Beth had watched Faith for the last hour as she waited for Faith to finish her workout. “Faith, I’ve tried asking you several times but you keep changing the subject and this time I’d like an answer.”
Faith stopped her workout and picked up a shirt to dry the sweat off her face. “What do you want to know B?”
“When I woke up a couple of weeks ago, I was butt naked and so where you. How’d I wind up naked in bed with you?”
<Aww crap! I was really hoping she just forgot about that.> Faith bit back her frown. “Uhmmm, you andme naked Beth? I don’t remember that.” Faith picked up the clothes on the floor and started walking out of the room. “I’m gonna take a quick shower B, I stink. Be right back.” Quickly she walked to the bathroom and closed the door. <Phew! Dodged that bullet. I really don’t want to tell B what happened.>
Faith turned on the water in the shower so it was hot and peeled off her sweaty clothes and dropped them in a heap at her feet. Faith moved the curtain and stepped into the shower and let the hot water run down her back for several minutes and relaxing the muscles in her back. Grabbing a bar of soap she started to lather up a rag and wash the sweat and dirt off.
Beth waited outside the bathroom door for two minutes since she knew Faith liked to stand under the hot water and then walked in. <I’m not letting this go, I want to know what happened, because I know something did.> “Faith, okay you can’t run now, so spill.”
Faith heard the door open and then Beth’s voice, “B!! What are you doin’ in here?” Faith pulled the curtain sideways so she could look out.
Beth saw Faith move the curtain and peek out at her. “I want some answers Faith. So tell me what happened.” Beth noticed the shower curtain was molded against Faith’s body and leaving very little to the imagination. Beth felt herself flush as she stared at Faith’s body and was glad it was foggy in here from the steam.
“B, couldn’t you have waited a few minutes? I told you I’d answer you when I got back out.”
“No it couldn’t have. ‘Cause you would have found something to sidetrack me.”
Faith sighed, “Fine, one sec. I wanna wash off the soap, okay?” Faith ducked back in the shower and started washing the soap off of her body and out of her hair.
“Actually why don’t you just answer me while you’re there Faith?”
Sighing again, Faith sawthat B wanted answers and she wasn’t going to be able to put her off. “Okay then, shoot.” Faith said resignedly, not sure that B would like the answers shewas going to get.
“How’d I wind up in bed with you Faith?”
“I carried you into the bedroom when you fell and you or cave-you didn’t want to sleep alone.”
“And me winding up naked? My clothes just sorta fell off Faith?” Beth asked in a teasing voice.
“I think your towel fell off while you were sleeping. You do toss a lot in your sleep ya know.”
“Uh huh,” Beth replied, not quite convinced. “And you?”
“And me what?”
“And your clothes, how’d they wind up thrown on the floor?”
“I’m a messy person,you should know that after all these weeks B.” Faith replied cheerily and finished washing up. Sticking her head out from behind the shower curtain, “Anything else?”
“Yeah Faith, just one thing.” Beth said with all seriousness. “Do you love me?”
“Huh?” Faith said shocked at Beth’s question.
Beth moved forward and stopped in front of Faith, “I said, Do you love me Faith?”
Faith stood there for several seconds still shocked at Beth’s question, “Yes” Faith said softly, afraid of how Beth would react. She had accepted the fact that Beth would never be her lover, but she could accept being Beth’s friend and that Beth had forgotten whatshe had said to her those weeks ago.
“Yes? Was that a yes Faith?” Beth stared deeply into Faith’s brown eyes.
“Beth, I love you withall my heart and soul. I know you don’t…”
Beth cut Faith off as she stepped in close and kissed her on the lips. Gently she teased Faith’s lips open and let her tongue play with Faith’s. Beth let her hand slide down Faith side andbehind the shower curtain. Slowly she moved her hand up gently brushing her hand against her stomach and cupped Faith’s breast, she brushed her thumb over Faith’s nipple as she felt it harden under her touch.
Faith moaned softly intoBeth’s mouth, the feelings Beth were igniting in her were driving her insane. Faith wrapped her arms around Beth and pulled her into the shower and under the warm water.
Beth pulled back slightly as the water ran down her face, “I thought you wanted to come out of the shower Faith, besides look at me. Now I’m all wet, what are you gonna do about it?” Beth teased.
