FIC: Three Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain (7/?)]

[BillGopher <asagiri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Three Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain

by Bill Gopher and Kerry Ferret.

Disclaimers - Buffy & Co. belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and
UPN. We're just borrowing them for a little while.

Violence Disclaimers - There are scenes of major violence in this chapter,
if you don't like that we suggest you go elsewhere.

Author's Notes - The authors do not advocate in any way what occurs
to the charachters, however Beth is not in Disneyland right now so be prepared
for a rough ride ahead. You have been warned, twice in fact!!

Rating -  R (Violence, charachter death & torture)

Archives -  As Faith likes to say, "Want, Take, Have", just drop us
a line to let us know where it is going.

Feedback - Is always looked forward to. 
SenseiFerret@xxxxxxxxx
or 
kerrison29@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

<Thoughts>

*Translation*

============================================================================

Chapter 7

The first thing Beth noticed as she woke was that she was on a cold, concrete
floor and she was chained.  Looking around carefully Beth saw the cell she
was in was small, no larger then 4 x 6. There was pail in the far corner and
a moth-eaten blanket next to her.

Judging from the smell she could guess what the pail was for.  After several
tries she managed to sit up with her back against the wall, her legs and arms
were chained together only giving her the limiting her ability to move her
limbs in any direction.

She saw that she was still dressed in her black camo pants, but her shirt
was missing and she only had her green tee shirt on her. <Well this is
a great way to start the day,> she thought sarcastically.

Beth pulled the thin blanket around her to try and keep warm when she heard
footsteps outside her cell.

The cell door flew open and she barely had time to notice two large guards
before she was slammed into the floor.  She struggled to fight back but the
chains prevented any movement. Roughly she was pulled into the corridor and
slammed into the walls several times.

Dazed she heard the weak calls of support from the other cells. “Stay strong
Beth, Semper Fi,” before she was pulled out of the cellblock.

She decided to try and save her strength for what came next as she was dumped
into a medium sized room that stank of old blood and sweat.  The only furniture
in the room was a wooden table and the chair she was sitting on.

The wait wasn't long as two men walked into the room, the first man was
about 5' 5", dark hair and eyes and the other man was short, thin and bald.

Beth noticed that no one so far was wearing any sort of uniform.  The dark
haired man grabbed Beth by the face roughly pulling it up “So you are a ‘soldier’
eh.”

Beth kept quiet knowing they didn't want an answer or needed a reason.

“Can't talk? Well don’t worry little girl we will teach you some manners.
This small gentleman is an ‘expert’ in convincing individuals to speak.” 
The door to the room opened and in walked a large guard, he moved to the table
and put down a large, black bag, several odd implements, a car battery and
cables in front of her.

Beth shivered at the sight of the items on the table. <I will not break,
I will not break, I can do this, I can do this,> she kept saying as a mantra
in her head.

And then the questions began, “What is your unit? What is its location and
strength?”

“Summers, E., Lance Corporal, RP6511298.” Beth replied. Beth never saw the
first blow, which slammed into her left eye or the next or the next. The blows
finally stopped and Beth's face felt a bloody mess, her left eye was swollen
shut and blood ran down her face from several cuts.

“So ‘Miss Soldier’ where is your unit located? What is its strength? What
other units are on this base?”

Spitting blood out, she struggled to speak thru her swollen lips, “Summers,
E. Lance Corporal, RP6511298.”

Beth watched as small man attached a pair of jumper cables to the battery
and then attached one of the cables to the leg of the metal chair she was
sitting on.

“One last chance little soldier. Where is your unit located and what is
its strength?” 

Beth stayed silent. She saw the small man touch the other cable to her chair
and Beth felt waves of pain as the electricity rolled thru her as she sreamed
in agony…

<<<<<<>>>>>>>

 Her throat was raw from screaming, Beth wasn’t sure she had a voice anymore.
She sagged against the chair, exhausted from the beatings and electricity.

“I see they breed their women stupid in America, do not worry we will be
more than happy to show you your proper place.”

Her dark haired interrogator nodded to the smaller man he came in with. 
The guard behind her who had been beating her grabbed her chained arms and
jerked them upwards until she heard two loud pops and felt her shoulders pop
out of their sockets, gritting her teeth Beth clamped down on the scream that
threatened to tear its way out of her throat.  She focused solely on her
thoughts, <Don't Break, Don't Break, Don't Break.> as she felt the
tears of pain she couldn't hold back.

“So, do you feel more talkative my little songbird?”

Slowly Beth looked up “Summers, E., Lance Corporal, RP6511298.”

