DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. The names were stolen from Hercules - The Legendary Journey, but the characters have absolutely nothing to do with those from Hercules. Oh yeah, I know shit about Druids, except that they probably weren't around yet when the Stonehenge was built. This one was inspired by Kevin Beckett's Militat Omnis Amans, a Buffy/Willow fic which absolutely rocks. It can be found on buffywantswillow Mailing List. The text in italics represents thoughts and the dialog in italics and in the quotation marks is in the minds of Buffy and Faith.

Fall From Grace
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Buffy and Faith were fighting outside of Faith's apartment and Faith held Buffy at the edge.

"Man, I'm going to miss this," Faith said.

Suddenly Buffy broke Faith's grip and plunged the dagger into Faith's stomach. Both of them looked at the wound and at one another, shocked.

"You did it," Faith said weakly, smiling.

She was about to push Buffy away, when a portal opened in mid air and they both looked at it, surprised.

"Slayer, we need your help," came through.

"What?" Buffy said, puzzled.

"We…"

Whoever was on the other side trailed off and the portal shrunk for a moment. Then, suddenly, both Slayers were pulled into it.

When they reached the other side, they both fell to the floor, but Faith didn't get up. Buffy glanced at her, but then she realized that a fight was going on. She looked around and took in the situation. A bunch of witches were fighting demons. They seemed to be winning, but she decided to help them anyway. She took the dagger with which she had stabbed Faith and attacked the demons.

The demons quickly realized that they were in trouble. They tried to escape, but the witches didn't let them and with Buffy's help, they quickly defeated the demons. Buffy then took a couple of deep breaths to calm down and looked around. She noticed Faith, lying on the ground in a pool of blood. She stared at her for a few moments and then looked at the bloody dagger in her hands and at the blood on her hands. She let the dagger fall down and looked at Faith again.

"Slayer," someone said and Buffy jerked.

"What?"

"You are a Slayer, correct?"

"Yes," Buffy said and looked around. "Where am I?"

"I believe you would call this Scotland," the old man said.

Buffy raised an eyebrow and glanced at the witches who were taking care of Faith.

"You brought us here?" she asked.

"Yes," the witch said.

"Why?"

"We needed a Slayer, a strong Slayer. Forgive the abruptness with which you have been brought here. We wanted to ask for your help, but the demons disrupted our ritual."

"Oh."

"Will you help us?"

"With what?"

"The demons have gained a foothold on Earth and they are sending their troops here through a… hellmouth."

"Hellmouth?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yes. It is located in… Stonehenge."

"You're kidding."

"I'm afraid not."

"Oh. So who are you people?"

"We are the Druids."

Buffy frowned.

"Druids?"

"Yes."

"And you speak English?"

Bronagh smiled.

"I do."

"But how?"

The man thought for a moment.

"Magic."

"Oh."

"I would like to teach you our language."

Buffy frowned.

"How."

The man smiled.

"Magic."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"What do I have to do?"

"I have translated a spell into… Latin. You can read Latin?"

"I can, but I don't understand it."

"That is not necessary."

"Oh."

The man gave her a parchment.

"I hope I wrote this correctly."

Buffy looked.

"Looks fine to me. So I just read it?"

"Touch my head and then read it."

"Okay," Buffy said.

She touched the Druid's head and read the spell.

"Do you understand me?" the Druid asked in Celtic.

Buffy looked at him, startled.

"Yes. Cool."

"Bronagh," one of the witches spoke.

"Yes?"

"The other one, I believe she's also a Slayer."

"What?" Bronagh said, surprised. He looked at Buffy. "Is this true?"

Buffy glanced at Faith.

"Yes."

"But how?" Bronagh asked, puzzled.

Buffy shrugged.

"I died for a few moments."

"I see. What happened to her?"

Buffy glanced at Faith, hesitating.

"I stabbed her."

"What?" Bronagh said, surprised. "Why?"

Buffy sighed.

"It's a long story." She looked at the other Druid. "Will she be okay?"

"Yes."

Buffy sighed again, glancing at Faith, and then looked at Bronagh.

"What's the plan?"

"Plan?"