“I don’t know B, I think those clothes are just gonna have to go. We can’t have you getting a cold because of wet clothes now.” Faith said huskily.
“Well then, by all means…” Beth replied smiling at her lover.
Faith kneeled down inside the tub and slowly unsnapped Beth’s jeans and slid them slowly down her legs. Beth stepped out of the jeans clad only in her shirt and panties. Faith started licking the water running down Beth’s thighs, gently nipping her skin as she moved across Beth’s legs and towards Beth’s flat stomach. She could hear Beth moan lightly as she did. “Is there something you want B?” Faith asked teasing her new-lover. One hand gently ran up and down Beth’s side while the other teased the back of Beth’s thighs.
“Please…” Beth whispered huskily.
Faith stood up and then pulled Beth’s sweatshirt over her head and dropped it with a wet PLOP. “My, my, my B,” As Faith saw Beth wasn’t wearing a shirt or bra underneath. Reaching up with both hands Faith cupped and caressed Beth’s breasts and felt the nipples harden into points. Leaning down she captured one nipple with her lips and teased it with her tongue before moving to nip and suck the rest of Beth’s breast. Faith’s other hand wasn’t idle as it caressed Beth’s other breast.
Beth arched into Faith, “Gods, more please…don’t stop.” Beth pleaded. Her body was on fire where Faith’s lips touched her.
Faith stopped suddenly and Beth whimpered softly at the loss of Faith’s lips on her body, Faith picked Beth up in her arms and captured Beth’s lips with her own. Stepping out of the shower Faith moved to the bathroom door and opened it. Moving quickly she walked across the hall to her bedroom, lying Beth on the bed, Faith kicked the bedroom door closed and walked back join her lover.
<<<<<<>>>>>>
The Next Morning….
Beth rolled over and looked at Faith who was lying down with her eyes closed and pretending to be sleeping. There were still some things she didn’t understand about Ramirez or why the Corps just wrote her and the platoon off… “Faith, I’ve been thinking,”
Faith opened one eye and looked at Beth, “Can you think later B, I’m trying to sleep here.” Faith closed her eye and tried to ignore Beth.
“Faith, you’ve been awake for the last hour and like I said, I’ve been thinking. We need to head back, going North isn’t getting us anywhere,”
Faith sighed and opened her eyes looking at Beth. “Come’on B. You gotta be kidding, you wanna head back into the middle of a war zone?? How are we gonna avoid getting shot by the Marines or the French?”
“I’m serious Faith, we’ve got a better chance surviving this if we go back. At least this way we’re not on the run from everyone.”
Faith looked at Beth dubiously, “Riiight B.” Faith said sarcastically.
Beth propped herself up on one arm, “Faith, we can’t run forever and going this way has gotten us nowhere so far.”
Faith looked at Beth’s version of ‘Resolve Face’ and tried not to laugh. “So how are gonna avoid being shot by ‘our’ side B?” Faith asked. Faith asked. She didn’t want to head south. She knew that if Bethwent back to the Marines she’d never see her again. And she didn’t want that. AfterFaith had found out that Beth was dead she had realized that her whole life never meant a thing until she met B. And a few months ago seeing Beth the way she was...Faith shook her head. She couldn’t lose Beth again.
Beth smiled confidently, “Trust me.”
Faith put a smile on her face, “Okay B, South it is then.” As she felt someone had grabbed her heart and squeezed it dry. Faith knew if she tried to stop Beth from going back she'd lose her, the Marines were her family. As much as she loved Beth, Faith knew that Beth didn't feel the same way towards her. Not when Beth realized the mistake she made in the shower yesterday. <Why would B want to stay with someone like her, a liar and a murderer> Faith thought morosely. <She doesn't love me, she can't. I don't know why I'm trying to fool myself about last night. I was just a good fuck, that's it. People like me aren't meant to get second chances.>
Beth stood up and crossed over to the window looking down at the town lying in shattered ruins below her. “I’m not worried about the Marines. If they pick us up it’s okay, we can just let them take us in. We just have to watch out for the huey’s. They’ll be our main concern.” She turned back towards Faith. “We should head South towards the Loire River. Once we hit the river we’ll be about 250 klicks from Bordeaux. That’s were the Corps will be.” She smiled at Faith. “So we head South.”
