REMEMBERING THE PAST (OR - HOW DO YOU LOOK NOW?)
"How come everything that heals burns like hell…shit!" Faith hissed, sitting on the bed as Buffy, standing over her, applied a disinfectant-soaked cloth onto her forehead.
Giles was applying a bandage to a gash caused apparently by four claws that had swiped her side. She had been lucky. She'd be okay in a day or two of course, but the bruising was obvious, and he could tell she ached everywhere. "You should have gone to a hospital."
Buffy saw the look Giles was giving her. "Hey, I tried."
"Okay, when did this become a spectator sport?" Faith asked.
Willow and Tara, as well as Xander and Anya, were observing the dark-haired slayer's "patching up." They all quickly looked at different places. All except one.
"Sorry." Willow said sheepishly.
"I…s…sorry." Tara stuttered.
"Ditto." Xander said.
"I wanna see where the next bruise comes in." Anya said.
Everyone figured they were better off ignoring the ex-demon's comment.
"I don't get it." Buffy said. "Why?"
"I told you, B -"
"Yeah. Wolfram and Hart…Mayor's Will…demons probably paid off…but it doesn't add up. What would they have to gain by going after you?"
"It's what he wanted, Buff. He was their client. Legal obligations." Xander explained.
"I don't buy it. One, they almost exclusively work for demons, right? How big do you actually think they are on sticking to legal obligations? And the Mayor is dead. He has no family…"
"Seeing as they're dead." Willow agreed.
"And he's got no more influence." Giles said. "Faith, you yourself said you heard the demons say they weren't planning to kill you."
"What are you driving at?" Faith asked, not seeing the point.
"That there's another reason for this. And the fact that the Mayor's Will had you in it, and that threat, was just a convenient cover. That happened at the right time." Buffy said.
"To keep you all panicky, scared and confused. And us, so we don't see what else might be happening." Xander added, rather surprised by his own deduction skills.
"So I'm just being used? I really hate that." Faith seethed.
"What is going on then?" Tara asked, confused.
"Something bigger." Anya stated, obviously.
Faith didn't know what to think. She felt somewhat relieved that she
might not be the main focus of Wolfram and Hart, but she was also a little
upset at that too. Did they not think she was dangerous enough to give
one hundred percent of their time to? Did they think she was just a pawn
they could use? That they would get away with whatever they were plotting
because they were able to distract her somewhat?
She was angry now, but when it came down to it, she wasn't in a hurry
to retaliate.
You couldn't fight a law firm. The one thing she didn't get was where
Raziel fit in. It seemed like the pieces of the puzzle were starting to
come together, but the only problem was, they didn't know which puzzle
the pieces went to, or if the pieces were even connected correctly.
"Perhaps we should let Faith and Buffy get some sleep. It's been a long day, and we can always discuss this tomorrow." Giles said.
"I like that idea." Buffy agreed quickly, suddenly feeling very exhausted.
"Thanks Giles." Faith said gratefully.
After quick "good nights" were exchanged and everyone left, Buffy and Faith were finally alone. Buffy turned off the small light in the room, and not quite ready to lie down yet, sat next to Faith on the bed.
"You should have told me." Buffy said softly.
"What difference would it have made?"
"I just would have liked to know, then maybe…"
"I'm sorry. Just didn't want you to think you had to baby-sit me. Thought I could deal with it on my own." She touched her bandaged side, and closed her eyes. "I made a bad call. It happens."
"Baby-sit? Faith, I'd never do that. You're the last person in the world who…okay, maybe I would've nagged, and worried, and asked you to let me come with -"
"See?"
"But if you said no, I would have let it go. Don't tell me if I were the one in trouble you wouldn't try to do the same thing."
"I would've." Faith admitted. Buffy smiled, and gently put her arms around the dark-haired girl. "I'm fine. Really, B. You don't have to -"
"I know you are. This is for me."
***
Why did she tell Buffy to go to school?
Because she shouldn't have missed her first day back. She still had
her shot.
Faith figured she would be okay for a few hours. She lost. Well, it
was fifteen demons. Even Buffy would have lost with those kinds of odds.
But she still lost something when she took the beating in that alley. Thinking
about it, she really should have expected the punishment.