"Yes, for stopping the demons."

"Oh."

"And where is your own Slayer?"

"We don't know. The demons have killed the Slayer we knew and we haven't seen a Slayer since. We believe that they kidnap the Slayer when she is called and they make sure she doesn't know about her powers. That way she is no threat to them."

"Oh. Okay, the plan?"

"Well, we are on our way to Stonehenge, where we will perform a ritual and close the hellmouth."

"Okay, sounds simple. What do you need me for?"

"We need you to watch our backs."

"I can do that, but I'm only one person."

"You have your friend."

"Faith? I don't think she'll want to help. She'll probably want you to send her back."

"I'm afraid we can't do that."

"Why not?" Buffy asked suspiciously.

"I mean, we can, but not now. We have to wait another year. Most of us are tired from bringing you here and we need our strength for Stonehenge."

"Oh. So we're stuck here for a year?"

"I'm afraid so."

Buffy sighed.

"Great." She frowned. "Can the demons send her back?"

"No."

"Good." Buffy thought for a moment. "Can you send us back to the same moment?"

"Yes."

"Good." She shivered. "Do you have something warmer? It's cold."

"Of course. This way."

Bronagh took her to a pile of supplies and produced a set of warm clothes.

Buffy scratched her head when she saw them.

"Em, what year is this?"

Bronagh smiled.

"I'm not entirely certain, but I believe it is several millennia before your time."

"Oh."

Buffy stared at the clothes for a few more moments. Then she took them and put them over her own.

"Better?" Bronagh asked when she was done.

"Much. Where do we go from here?"

"There is a castle near by, we will go there."

"And then?"

"Then we wait for your friend to get better."

"She's not my friend," Buffy said.

Bronagh frowned.

"But she's a Slayer."

"She's evil. She works for a guy who wants to turn himself into a demon. And she killed at least two people."

"I see," Bronagh said. "Was she always like that?"

Buffy sighed.

"No."

"Then why did she change?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"I don't know."

"Did you ask her?"

"No. But it's not like she'd answer."

"You don't know that."

"I know her."

"Do you?"

Buffy stared at him.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you know about her? Do you know what she wants?"

"No."

"Then how can you say that you know her?"

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I know her well enough to know that she would either lie or she wouldn't answer at all."

"I see."

Buffy sighed and thought.

"Okay, back to the plan. What can I do? I mean, I'm only one person. And even if Faith decides to help, we're still only two."

Bronagh nodded.

"True, but you have not been properly trained."

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Slayers are powerful, more powerful that warrior-mages. You were given many gifts, but have apparently not been taught how to use them."

"How do you know?"

"I can feel it."

"Feel what? I mean, you don't have any base for comparison."

Bronagh smiled.

"I do. I'm old enough to remember the last fully trained Slayer. You are nowhere near as strong as her, but you do have the potential to become even more stronger." He paused for a moment, thinking. "And if you join your powers with your… with Faith, then the two of you could be powerful indeed."

"Don't even think about training Faith. She's dangerous as it is. I'm afraid to think of what she would do if she was fully trained, as you say."

"We will see," Bronagh said cryptically. "We should go now, before more demons come."

The castle reminded Buffy of the castles from Highlander, but she said nothing. It was on a small hill, surrounded by forest. And it looked ancient. She had a strange feeling as they approached it and she figured it was protected by magic.

As they entered, the Druids took Faith away.

"Make sure she's locked up," Buffy said.

"Why?" Bronagh asked.

"Because she's gonna freak out when she wakes up and I don't want her to beat one of you to a pulp.

"I see."

"I'm serious."

Bronagh nodded.

"We will be careful."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, but she didn't comment.

"Do you want me to patrol or something?" she asked instead.

"No, thank you. We are safe in this castle and no other people live around."

"Oh. Got anything to eat?"

Bronagh smiled.

"We do. Come."

Buffy followed Bronagh to a small dining hall.

"Wow," Buffy said when she saw all the food.

"The others will join us shortly."

Buffy nodded and took a seat. She reached for the food, but she stopped.

"Em, is there, like any protocol to this or can I start eating?"

Bronagh smiled.

"You can eat."