Faith stood. “Yeah B, south and the Corps.” She grabbed her clothes from a chair. “I'm taking a shower.” Faith turned back towards Beth, “Preferably alone.”
<<<<<<>>>>>>
1 Week Later….
Beth stopped at the top of the rise and looked around. Most of the countryside seemed empty and peaceful, which was shattered by the sudden sound of gunfire. <Hey! That’s an M249 SAW!!> Beth pulled the M4 Assault Rifle off her shoulder and started jogging towards the fire-fight up ahead.
Beth slowed and about halfway up the hill she dropped to her knees and started crawling. She heard the gunfire ricochetingfrom the other side of the hill. Reaching the top Beth pulled out the binoculars and looked down intothe small valley stretched out below.
As she looked below Bethsaw what looked like about 12 Marines, some of them wounded, moving back towards a barn. Moving her head Beth saw about a platoon of huey’s moving slowly forward towards the Marines as they pulled back and into the barn.
Beth watched as the huey’s stopped advancing suddenly and took up positions to block the Marines from escaping the barn, <Huh? What are they doing?> Beth thought puzzeldly. Beth shifted her position so she could see behind the barn, where Beth saw another platoon of huey’s positioned behind the barn. <Shit, they’vegot them pinned inside. I’ve gotta warn them.>
Beth started to move when she heard someone moving behind her, whirling around Beth saw Faith as she crawled over to her.
“Going somewhere B?”Faith asked, not really expecting an answer.
“Yeah, down there.” Beth pointed towards the barn, “There’s some Marines trapped and I gotta help them.”
“Damnit B, you were supposed to be scouting ahead so we can ‘avoid’ the French Army, not fight them!”
Beth looked at Faith angrily. “Faith, we can’t leave them. Those are Marines down there!!”
“Do you know them? No.And we can’t just rush down there and get killed either B! There’s only two ofus, what difference are we gonna make against all of them?!?” Anger coloured Faith’s features.
“I don’t haveto know them, they’re Marines, that makes them a part of me. They’re family Faith.” Beth replied just as angrily.
“Fine, you got any ideas on how to get them out, cause I don’t.”
“Well neither do I butI have to do something…” Beth watched as Faith started to move around her towardsan outcropping of several large boulders 10 feet away, when Beth heard the shrill ‘whistle’ of incoming artillery. Beth leaped forward and tackled Faith,knocking her to the ground and covering her. Seconds later there was a large explosion behind the barn the Marines were in.
Looking over Beth realized what was going on, the huey’s had forced the Marines into the barn so they could drop an artillery barrage on them. After what seemed like an eternity, but was only seconds, came the scream of more incoming artillery rounds. Beth covered her head and the ground shook over and over with the impact from the artillery.
When it finally stopped Beth and Faith looked up and over at the barn, except it was gone now. Destroyed and burning, except forsmall sections that were still standing. Beth pulled the binoculars out of her pocket and saw the huey's were pulling out. She waited until they were out of sight and quickly headed down the hill towards the burned out barn.
Faith watched Beth descend the hill. Sighing she grabbed her weapon and raced down after Beths retreating back
Faith watched Beth as she raced down the hill towards the barn, before she started to make her way down thehill as well.
Beth carefully moved into the barn keeping a tight hold on her weapon and staying as hidden as she could. The first bodies she saw caused her to gag. The bodies twisted and smoldering flaps of skin hanging off. She forced herself to take a deep breath. <Get it together Summers. This isn't the first time you've seen this> Turningaway she moved on looking for any survivors. Beth heard a low moan and moved toward the sound. She found a Marine pinned on his stomach by a large pile of fallen lumber. She shouldered her M4 and knelt down in front of the Marine him.
“I’m gonna get you out of there in just….” Beth had been looking for a beam to use to pry the lumber off when she heard the sound of a pistol being cocked. “Shit.” Beth muttered, turning her head back she saw the Marine had managed to pull out his sidearm and it was pointed at her face.
Slowly Beth raised her hands and kept them in his view.
“Okay Frenchie, since you speak English this is how we’re gonna do things. You’re gonna take that rifleoff your back nice and slow and throw it over in the corner. Then you're gonna get me out from under this,” the Marine said, blood dripped down his temple and intohis eye but he kept his gaze steady. His eyes were ice cold. “Got me?”
