FIC: Episode 2 in T.C.P.S. "I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found." (7/8)

[Heather & Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

TITLE: Episode 2 in T.C.P.S. "I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found." (7/8)
AUTHORS: Heather (nerdgurrl@xxxxxxxxx) & ~~Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters from the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Any additional characters mentioned are the
property of the authors and may not be used without permission. This arrangement of words
in cyberspace is also owned by the authors and may not be displayed, copied, quoted from
or used without permission. This is a work of fiction done for enjoyment and the authors
who are in no way receiving monetary compensation for their efforts.
SUMMARY: Episode 2 in Heather and Kimber's "Convergent Paths Series". The alternate
universe version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
SPOILERS: Season one thru four including all season five speculations.
DISTRIBUTION: None. Lists only.
AUTHORS NOTES:
Thoughts enclosed in <. . .>
Flashbacks enclosed in ((. . .))
Emphasis is denoted with *. . .*

----------

Willies Place was a typical seedy bar, just like any other seedy bar in a small town, if
you ignored its unusual patrons and the strange beverages that they served. At the end
of the bar, a feral demon was nursing a foamy green drink, and two vampires sat in the
back drinking glasses of blood. Music played softly in the background, as a blond and
brunette sauntered through the door.

Buffy grinned evilly, and walked over to the two vamps in the back. With a casual smile,
she picked up the wine bottle that was on the table between the two, and sniffed it
delicately. Grinning at Faith, she shook her head and tsked.

Interesting vintage, Faith. Check it out. Buffy called to the other slayer as she lofted
the bottle through the air. Faith caught it effortlessly, and then let it slip though her
finger, sending it crashing to the ground. Faith casually stepped back, eyebrow arched.

Oops, she drawled, Did I do that? Faiths grin widened as she stalked toward the
table.

Buffy turned her attention to the two vampires once again. They were frozen in the corner,
trapped. Buffy could almost see their minds working, as they tried to figure out how to
get past the crazy slayer.

You know boys,  Buffy said sweetly. You really need to expand your minds. I mean,
drinking blood from a bottle?? Someone is watching too many "Forever Night" re-runs.

Faith took out a stake from her pocket and haphazardly tossed it from hand to hand.
Vampires these days, Faith drawled, They just arent as creative as they used to be.

Then without warning, Faith pounced like a Black Panther, and leapt over the table,
quickly staking a vampire. As if reading Faiths mind, Buffy pounced that same moment as
Faith, and quickly reduced the other vampire to ash. Buffy grinned at the other slayer,
then nodded toward the door. Four vampires had walked through the door, just in time to
see their fellow brothers reduced to cigarette butts.

Faith, jumped up on the table, crouch position, once again looking like a black panther
searching for prey. Faiths lip turned up cruelly, as she surveyed the newest customers.
The vampire closest to Faith, was about 62 muscular, with big arms and a broad chest. He
would have been handsome if wasnt for the fact that he was dead, and sporting a enormous
fire engine red Mohawk. The other three vampires looked like they could be a walking
advertisement for skin heads r us. They all had swastika tattoos and a considerable
amount of body piercings.

Buffy crept up behind tall, dark, and ugly; executing a spinning roundhouse kick and
following up with three rabbit punches to the face.

Buffy sneered at the vampire, taking in the tattoo. Redundant much? She quipped. Isnt
being a skinhead vampire the same as saying evil, evil?

The vampire growled and lunged for her, and Buffy stepped into the oncoming vampire,
grabbed his arm and shoulder, and hurled him across the bar, using his own momentum
against him. Faith grinned savagely, and flipped off the table, landing in front of the
tall, mohawked vampire. Growling slightly, she punched him rapidly in the stomach, and
then followed up with a kick in the groin. Once he crumpled over, she drove the stake
home.

Now this is my kind of bar! Faith exclaimed, ducking an enraged vampire. He managed to
land two glancing blows. Faith smiled at him evilly, then launched herself at him,
throwing a series of rapid punches and kicks. Once he was stunned, she hurled him toward
an awaiting Buffy, who promptly drove the stake home. Within minutes, they both made
quick work of the remaining two, and managed to only break two or three tables in the
process.

Faith dusted her hands off and walked toward the bar.

Nice moves, B. Faith said with a grin.

Not so bad yourself, F. Buffy replied saucily as she jumped up onto the bar, and then
hopped down the other side. A moment later, she stood up holding a cowering Willie by the
collar.

Willie, this is Faith. My partner in crime. Buffy said smoothly. Faith, this worm here
is Willie. Feel free to pummel him.

The pleasure is all mine. Faith purred as she eyed her prey.

Willie cowered even more, if such a thing is possible. Ill tell you whatever you want&
He sputtered franticly. Just dont hurt me?

Buffy gave him a little shove, causing him to stumble backward, and then she sauntered
toward him. Aww Willie, youre making this too easy. Im looking for a female bog beast
named Belle. Where is she?

Willie scurried away from Buffy, like the rat he was. I&I&dont know anything about a bog
beast&

Buffy shook her head slowly. And here I thought we were going to do this the easy way.
Buffy smiled at Faith. Some people never learn.

Faith grinned, eyes flashing. Hey B, can I play? Faith asked seductively.

Buffy smiled, then stepped away from Willie. Only if you say please. Buffy replied
smartly. Faith grinned even wider, and then lunged on top of the bar. Please. With a
slight laugh, Faith jumped off the bar and landed on top of Willie, accidentally landing
on his more delicate male parts. Faith reached down with one arm and pulled him to his
feet, and then punched him twice in the face with her free hand once he was up right.