She had been waiting for it, actually. She had had a pretty smooth
ride since Buffy reached out to her…damn; it was going on a year now. Willow
had fixed her record, and she had gotten away with murder. Scott free.
Repercussions were bound to come in some form or another.
The "demon gang up" had been the cosmic forces way of telling her they
still remembered what she did and that she had a long way to go. It had
accomplished two things. Reminded her that she was still vulnerable and
not invincible, as well as pushed her possible future just a little further
out of her reach.
She was waiting to hear back from the GED people, but since it seemed
to be to taking so long, she assumed it wasn't going to go her way. They
told her that if she had medical reasons and documentation, it wouldn't
be a problem. But Faith didn't go to the hospital because she didn't think
she needed to go. That was Strike number two in her book. One more and
she was out.
Faith now stood in front of the mirror in her and Buffy's bathroom,
rinsing her face with cold water. To try and snap herself out of her current
funk. She had considered giving up the place, but she wasn't going to give
Wolfram and Hart the satisfaction. Things were a little bad, but she promised
herself she wouldn't get the "world is against me" attitude again. Though
she couldn't seem to help it. It sure seemed that way.
Something came in and scared off her attackers, though. What the hell
was it?
Shaking her head, she came out of the bathroom, wiping her face with
a towel. Sighing, she suddenly felt a breeze blow into the room. Looking
toward the window, she saw that it was open. And she saw why.
"Get the fuck out of here."
"You don't seem to be in any condition to back up that tone of voice."
Raziel stated calmly.
"I don't remember inviting you in." Faith said, backing off.
"Invite?"
"Whatever. If we're gonna go, let's get started."
"That's not my intention at the moment."
***
"I should've stayed home." Buffy sighed, sinking into a very well cushioned
chair in the college lounge. Class just ended, and she saw Willow and Tara
already sitting down on one of the couches. "I miss her."
"Awww!" Willow said with a smile.
Buffy glared, and Tara decided that it was best to keep quiet.
She could feel her confusion, Faith's confusion, even here. She had
never planned to fall in love with Faith, but she had. And she had fallen
hard. She hadn't realized how hard before. Before had been different. Before
they hadn't ever really been apart for very long, so she never had the
time to think about the depth of her feelings. Now that she was separated
from her, she didn't want to be.
She had been the same way with Angel. She didn't like going to school
and leaving him. But it hadn't been that way with Riley, strangely enough.
But with Faith, right now, she wanted to be there for her because…Faith
was scared. Is that the emotion she was getting? Fear? Buffy had to admit
being targeted by a very resourceful law firm and not knowing when the
next attack would come or from where, had to be pretty scary. Considering
what Faith had gone through last night.
This wasn't right. She shouldn't have been on campus. She should have
been by Faith's side, reassuring her. Buffy still thought that Faith wasn't
Wolfram and Hart's main focus. The sooner they got to the core of what
they were trying to do; they'd back off of Faith. Buffy was sure of it.
She just had to find out what their purpose was first. And make sure she,
Faith, and her friends stayed alive long enough to do that.
"Uh…Buffy?" Tara asked.
"Faith? Huh? What? Oh. Tara. Yeah?" Buffy said quickly, focusing back
on reality.
"It's eleven-thirty."
"O…kay." She didn't get it.
"You don't have any more classes today, do you?"
Buffy thought and then her eyes widened. "Class. I don't have any more
class. No more classes do I have today."
"Go home, Dr. Seuss." Willow said, grinning.
"Right." She jumped up. Then she remembered Giles. "The funeral's at
noon."
"We'll meet you there." Willow said.
***
"What is your intention?" Faith asked, preparing herself for a fight.
Buffy was on her way home. She didn't know how she knew, but she was.
All Faith had to do was stall, and then they'd take him out together.
"To ask for your help."
Her eyebrows raised and she considered laughing. "Let me enlighten
you, Raz. I kill bad guys. I don't help -"
She had once.
'It ended badly, and I'm still feeling the shockwaves after the
fact. I'm not goin' there again.'
"It would be the honorable thing to do."
"Honorable? Even if I did believe you were just here to have a little
chat, I'm not much into honor when it comes to vamps."