The dark haired interrogator turned away, “Take her back to her cell, let
the pain be her companion for now.”

The door opened and Beth was dragged out of the cell by her arms, the pain
blinding her when she was thrown into her cell. She twisted to miss her shoulder
and land on her back.

Beth rested her head on the cold, letting the pain subside; finally she
pulled herself up next to the wall. Beth knew she couldn’t let her arms stay
dislocated and there was only one option.  

Steeling herself for a moment, she slammed her left shoulder repeatedly
into the wall until she felt the joint pop back in.  White lances of pain
and tears from the pain blinded her, her cries of pain echoing in the cell.

Resting her head against the cool wall, the pain subsided to the point that
it was no longer overwhelming, as soon as that happened Beth slammed her right
shoulder against the wall.

Her cries of pain echoed in the empty cell and outside, but the shoulder
popped back in. Beth fell back to the floor, tears streaming down he face. 
As she lie there on the cold floor, exhaustion finally overwhelmed her and
she passed out.

===============

Beth awoke to a faint tapping on the wall on her right, as she listened
she could make out the tapping was Morse code.

Beth closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain radiating throughout
her body. She was so thirsty and the smell from the pail by the door permeated
the enclosed room. She tried to remember back to her training and mentally
translate what each tap meant.

Listening to the tapping, they slowly turned into words, then sentences,
as she wearly translated them

Slowly the tapping dots and dashes turned into words and the fog that clouded
her thoughts cleared as she concentrated; -... . - .... / .- .-. . / -.--
--- . .- / --- -.- .- -.-- . She translated the tapping on the wall, *Beth
are you okay?*

Picking up a loose rock, she started to reply back, *Yes I am, who is this?*

There was a short pause before the tapping started again on her wall, *
It's Shintaro*

Beth started tapping *Have you seen Taylor?*

*We saw him brought in to the ‘room’ earlier. He’s been there since. There
are about 5 others from the platoon here, not sure what happened to the wounded
when they separated us,* Shintaro replied.

*How long have you been here?* asked Beth.

*Not sure, maybe a week. You were brought unconscious a few days later.
Gotta go, the guards coming. Semper Fi Beth.*

===================

Sunnydale, CA

Dawn entered the house, taking in the unusual quietness. Checking her watch
she saw that is was 3:30.  <Mom should be cooking,> but there was a
lack of cooking food smells in the house. “Mom? Giles?”

“Dawn, I’m in the living room, come here." she heard Giles call out. His
voice sounded rough and she felt a leaden feeling in the pit of her stomach
as she walked into the living room.

She saw Giles' face, his eyes were puffy and red as if he had been crying,
“Sit down Dawn, we need to talk. It's Beth...she's dead Dawn.”

Dawn felt her vision suddenly tunnel and go gray, and her knees buckled
beneath her as she started to collapse. Before she could fall completely,
she felt Giles arms grab her and pull her close. “No Giles, NO!!!” she yelled
as she fought to break away from him. <He's lying! Not Beth!>

“I love you, it'll be okay Dawn.” Slowly she stopped fighting as she heard
him softly whisper. “I love you. Shh. It'll be okay.”

<<<<<<>>>>>>

Willow had just arrived at Dawn's when she saw the door to the house was
open, walking in she heard someone crying loudly. “I just got my sister back...why?”

Rushing in she saw Giles sitting on the floor holding a hysterical Dawn.
“Giles....” she asked afraid that she knew what had happened.

Giles looked up at Willow silently shaking his head.

“Oh Goddess, Beth,” Willow felt tears burn her eyes. Wiping her eyes, she
focused on staying strong now for Dawn. “Dawnie?” Will wrapped her arms around
Dawn from behind holding her as Dawn cried. She could only pray to the Goddess
to give them the strength to get through this.

<<<<<<>>>>>>

Willow walked up to the apartment door, after several tries she unlocked
the door and stepped inside the apartment. Quietly closing the door behind
her she walked forward and dropped her backpack on the floor. She could see
light from under the kitchen door and walked over towards it.

Willow saw the kitchen door open and Tara walked out over to her and pulled
her into her arms. “Hey honey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Willow held onto Tara and buried her face in her shoulder, “Tara...” Willow
shook her head as her throat clenched shut and hot tears of pain rolled down
her face.

“Will baby please tell me?” She pulled her closer feeling how badly Willow
was shaking. “Shh, honey.”

“I…”

“I....Someth....” Willow felt the words catch in her throat, choking her
as she tried to tell Tara. But she couldn't, the pain was just overwhelming.