“Listen here Private, I’m not a damn huey. I’m a Marine just like you, so get the gun out of my face.”
The Marines eyes never wavered from her face, “Bullshit. Now do what I told you before I put a bullet between your eyes.”
Faith stepped into the remains of the barn and saw one of the Marines holding a gun on Beth. Quietly she moved forward and got behind the Marine before she poked him in the back of the head with the muzzle of her rifle. “Somehow I don’t think you’re going to be putting a bullet anywhere. Drop the gun or I kill you. Understand me?” Faith growled.
The Marine craned his neck as he turned to look and saw the tall, dark-haired woman with the rifle standing behind him. Turning his head back, he dropped the pistol and put his hands behind his head. “Fine.”
Beth grabbed the pistol and put it in the waistband of her pants. “Thanks Faith.”
Faith walked around the Marine, “Okay B, we found one. Now I guess you want us to free him.”
“That is why we’re down here Faith,” Beth frowned. “The two of should be able to get these off of him. Marine, you got a name?”
“Stansfield, M. Private. US Marine Corps…”
“Good. Stansfield, stay still while we get those timbers off you.” Beth replied, cutting Stansfield offbefore he could continue. Several minutes later Beth and Faith had managed to movemost of the wood off and were using a lever to raise the last piece of wood up.
“Can you slide out?”Beth asked as she watched the Marine pull himself free from under the timber. She and Faith let it drop with a loud THUD!
Beth watched as Stansfield pulled himself up against a beam and sat up.
Stansfield tore a piece of cloth loose and held it where he was bleeding from his scalp. “Alright, what’s going on here. You’re not huey’s cause they don’t let women in the army, sowho are you?” Stansfield asked warily.
Beth crouched down in front of the Marine. “My name’s Beth Summers, Lance Corporal. USMC. And until a month ago, I was a POW.”
The Marine looked at Beth for a second then something almost hidden past over his features. He nodded his towards Faith. “She ain’t no Marine.”
Beth nodded at Faith whobacked away to give them a room. “No she's not a Marine. But she's the reason I'm alive today.” Beth shuddered at the memories threatening to take over. She looked down at the Marine. “You got a unit?”
Beth watched as Stansfield paused before answering warily, “11th Recon/2nd Batt. You?”
“13th MEU/Charlie Co. The 11th wasn’t here for Thunderbolt.”
Stansfield shook his head ‘no’.
“That’s when I got captured by the huey’s. What are you doing this far North? Have we pushed up this far?” Beth asked curious.
Stansfield looked aroundfor the other woman and saw her about 10’ feet away and facing away from them, “Not really. Why haven’t you reported back in? You escaped so why are you up here and not back with your unit?” Stansfield asked suspiciously.
“I was in pretty bad shape when Faith got me out, she took care of me and nursed me back to health while we dodged huey patrols,” a small smile lit Beths’ face as she said Faith’s name. “And the patrols were lighter up north that’s how we ended up here.”
“I can bet she took ‘real’ good care of you Summers, especially while she ‘pumped’ you for everything you know.” Stansfield replied with an angry look.
As the implication Stansfield made stuck her, Beth backhanded Stansfield knocking him backwards and leaptonto his chest. Her knees dug into his shoulders pinning him to the ground. Bethsaw red and swung her fist downward, she felt someone grab her arm, stopping it short of Stansfields' face.
Whipping her head aroundto see who stopped her, she heard someone call her name, “Beth!!” Beth’s eyes fell on Faith who was behind her holding her arm, “Beth, don't…” Beth continued to glare at Faith for several seconds before she recognition set in. Looking back, Beth saw one hand wrapped around the Marine's neck and the other poised to swing. Slowly she drew her arm back and unclenched her fist from around his throat. Beth stood up and started to back away, fear taking tight hold on her heartas she realized she would have killed the Marine.
Faith looked down at theMarine and pinned him with a cold gaze, “Move or open your mouth and I will finish what she started.”
“Faith, I…” Beth stammered.
Faith walked over and pulled Beth into her arms, holding her close and gently rubbing her back, “Shhhh, it’s okay.”
Beth could feel the tension slowly ebb away as she held Faith close. After several minutes Beth moved back slightly and looked at Faith, “What if…”
Beth saw Faith look downinto her eyes, “No what if’s B. You didn’t and that’s all that matters.” Faith replied.