"Okay," Buffy said and proceeded to do just that.

Bronagh joined her.

Slowly, other Druids joined them.

"Where did you put Faith?" Buffy asked after she and Bronagh left the dining hall.

"This way," Bronagh said and led the way.

"So, how many of you are there?"

"Here or overall?"

"Here."

"At the moment, there are forty-eight of us. We're still expecting eleven. And if we're lucky, more may join us once we approach Stonehenge."

"Oh."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"So, em, do you sacrifice people?"

Bronagh looked at her, surprised.

"No. Where did… Ah. No, we don't."

"Ah what?"

Bronagh smiled.

"There is a ritual I think you're referring to, but we don't sacrifice people."

"Oh. Good."

"Em, you never told me your name."

"Buffy."

"I see. And how long have you been a Slayer?"

"About four years."

"And Faith?"

"About a year."

"Was she always… evil?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"No. She was… okay when she first arrived."

"Were you jealous of her?"

"No!" Buffy frowned. "Well, a bit. I mean, it was like I didn't matter anymore and everyone wanted to hear her stories."

"Everyone?"

"My friends."

"I see. Well, here…"

"What?" Buffy asked when he trailed off.

Bronagh looked at her.

"Faith is in there," he said and pointed at a door.

"Is something wrong?" Buffy asked when Bronagh kept staring down the corridor expectantly.

Bronagh looked at her, smiling.

"No, nothing," he said and looked back.

Then an old woman came around the corner and Bronagh approached her, smiling. Buffy observed them until they hugged and then went to Faith's room. Faith's wound was wrapped up in bandages and her bruises were covered with some salve. As she looked upon her counterpart, Buffy felt guilty. Faith looked so young and so innocent without her makeup and for a moment, she just wanted to hug her and hold her, but the feeling passed as she remembered what Faith had done.

She heard motion at the door and she looked.

"Everything okay?" Bronagh asked, holding the old woman's hand.

Buffy nodded.

"I suggest you lock the door and post a guard," she said.

Bronagh nodded.

"We will. Buffy this Brigid. She's my wife. Brigid, this is Buffy."

"Hi," Buffy said.

"Hello," Brigid said.

"And that is Faith, the other Slayer," Bronagh said and pointed at Faith.

"Interesting," Brigid said. "What happened to her?"

"It's a long story," Bronagh said.

"I stabbed her," Buffy said and Brigid looked at her husband, surprised. "She's evil," Buffy explained. She looked at Bronagh. "Where do I sleep?"

"Come, I'll show you."

After showing Buffy to her room, Bronagh and Brigid retired to their own room.

"I sensed anxiety," Brigid said after they sat down.

Bronagh nodded.

"Yes. She hates Faith, yet she's worried about her."

"How come there are two of them?"

"Buffy said that she died for a few moments."

"I see. And they both agreed to come?"

"No. We were interrupted by demons and we lost concentration. They were both sucked through the portal. Buffy had already stabbed Faith."

"I see. Has she agreed to help us?"

Bronagh nodded.

"Yes. She is strong, but she lacks training."

Brigid nodded, thinking.

"What about the other, Faith? What will we do with her if she is really evil?"

Bronagh sighed.

"I don't know. You should talk to her when she wakes up and I will talk to Buffy."

Buffy woke up at dawn. She was confused for a moment, but then she realized where she was and she relaxed. She got up and did her morning routine. Then she took a bath and went to check up on Faith. She was relieved that the door was locked and that a guard was standing outside it. When she saw that Faith was still out, she went to the dining hall, where some of Druids, including Bronagh and Brigid, were already eating. She joined them.

"Morning," she said.

"Good morning," Bronagh said. "Did you sleep well?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. So, what's the plan for today?"

"We talk and you train. But first, we will… measure your potential."

"Oh. Okay."

After the breakfast, Buffy followed Bronagh to his room.

"First, you should know that I am an empath," he said after he sat down.

Buffy frowned.

"You can feel other people's emotions?"

Bronagh nodded.

"Yes," he said and Buffy was pleased that she had remembered something from Giles' lectures. "So is Brigid."

"Oh. Okay."