She just clung to Tara as she sobbed, she had lost Beth once, found her
and now she was lost again. Except this time she would not return, there
would be no opportunity to say anything but goodbye to the woman that she
hard barely begun to know and the best friend she had lost twice and would
never see again.

Willow finally felt the tears slow and she looked up into Tara's worried
face “B-Beth...she's dead!” she managed to sob out. The tears started to fall
from her eyes again at the pain of losing her friend once again overcame her.

Tara was shocked as the words finally spilled forth, she knew something
was wrong when Willow had come home. She ‘saw’ the blackness that had surrounded
Willow like a fog.

She took Willow's hand and lead her into the bedroom.

=======================

Los Angeles, CA
3 Days Later…

It was a slow week, so with some free time Faith decided to tinker with
her favourite toy, her Ninja. She had just gotten to work when she heard
the phone ring. “Crap, this had better be good,” she growled as she got up
and wiped her dirty hands on her jeans. Picking up the phone, “Yeah?”

“Faith, it's Will. I'm in LA, we need to talk,” Willow's voice was painfully
blank and emotionless.

The bottom dropped out of her stomach, worse than when Red stopped by last
month. “Red, what's up?” she tried keeping her voice calm.

There was a long pause before Will answered with one word, “Beth.”

“Stop by the loft, we can talk here Red,” Faith answered, the feeling of
trepidation washed over her.

“Tara and I'll be by in about 30 minutes. See you then.” Faith heard the
line click as Red hung up.

Faith put the phone down and then sat, her good mood shattered she waited
for Red to arrive.

Exactly 30 minutes later she heard the elevator come up and out stepped
Red and Tara. “Hey Red, Tara. What's up?” Faith tried to put on a mask of
cheerfulness.

“Hi Faith. Can we sit? I'm tired,” Faith looked closer at Red's face and
noticed she had bags under her eyes and seemed edgy about something.

Faith sat across from Red and Tara, “What's going on Red? You're all mysterious
when you called and now I see you and you look like shit.”

Willow looked at Tara and then back at Faith, “It's about Beth Faith. She's
dead.”

Faith sat there feeling as if someone had punched her in the gut and found
it hard to breathe for several seconds.  Taking a shuddery breath, “How?”

Tara spoke up here, “We're not sure about the details Faith. The Marines
aren't saying much more than she was injured twice helping her unit. The last
time she was hurt getting several other Marines out of a trap, and was killed.
That's all they told Giles & Mrs. Summers.”

“When's the funeral?” Faith asked, her voice devoid of any emotion, her
face a blank mask that hid the anger churning inside.

“It's on Wednesday in Sunnydale at the Roselawn Cemetary at 2:30.” Getting
up Willow walked over to Faith and put her hand on her shoulder gently, “I'm
so sorry Faith, I know...”

Faith smacked Red's hand off her shoulder as she stood up angrily, “What
do you know Red?!  Just get out of here, I don't want your pity.”

“Faith, don't...”

Tara walked over to Will and pulled her away from Faith, “You're right Faith,
we don't understand. I am sorry though, it hurts to lose someone you care
for.” Tara guided a surprised Willow towards the elevator, “We'll see you
on Wednesday,” and they walked into the elevator and punched the button for
the ground floor.

====================

Sunnydale, CA
Roselawn Cemetary
October 31, 2003
2:20PM PST
    
Willow and Tara arrived at the Roselawn Cemetary several minutes early.
The chairs were mostly filled, Willow could see quite a few Marine and Navy
personnel in their dress uniforms among those who had come to the funeral.
She could see Joyce and Giles were already seated in front. Xander and Anya
had already arrived and were sitting, but Faith was nowhere in sight.

Walking forward they made their way next to Xander, who was seated behind
Joyce. “Hi Xand,” Wills voice was low, she could see that he hadn't gotten
much sleep recently. His eyes were bloodshot and he had bags under his eyes.

“Hey Will. You hear from Faith?”

“No, nothing since we spoke to her in LA, do you think she's coming?” Willow
replied.

“Yeah, she'll be here. She loved Beth, she wouldn't not show up,” he replied
sadly.

Willow sat down next to Xand, squeezing his hand before turning to Tara. 
For a long moment she couldn't remove her gaze from the red, white, and blue
of the flag draped over the casket.

She couldn't help the onslaught of thoughts that echoed through her head.
Was she alone?  She shouldn't have been alone, someone should have been there
with her, holding her hand. Where was her infamous Taylor? Why didn't he do
something to help her?

Willow tore her gaze from the casket and caught a glipse of the Marine Honor
Guard, her mind travelled back....