Willies eyes watered suspiciously, Okay, okay& just dont hit me anymore. A Kellipat
demon saw her wandering around town, so he captured her. Hes taken her down to the docks
to be sold into slavery in East Asia.  Faith reared back her fists once more. Thats
all I know, I swear& they are leaving for East Asia tonight. Pier 96 at 10:00.

That wasnt so hard, was it Willie? Buffy asked sweetly. Lets rock Faith. We have a
bog beast to save. Buffy walked toward the door, smiling slightly.

Im right behind you, B. The two walked out of the bar, leaving the wreckage behind
them.

So what s the what, B? Tonight youve got game like Michael Jordan, and last night you
were some bench warming scrub. Faith straightened her jacket as the walked toward the
docks.

Buffy smiled at Faith, once again amused by the slayer's colorful phrasing. Last night I
was worried about Will and tall, green and slimy I guess. Tonight I had you at my back.
We make a pretty good team, dont you think?

Itll do. Faith replied wryly. So, that was Willies huh?

Yep. Buffy nodded, trying to suppress a smile. The duo walked silently for a moment.

I think I might like it here. Faith replied.

----------

Clarence trudged along with Amy and Willow, still looking for Belle. They had scoured
most of the beach, carefully avoiding the people at the bon fires, but so far they had
turned up nothing.

"Perhaps this is futile." Clarence remarked with finality. "She simply does not want to
be found."

Hearing the resignation in the bog-beasts voice, Willow couldn't help but feel for him.
"We'll find her, Clarence. We haven't looked everywhere yet. There's still the docks and
the cave over in Breakers Woods." She said with hope.

"Yeah, Clarence." Amy touched his enormous green arm. "Don't give up yet."

"I say we go to the pier first. If we walk from beginning to end, we'll be right near the
entrance of Breakers Woods." Willow said to Amy.

"Great! Then maybe Buffy and Faith will have some information by then and we can go into
the woods together." She nodded at her fellow witch. "Oh, hey Will! Now would be a good
time to try the tracking spell. We've done a lot of footwork already. I say it's time to
cheat."

Clarence grinned. "A tracking spell? You'd cast a spell for Belle and me?"

"Of course we would, Clarence." Willow smiled up at him. "It's not a hard spell. I could
even do it myself." Willow looked over at Amy.

The girl smiled. "Sure, Will." She took out the ring that Clarence had given her
earlier, and handed it to Willow. "You remember the chant. Right?"

"Yeah, I think so. I've been practicing. Remind me to tell you about the 'comforter
incident'." She smiled and took Clarence's hand. "I have to hold your hand so I have
another focus point. Just think about her and how much you want to find her. Okay?"

The bog-beast nodded and closed his eyes, concentrating.

When Willow saw a small grin form on his face, she closed her eyes and mumbled a few words
under her breath. As soon as she was through, the ring began to glow a bright red. She
opened her eyes and looked at it. "Hey! It worked! Yay, me!" She smiled at Amy and
Clarence.

"It's red, so I guess we should start walking. We're nowhere near her now." Amy smiled
apologetically at Clarence. "It works on the prism scale. The closer we get, the more
it'll change colors going through red, orange, yellow, green, blue and finally purple when
we're within shouting distance." Amy gestured to her companions. "Come on, let's go to
the pier first."

---------

An hour and four color changes later, the girls and Clarence found themselves at Pier 72.
They decided to rest a bit since they'd been at it almost all night.

"Wow. I'm really outta shape." Willow sat down on a nearby bench. "That's really bad
considering I slayed, well tried my darndest, to slay vampires all summer."

"You slay vampires also?" Clarence looked over at her. "Interesting. I thought that was
your blonde friend's job."

"Well, it is, but we all help out as much as we can." Willow shrugged. "There's always
enough evil to go around for everybody. Evil isn't seasonal I guess. It's on the job
twenty-four, seven."

Clarence nodded his head. "Ah, I see now." He smiled that creepy 'joker' smile again.
"You wish to show the Slayer that you can take care of yourself and don't need her to
protect you. It's very admirable little witch, but I'd be careful if I were you. Your
friend may begin to feel that you don't need her anymore."

"No, Willow smiled and shook her head. "I'll always need Buffy around. She's my best
friend. Besides, she just got back. She'd better not get any ideas about us not needing
her around or it'll just be. . .unpleasant. I can slay a vampire, sure. . .if he's, you
know, sick or, or wounded really bad."

"Me too." Amy agreed. "As much as I like helping out, Buffy's the Slayer. I'd much
rather leave the messy stuff to her, if I can."

"That's odd." Willow looked down at the ring. "It just changed colors again."

Amy walked over to her to examine the ring as Buffy came running up to them with Faith in
tow.

"Hey, we've been looking all over for you three." An out of breath Slayer commented.
"Faith and I just got back from Willie's."

Yeah," Faith smiled. "Old Willie and I had a proper introduction." She wiggled her
eyebrows.

Buffy smiled at her and nodded. "Yeah, I'd say we kicked some butt tonight. We make a
good team."

"That's not the only place he got kicked, B." Faith put her hand up and Buffy gave her a
high five.

"Willie's gonna have some trouble walking for the next few weeks."

"Can you two fluff each other's egos some other time?" Willow looked over at them in
anticipation. "What about Belle?"

"Oh sorry, Will." Buffy looked over at the hacker, a little hurt. "Pier 96. There's a
barge leaving in about," Buffy glanced quickly at her watch. "fifteen minutes."

"Great." Willow looked over at Clarence and Amy. "Let's go, it's right down there." The
three of them set off.