"How much do you know about your powers?"

"My powers?" Buffy frowned. "There isn't much to know. I mean, I'm faster and stronger than normal people and I heal faster. My senses are sharper and I can also feel the demons."

"What about magic?"

Buffy's frown deepened.

"What magic? I can't do magic, I'm not a witch."

Bronagh raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"You may not be a witch, as you say, but you do have magic powers."

"I do? Cool. What can I do?"

"Well, they augment the powers you already use."

"Augment… So that means I can be even faster and stronger and stuff?"

"Yes."

"Cool. Are you going to teach me?"

Bronagh nodded.

"Yes. You will need them."

Buffy grimaced.

"Great. Not." She sighed. "Okay, test away."

"She is strong, very strong," Bronagh said as he and his wife sat down after dinner. "She may look innocent and ignorant, but she has seen horrors most people don't know even exist."

"And her strengths?"

"Water, earth and self. She also has some strength in fire and air."

Brigid thought for a moment.

"I wonder if the other will complement her."

"It would be a miracle," Bronagh said with a nod. He sighed. "If she will help us."

"You think she won't?"

Bronagh shrugged.

"I don't know. Judging from what Buffy has told me about her, no." He thought for a moment. "She is angry with Faith. She told me what Faith had done, but she is not telling everything. Deep down, she feels responsible."

"Does she want to help her?"

"She does, but she's scared of getting hurt again."

Brigid sighed.

"I hope everything turns out alright."

Bronagh nodded in agreement.

"Yes."

"Tell me what she told you."

When Faith woke up two days later, she was disoriented. Her side hurt and when she touched it, it hurt even more, but the pain was bearable. She looked around and saw that she was in a small room. She also noticed a cat napping on a chair. She slowly sat up and checked her side. It was bandaged. She also noticed that her top was gone. Luckily, whoever had taken care of the wound also provided her with some warm clothes. She put them on and went to the door. It was locked. She hesitated for a moment and then kicked the door. The noise woke up the cat. A guard turned around and Faith quickly punched him unconscious. She searched him for keys and when she found them, she moved on. The cat followed her.

Buffy was still sleeping when someone knocked on her door.

"Mmm, what?" she asked in a sleepy voice.

Bronagh entered.

"Faith woke up. She left the castle."

Buffy was immediately awake.

"Just give me a moment," she said.

Bronagh nodded and left and Buffy got up and quickly dressed.

"Come," Bronagh said when she got out.

"How did she get out?" Buffy asked.

"She broke the door."

"Oh."

"She knocked the guard unconscious and then broke into the armory. She has a sword and two daggers. Right now, she's headed west."

"How do you know?"

"My familiar is following her."

Buffy frowned.

"Your what?"

"My familiar. My cat. I can see through her eyes."

"Oh. Cool."

Faith ran away from the freaky castle in the middle of nowhere. She was confused. She didn't know where she was or whose prisoner she was. She also didn't know where Buffy was. A part of her was worried, but a part of her just didn't care. So she ran, as far away from the castle as possible. She needed to recover first and then find out who had kidnapped her. Well, also saved her life apparently.

She had a feeling that she was being followed, but whatever it was, at least it wasn't supernatural.

"She's under attack," Bronagh said after they ran for almost ten minutes. "Ten demons."

"How is she handling them?"

"They have surrounded her. She is using her sword."

"In this direction?" Buffy asked.

"Yes."

Buffy started running as fast as she could and she quickly left Bronagh behind.

Faith was slowly losing. Sure, she had managed to dispatch three demons, but the wound Buffy had inflicted on her was taking its toll. Just as a big green demon knocked her off her feet and prepared to crush her head with its feet, someone stabbed it and it fell down. Faith didn't see who it was, but she felt it. Buffy. She slowly got up and her wound reminded her it was there. She touched it and felt wetness. She looked down and saw she was bleeding again.

"Faith, help me!" Buffy called as the remaining six demons converged on her.

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Help yourself," she said and walked away.

Buffy glanced at her, surprised, but then quickly focused on the demons again.