 “Beth, I know what Tara said did bother you. But aren't you worried though?”
Will asked, concerned about her friend.

 Beth stopped and turned to look over at Willow, “Some, but I've got
some things on my side. I'm in the toughest platoon in the Battalion, they're
all skilled operators, and I’ve got Taylor. If anyone is gonna watch my back,
he's it, and with him backing me up I'm not worried.” Beth threw her arm over
Willows shoulder, “I'll be fine, don't worry about it,” and she smiled confidently
at her.

Willow’s day dreaming was ended when she heard the Chaplain’s voice; 

“Family, Friends, and fellow service members. We are gathered here to celebrate
the life of Elizabeth Anne Summers.  On this day we are covered in darkness
that fills our hearts and our minds. Yet we are not alone for He is with us. 
And he stands beside us in our moment of weakness.”

“I had the honour of meeting Elizabeth when she was a sophomore in high
school. Even then Elizabeth was a young and caring individual and in the
short time that I spent with her, it was obvious that she cared deeply about
the safety of others.”

“When she joined the Marines, it was to protect the freedom and lives of
those of us who live in the United States. When her unit was sent to France
and she was baptised in the fires of combat, she continued to risk her life
to protect the lives of the fellow Marines in her platoon.”

“Elizabeth strove to live by the highest ideals of the Marine Corps; Honour,
Duty, Country. When she saw her platoon ambushed she broke free and attacked
the enemy, freeing her unit from the ambush, during which she was injured
by enemy fire. Later her unit was attacked, and again Elizabeth selflessly
put the lives of her fellow Marines above her own.”

“Today we are here, not just to say goodbye to her. But to celebrate all
that she did in her life, to remember her and what she stood for. For that
is her legacy to us, a reminder that ‘The needs of the many outweigh the needs
of the few’ or the one. She sacrificed her life so that others may live,
let us not forget that sacrifice otherwise we cheapen it and her life.”

“I would like to leave you with a passage from Psalms 23.  Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Stepping back the Chaplain moved out of the way allowing the Honour Guard
to take their places.

“Detail, Raise Arms! Ready! Aim! Fire!” Five rifles fired as one shattered
the silence, Willow felt herself jump in her seat. “Aim! Fire!” The detail
fired their rifles 3 more times, each time she jumped in her seat. “Shoulder
Arms! About face! March!” as they marched away and 4 Marines walked to the
4 corners of the casket.

Something caught her eye off to the left, and Willow turned and saw a solitary
figure with dark glasses and dressed in black pants, shirt and a long jacket,
about 75' feet away.

“Faith,” she whispered.

She felt Tara pull her hand to get her attention and she turned around to
see the flag that had been draped over Beth's coffin was now folded into a
perfect triangle with only the blue field with the stars showing. The Marine
holding it in his hands turned crisply to his left and extended his hands
to the senior NCO who accepted the flag. Turning around he strode over to
Joyce and Giles, he bent over and handed it to her. She heard him speak in
a low voice as he gave Joyce the flag, “Please accept this flag as a token
of a grateful nation for your daughters sacrifice.”

Straigtening up he turned around, walking back to the honour guard still
standing at the coffin. Willow saw the tears streaming down Joyce's face as
she broke down and Giles held her closely.

“Detail! Attention! Arms!” and all five Marines snapped their right hands
up to the brim on their caps and held them therefor several moments before
bringing them down sharply. A bugler started playing ‘Taps’.

Willow turned to look back for Faith, only to see her back as she walked
away in the opposite direction from them. Willow turned back to Tara, “She's
leaving? How can she leave?” Willow asked.

Tara stood up with Willow and threw her arm around Will's shoulders and
held her close as they started walking back towards their car. “She just
needs time and space Will, just be there for her.”

Slowly they made their way out when Tara noticed a mob of reporters that
were gathered behind yellow tape sealing off the cemetary from the press.
The Marines there held the reporters back, forming a wall between the reporters
and Joyce and Giles as the Limo pulled up and they went inside.

They could hear the reporters yelling questions at everyone who was there,
“How does it feel to have a hero for a friend?, We have sources that say she
was a lesbian, is that true?, Do you believe that women should be in combat
after this?” more questions were thrown at them as they fought their way
past the reporters and the cameras until they finally made it back to the
car.

One of the reporters had the misfortune of trying to question Anya however,
“Excuse me, were you like this as a child or is this the result of a head
injury that precludes the ability to show a minimal amount of compassion?”
was the last thing they heard as the car doors closed.

TBC…