"But I saved your life. Certainly I'm owed a favor in return."
"That was…" She thought back to last night. He was the one who had
chased off the demons? "One night you kick my ass and the next you save
it? What the hell are you trying to do?"
"Get what's mine. And I believe you'll be more useful to me at the
moment alive, rather than dead."
"I'm already being jerked around by those lawyers, I'm not gonna be
your pawn too. So just forget -"
There was a knock at the door, and both she and Raziel looked. She
turned towards him, but he was gone. Sighing, she went to answer the door.
"Oh, do we gotta talk." Faith said angrily to Angel. "Come in."
He walked in, and she slammed the door. "You're hurt."
"He's got eyes! I asked you to give me a heads up. Where was it?"
"Wesley called -"
"Well I didn't get the message." Angel was silent. "What do you want?"
"Are you going to be okay?"
"Thanks to B."
Angel walked around the loft. "Nice place."
"It's what got me attacked."
"Window's open."
"Get to the point."
"I paid a visit to the head of the firm. Hart. He thinks he's got an
enemy here."
"Besides me and -?"
"Yes."
There was a rush of air as Raziel dropped into sight. "Thank you."
Then he flew off.
"There he goes." Angel went to the window, and then quickly backed
away, remembering his tendency to burn in the sun. "Want me to shut that?"
"Look, they've got somebody tracking me."
"Tell you what. You go back to LA and see if you can get something.
Cause I'm not ready to go to the source. I don't want to piss them off
again."
"You're going to have to face them."
"Uh…hey, guys." Buffy said, now entering her home. "What's…uh…going on?"
Faith walked over to Buffy's side. "Missed ya. He was just leaving."
"Missed you too." Buffy said in agreement, kissing her. "Olivia's funeral. You up for it?"
"Yeah." Faith turned to Angel. "See? Gotta go."
***
Lee Mercer stood in the newly remodeled Mayor's Office, cell phone in
hand.
"They're both on their way, sir.
"Together?"
"Separately."
"Perfect. I hadn't believed it would be that easy. When?"
"About ten minutes ago."
"Excellent. Stay there and make sure whichever candidate wins, that
our new client plays by our rules."
"He will."
***
The gang met up outside the entrance to the cemetery.
"I hate funerals." Xander said.
"They're gloomy." Anya said.
"And sad." Tara said.
"Poor Giles." Willow pouted.
"At least it's not one of us getting buried." Faith said, thinking
how close she could have come.
They all had to nod their heads in agreement to that. They had survived
four years on a Hellmouth. If one of them had ever died…they shuddered,
preferring not to think about it. Right now, Giles needed support.
"You guys ready?" Buffy asked.
They all took deep breaths, and sticking close together, entered the
cemetery, following the sound of 'Amazing Grace.'
***
"He's coming up on the offices now." Angel said into his cell phone
as he sped through the LA streets.
"What would you like me to do?" Wesley asked on the other end.
"Get here. I'll leave the car in the parking garage. If I need to make
a run for it -"
"I'll be there."
Angel hung up, and as he got closer to Wolfram and Hart, he watched
as Raziel landed on the roof of the building. He parked the car, and jumped
out. He ran right for the stairs, quickly checking to make sure he wasn't
being seen.
***
Giles watched the coffin as it was lowered into the six-foot hole. He
had called all of Olivia's relatives that he knew of, and they had all
shown up. He had walked around, trying to be the strong one. She was a
very well liked person, and that simply added to his guilt. He stood now,
staring at the rose he had placed on the coffin, and watched it disappear
as the dirt was poured.
He felt Joyce squeeze his hand, and was immensely grateful for it.
As the priest said his last words, Giles spoke soft words of goodbye, to
the last remnants of his past, and thanked the stars that she would stay
at rest. He turned, smiled at Joyce, and found Willow, Buffy, and Xander
waiting to envelop him in a hug which he gratefully accepted. Tara was
looking around, seeming rather uncomfortable, and he couldn't blame her.
He smiled at her in thanks, simply for being there. Anya was staring; she
seemed numb. Something that was out of character for her. He didn't see
Faith though.
People began to slowly make their way out, some clinging onto others
for support. Feeling support behind him, he began to move as well. He spotted
someone a few feet away as he looked around, and given the man's appearance,
Giles knew where he was from.