“Ahem, not to break upthis little ‘love-fest’ you two have going…” Stansfield asked roughly.
Faith pulled roughly away from Beth. “You little shit. She saved your life.” She kicked him in the stomach, causing him to double over and then kicked him in the head knocking flat onto his back.
Stansfield straightened up, “She's a whore...” wiping the blood from his mouth, he looked Beth straight in the eyes. “...and a disgrace to the Marine uniform.”
Beth could feel the waves of anger from both of them washing over her and making her head pound from the intensity. Closing her eyes Beth struggled as she tried to block out everything. “STOP IT!!! BOTH OF YOU!!!” Beth screamed as she held her head and fellto her knees, the pain from their anger was overwhelming her.
Faith was by Beth’s side instantly, her anger with Stansfield gone. “B? What’s wrong?” concerncolored her voice.
Beth stayed silent, unwilling to say anything as the pain slowly subsided. With Faith right next to her Beth could feel Faith’s concern, worry and love. Finally Beth was able to block everything to the point where she barely noticed it other than the headacheshe now had, “Yeah I’m better.” Beth hedged, not wanting to talk in frontof Stansfield.
Faith frowned as she looked at Beth, “Are you sure B?”
“Yeah” Beth replied as she slowly stood up. “We need to finish checking Faith. If he survived there might be others.”
“I’ll…” Faith started to say.
“No. You stay with him, I’ll go look around.” Beth saw Faith hesitate. “Please Faith.”
Beth saw Faith nod and move over to the Marine. The headaches had been getting worse the last few days, the more people they saw, the worse the pain in her head. Sometimes it tookall she had to block out their emotions from overwhelming her…Pushing these thoughts to the back burner in her mind, Beth concentrated on looking for any more survivors.
Just as she was about togo back to Faith she heard a low moan. Looking around slowly Beth found two Marines; both were alive. “Faith!! Over here, two more.”
Beth was helping the second Marine to his feet when his eyes opened wide and he shoved her aside. As Beth fell she saw the Marine’s head explode in a cloud of red mist and bone.
Faith heard the loud CRACK of a gunshot and turned to see Beth lying on the ground. Running towards her, Faith saw Beth was covered in blood and brain matter, the Marine at her feet was missing half his head.
“B, you okay?” Faithasked, ducking as bullets flew by her. She squinted for a second and saw Beth’s head move. In a flash Beth was up and behind several fallen timbers, taking her M4 with her. Leaning over Beth fired a long burst and ducked down in time to avoid several bullets that struck thewood she was hiding behind.
Faith crawled over by Beth, “Where’s the other one?” Faith asked.
Beth pointed to her leftwhere the other Marine, Kelly, was hunched down behind some fallen wood. “Where’s Stansfield?” Beth asked.
“I left him back therewhen I heard the gunfire. Any ideas who’s shooting at us?” Faith asked as morebullets started peppering the wood they were behind. “Okay, let’s worry about that later. Let’s get out of here first and figure that out afterwards.”
Beth popped up and firedseveral short bursts and ducked back down, “Sounds like a plan to me and no I don’t know who’s shooting.” Beth pulled out the empty clip from the M4 and popped a fresh one in. “You got any ideas?” Beth asked as she fired a quick burst.
Faith fired a quick burst and dropped back down, “Not really B.”
Beth heard the heavy recoil from a MG and pulled Faith down flat against the ground as splinters flew all around them as the timbers they were behind shuddered under the heavy impacts and were chewed up. Beth took one look at what was left of their ‘protection’ wasn’t going to last. “Faith, when I fire get moving back to where we came in.”
“What about you? I’mnot leaving you behind B.”
“And I’m not staying, I’ll be right behind you. Now get ready.” Beth got up on her knees and started firing short bursts, “Faith, GO!!” Beth called out to the Marine “Kelly!!”and tossed her Browning 9mm over to him.
Pulling a grenade out Beth pulled the pin and threw it where she saw some weapons flashes and dropped back down. There was an explosion and the fire seemed to lighten up. Beth used hand signals to tell Kelly to fall back, for several seconds Kelly hesitated and then signaled back ‘Ok.’ Beth watched as he crawled back towards the entrance they first came in.
