, Giles, but Cordelia just had a vision,” the vampire explained.
Giles frowned. He knew for a fact that this was another deviation from the original series of events. “What kind of vision?”
“The usual kind.” Angel’s tone sharpened. “Is Spike in town?”
“He is,” Giles admitted, knowing that he couldn’t dissemble this time. “In fact, he was here the last time you were in town.”
“What’s he doing with Buffy?”
“He’s helping her,” Giles said bluntly. “There is quite a bit about the situation here that you don’t know, Angel. Now, what did you see?”
“Cordelia was a little unclear,” Angel admitted. “Faith was in there somewhere, and men in black. All she could be certain of was that Buffy was skewered by something that resembled Frankenstein.”
Giles thought about correcting him; it would have been Frankenstein’s monster, but he decided that it wasn’t important. “This is the second time that we’ve been warned about Adam harming Buffy,” he admitted. “That’s the monster that Cordelia saw in her vision. We’ve been having some trouble with an organization known as the Initiative. Have you heard of it?”
“No, I haven’t,” Angel said. “What do they do?”
“They’re some kind of secret government organization bent on capturing and altering demons and vampires,” Giles explained.
There was a long pause. “The Nazis tried that fifty years ago. Just ask Spike about that.”
“I will,” Giles said.
“I’m coming to Sunnydale.” Angel’s voice was adamant, and Giles knew that he wasn’t going to be dissuaded. “I don’t know what’s going on with Faith, but I almost reached her before the Council interfered the first time. I might have more luck this time.”
“The Council is likely to interfere again,” Giles warned him. “I can’t guarantee that they won’t come after either you or Spike.”
“I can deal with that, and I can deal with Spike, too,” Angel said darkly.
Giles sighed. He’d been hoping that this conversation would wait until Angel got into town, rather than having it over the phone. “Spike has his soul, Angel, and he’s with Buffy now. She won’t be happy with you if you attack him without cause.”
“There’s plenty of cause,” Angel growled. “Spike isn’t to be trusted.”
“You don’t know the entire story,” Giles snapped. “And until you do, I suggest that you remember that we have even less reason to trust you. Spike’s soul is anchored, and he’s proven himself ten times over.”
“I’m coming to Sunnydale,” Angel said after a long pause. “It sounds like you could use the extra muscle anyway.”
Giles felt a stirring of alarm, although Angel was right. He had been the only one to even come close to reaching Faith, and perhaps he’d be able to help. “You’ll stay away from Spike?” Giles asked.
“I can’t make any promises,” Angel responded, sounding just a little sulky.
Giles frowned, although he knew that the vampire couldn’t see his expression. “You will if you want to help,” he insisted. “Really, Angel, do you honestly believe that I would be taken in by empty assurances after what happened to your soul?”
It was a palpable hit, and Giles knew it. Angel’s deep sigh told him that he’d won the battle. Of course, that wasn’t to say that Angel would maintain his cool upon seeing Spike, but Giles would have a word with Buffy.
“I promise. I’ll see you soon.”
Giles hung up, wondering at this latest development. It appeared that they were going to be receiving help from an unexpected source.
~~~~~
Faith pulled the IV out of her arm, wincing at the pain. She was stiff, and she had no idea where she was—other than the obvious. Clearly, it was a hospital room, and not a very nice one. She felt the first pang of apprehension. Faith couldn’t help but think that if the Mayor had won, she would have been in slightly nicer surroundings.
She was halfway to the door when the pile of clothing on the chair caught her eye. Approaching it warily, Faith wondered who could have left it, as though they knew she was going to awake. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it wasn’t far from what she’d have chosen for herself—black jeans and a black t-shirt. Not that it was quite as tight as she liked her clothes, but it was better too big than too small. To her surprise, there was even a pair of boots under the chair.
Faith wondered how her mysterious benefactor had known her size, and if the Mayor had something to do with it.
And then she saw the note.
Picking up the folded-over sheet of paper, she scanned the handwritten words quickly. Her first urge was to crumple it up, strip off the clothing, and find something else to wear. Faith got as far as crumpling the page, and then she opened it up, one of the phrases triggering her memory.
“Faith,
I know you probably don’t want anything from me, but we need your help. It’s important, and we have to stick together on this one. If nothing else, hear me out. You can tell me to go to hell after that, and we’ll figure something else out. Sorry I couldn’t be there when you woke up, but the Council is nosing around, and it’s not safe. Come to Giles’ place when you can, and keep your head down.
Buffy”
Faith took a deep breath, and then tucked the note into her back pocket. Clearly the Mayor wasn’t around anymore; Buffy would have been dead if he had succeeded. There was a small part of her that was curious about what Buffy had to say, especially after her dream.
A Slayer dream, if Faith wasn’t mistaken.
The other part of her told her to get the lay of the land first, figure out what it was that had Buffy so spooked that she was willing to let bygones by bygones. Pretty big bygones, too, when you got right down to it. The last time Faith had seen her sister-Slayer, Buffy had been hell bent on delivering her dead body to Angel to drain.
In fact, Buffy could wait just a little longer. Faith had no intention on doing anything Buffy wanted, not after the way things had ended. It could be a trap, and she wasn’t walking into a trap.
Faith was too intent on getting out of the hospital to see the nurse, who was watching her warily even as she began dialing a phone number.
~~~~~
Spike moved quietly down the hallway, sticking to the shadows. The last thing he wanted was to be seen. Buffy had told him that the nurse was watching Faith’s room like a hawk, and that Xander had reported barely escaping detection while delivering the clothing. After that, they’d decided to check back at short intervals in order to reduce the chance of being caught again. Buffy didn’t want the Council knowing of their interest, or of the time traveling spell, and Spike had agreed.
He’d thought it was a good idea to leave the note, too, to let Faith know who it came from. Spike didn’t know the girl, but he knew her type. She’d be wary, and there was no way she’d trust any of them right off, but she might be won over.
They were taking a big chance, given what Buffy had told him of their past interactions, but it was a chance they had to take. The alternative wasn’t an option.
Spike was halfway down the hall when he saw the nurse come marching down the hallway. Quickly ducking into an empty room, he stayed quiet, keeping an eye to the door he’d kept cracked.
She stopped just out of sight, but his sharp ears could hear the sounds of a phone being dialed, and then the ringing on the other end. “We’ve got a problem,” the woman said without preamble.
Spike could just make out the words on the other end. “She’s awake?”
“And moving around,” the woman confirmed. “She’s already left the room, and I’m assuming the building.”
“Thank you for calling,” the man on the other end said. “We’re on our way.”
Spike cursed silently. They’d hoped to have more time to prepare for the Council’s arrival. It was possible that the wet works team wouldn’t make its appearance for a day or two, but he doubted it. From what Buffy had said, it hadn’t taken them long to show up on scene; perhaps a day or two, but no more than that, certainly.
Besides, there was nothing to say that the Council wankers hadn’t received prior warning somehow.
He waited until the nurse had disappeared down the hall, then slipped out of the room silently. A thought hit him, and Spike squelched the urge to curse aloud. If Tara’s vision was anything to go by, it wasn’t just Faith that they needed to be worried about.
Adam would soon be making an appearance as well.
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