"I'll meet you at the car." He said, heading over towards the man.
The gentleman looked nervous. "My condolences, Rupert."
"You have no right to be here, Quentin."
"I'm just paying my respects."
"You put her in that position, and you dare to come here -"
"We're all sad at the turn of events."
"I'll bet you are. We had an agreement."
"I'm returning to England now. I'm not here to complicate things."
He began to walk away. Giles stepped in front of him. "You already
have. You came to see if we were dead. It failed. You sent him after a
fake."
"We had no idea. We were given the information."
"Who is he?"
"I can't tell you that."
Giles grabbed the man by his tie, and yanked. "Oh, I think you can."
***
Buffy walked in search of Faith and found her standing in front of a
grave. She gave her a half-smile, and Faith returned it. Buffy's eyes followed
Faith's as they looked down at the flowers in front of the headstone. She
read the name, and her eyes went wide. Allan Finch.
"Uh…why you over here?"
Faith shrugged. "Needed to think. Watching that whole thing was kinda
getting to me."
Buffy didn't like how she sounded. "Faith?"
"I'm screwed. I'm being punished, B. For getting outta jail, lost my
chance to -"
"Hey." Buffy said grabbing Faith's hand. "You are not screwed. And
you've been doing good things."
"Doesn't change the fact that I killed people."
"One was an accident, and you didn't have a choice with the other."
"I'm still paying. And I should. You can't argue that."
"You're doing exactly what they want. They want you off your game.
And if you're off your game, I'm off mine. So when they do launch whatever
offensive they're planning on, we're too distracted to put up a fight."
"This is something I gotta let myself feel and deal with, B. They just
helped me remember. You make me feel great, and I just…let everything else
fade. I can't do that anymore. Do you get it?"
Buffy nodded. "What do you need me to do?"
"Could you…hold me?" Faith said nervously. "I know that sounds so -"
But Buffy was already putting her arms around the taller slayer, and
embracing her tightly. "Promise me one thing?"
"What?"
"Don't shut me out?"
"No way. I love you."
Faith wrapped her arms around Buffy, and they stood there for a few
moments before slowly walking out, hands linked.
***
The Underworld
Before the Second Birth of Man
He fell, and he expected to writhe and scream and feel pain, but he
didn't. The Abyss transported him into the Underworld, completely intact.
Physical body and all. He didn't understand. He had been slain. Defeated.
Then he remembered, his soul had been taken from him.
The Abyss was only dangerous to those creatures that had souls, which
he no longer had. Yet he was still taken to the place where souls roamed,
awaiting transportation to their final destination. Where else was he to
go? He hadn't been on the Earth long enough for his body to disintegrate
into nothingness, so he wasn't really dead.
He wandered the land for awhile, until he heard a voice.
"You will be punished for your transgressions. I gave you the ultimate
power, and you misused it."
Before he knew what was happening, souls were surrounding him. Attacking
him. Burning him. And why shouldn't they? He wasn't like them. He was an
outsider, who threatened their land. He had no soul, so therefore, he was
an enemy. His screams did come for quite a long time. Every inhabitant
of the lower regions knew of his suffering. He wished for death, but that
was impossible. There was only pain.
Eventually, he became numb it having endured it for so long. It felt
like eons, and it probably had been. The important thing was, it had ceased
to affect him. It was over.
"Is that all?" He began to strike at the souls, but they simply passed
through him.
"Go back to the world as less then what you were. And hope that it
is merciful."
The next thing he felt was his own flesh, melting under the light of
day.
***
Raziel entered Mr. Hart's office, throwing the doors open, and no one
was there to stop him.
"I was told you wanted to see me. I wasn't aware that someone here
considered me an enemy."
"I trust you had no trouble getting in, Raziel."
"Why do you sound familiar?"
"Why do I get the feeling I'll have to hire some new people? You always
knew how to enter."
"Show yourself."
"It pains me that you don't remember."
Hart started to emerge from the shadows, and an object caught Raziel's eye. He began to step closer to it. "The Reaver."
"Ah. You remember that, don't you? Do remember what you did with it?"
He came into view.
"Kain."