Suddenly the gunfire intensified, bullets flew all around chewing up the wood. Staying as close to the groundas she could get Beth covered her head to protect it from the splinters of wood flying around. <Jesus!!> Beth thought worriedly, <I gotta get the hell out of here!>
Beth waited until the gunfire started to slack off and pulled out the cylinder-shaped grenade, pulled thepin and threw it 15’ feet in front. There was a hissing sound as orange smoke billowed out of the grenade filling the air and blocking the huey’s line of sight. Jumping to her feet Beth ran as fast as she could out of the barn and towards where she knew Faith would be.
A hail of bullets flew thru the smoke and tore up the space Beth had just vacated, the timbers splintered and broke under the heavy fire….
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Sunnydale, CA
157 Briar Drive
1:13 AM
Thomas Nox stepped out of his dark blue, 2002 Lincoln TownCar and headed towards his house. As he got to the front door he pulled out the keys.
“District Attorney Thomas Nox?” came a cultured voice with a slight British accent from behind him. Whirling around, Nox frantically looked for the speaker, but all he could see were shadows. “Who’s there?” Nox asked nervously.
“You might call me a ‘fan’ of your work Mr. Nox.”
Nox relaxed slightly as this wasn’t a call from his loan shark. A figure stepped out of the deep shadows about 10’ feet away from him and stopped. The light from the street lightdidn’t let him see the figure’s face clearly since it was behind them, Nox couldonly see that the figure was dressed in dark clothing. “So what is it that you want?”
The figure seemed to smile cruelly, “Why to congratulate you of course. You are the new District Attorney are you not? Something you couldn’t have done with your conviction of the ‘criminal’ Elizabeth Summers and your strong anti-crime platform. Of which she was the centerpiece of your platform, wasn’t she. Without her and the certain backers such as Wolfram & Hart you would never have been elected DA.”
“Uhmmm, yes. Well she did kill Deputy Mayor Finch. I really must go, uhmm thanks.” Nox turned his back on the figure and fumbled with the keys to the house. A hard blow slammed him against the front door and Nox dropped his keys as he was held in place against the door.
“Somehow I don’t think so Mr. Nox,” Ripper answered. “We have a few things to discuss first.” Ripper pulled Nox’s left arm back and up. Shoving a rag in Nox’s mouth he held it there and with a practiced move he broke Nox’s pinky. A grim smile on face as he listened to Nox’s muffled cry of pain. “Now that I have your attention Nox, let’s talk.”
The rag was pulled from Nox’s mouth so he could speak, “W-what do you want? I have cash, jewels and I know people who...” the rag was stuffed back in Nox’s mouth.
“Do be silent and ‘listen’. I really don’t have time to listen to your pathetic whining this evening, and if you insist on begging I’ll break another finger. Do you understand me? Ifyou do then nod,” Ripper watched as Nox nodded emphatically.
“Tomorrow morning you are going to go to work as normal, and once there you will write a letter of resignation citing ‘personal health problems’ as the reason for your immediate resignation.” Ripper said cheerfully.
Nox felt the rag pulled from his mouth again, “But people will as…” the rag was violently thrust back into his mouth he felt a sharp blinding pain in his hand as his forefinger was broken. Tears welled in his eyes and fell down Nox’s face.
“You haven’t been listening to me Nox, I didn’t ask you to think. I’m telling you what you’re going to do. Period. Do you remember Officer Johannsen and his unfortunate ‘accident’?” Ripper watched with satisfaction as Nox nodded with fear in his eyes. “Good. Now you can either ignore what I’m telling you, in which case I will destroy you publicly by anonymouslyhaving proof of the dirty money in your Cayman bank accounts sent to every major newspaper and the FBI. Or you can do the smart thing, which is to resign and disappear from here and never return. Personally I don’t care which.”
The rag was pulled from his mouth again, “I’ll go, just don’t hurt me anymore!!” Suddenly Nox felt the weight move off him, turning slowly Nox looked around but didn’t see anything or anyone. Bending over he grabbed his keys and fumbled until he managed to unlock andopen the door.
Stumbling inside Nox slammed the door shut and got the door locked. <First thing I’m calling an ambulance, then I’m calling Lilah and telling her to forget our deal. I don’t knowwho that was, but I’m not gonna call him on his threat. I’m getting out while the getting is good.>
Nox reached for the phone and started dialing…
TBC….