Faith wanted to run, but she was too tired, so she settled for walking as fast as she could. She walked for a while, but she was quickly getting tired. She didn't want to face Buffy, so she made a turn and hid in the bushes. She leaned on a tree and tried to pull herself together.

When Buffy eliminated the last demon, Bronagh had already reached her and helped her. Buffy then looked around and sighed. She hated to admit it to herself, but she felt hurt that Faith had walked out on her, even though she knew she really shouldn't be surprised, not after she had stuck a dagger in her belly.

"She is that way," Bronagh said and pointed.

Buffy immediately started running and Bronagh followed her. She couldn't see Faith anywhere, but she felt that she was near. A cat meowed and Buffy looked. She saw the cat and guessed it was Bronagh's familiar. Then she noticed legs and she knew she had found Faith. She slowed down and slowly approached her.

"Faith?" she said when she came closer, but Faith didn't respond. "Faith," she called louder, but Faith still didn’t respond.

She figured Faith must be unconscious, so she stepped closer. Her danger sense tingled and she immediately stepped back as Faith slashed a dagger only millimeters from her throat.

"Stay away from me," Faith said as Buffy stared at her, shocked. She cocked her head. "How does it feel, B? To be a killer? To be like me? Your friends may forgive you, but deep down you'll know."

"I didn't kill you," Buffy pointed out.

"Details," Faith said. "I don't think you had anything to do with healing my wound."

"I…"

"What the fuck happened?"

Buffy took a deep breath and pulled herself together.

"Some Druids wanted to ask for my help, but they got distracted and we both got pulled through the portal."

Faith chuckled.

"So instead of a mighty Slayer, they also got the bad seed." She coughed. "I suppose it was your idea that they lock me up and put a guard outside," she said and Buffy looked away. "Thought so."

Buffy sighed.

"Faith, you need to have that wound taken care of."

"What the fuck do you care?" Faith snapped. "You're the one who put it there."

"Faith…"

"Shut the fuck up and leave me alone." She coughed. "Get lost, B, I don't need you."

Bronagh finally caught up with Buffy and Faith looked at him suspiciously.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"I am Bronagh. I was responsible for bringing you here."

"And where is here?"

"Scotland, several millennia before you were born."

"The past? Shit. Send me back."

"I'm afraid I can't. Not yet, anyway. You will have to wait one year."

"Great," Faith murmured. "So now what?"

"Well, you need to have that wound taken care of."

Faith glanced at the wound.

"No, thanks. I don't wanna end up locked up again," she said, glancing at Buffy.

"You won't," Bronagh said. "I apologize for the first time, but Buffy urged us it was necessary."

"Who else," Faith said, glancing at Buffy again.

"So, will you come?"

Faith thought for a moment. She didn't trust Bronagh, but he had apparently taken care of her wound before and he seemed to be on her side. Which didn't make her trust him any more.

"Okay," she said and used the tree to help herself get up. "As long as she's on the other side of you."

Bronagh looked at Buffy.

"Fine," Buffy said and stepped away.

"Do you need help?" Bronagh offered.

"No, I'm fine," Faith said and started walking back toward the castle.

Her wound hurt and she was tired from the fight, but she didn't want to appear weak, especially since she was worried that Buffy would take the opportunity and… do something.

But finally her body demanded rest and she collapsed to the ground.

Buffy was immediately by her side.

"Faith?" she asked before she carefully kneeled beside her, but Faith didn't respond.

She removed the daggers and picked Faith up.

"I can carry her, if you want," Bronagh offered.

"No, I'll do it," Buffy said.

Bronagh quietly picked up the daggers and followed Buffy.

When they got back to the castle, Buffy wanted to take Faith back to the room where she was before, but then she remembered that Faith had broken the door. She looked at Bronagh questioningly and he took the lead. His familiar ran ahead.

"Here," he said when they got to a room.

He opened the door and Buffy entered. She looked around and put Faith on the bed.

"I'll take care of her."

Buffy turned and saw Brigid. She stepped aside and let her take care of Faith. Bronagh put the daggers on a chair near the bed.

"You're not leaving them here, are you?" Buffy asked.

"I am," Bronagh said. "She needs to know that she's not a prisoner and that she's safe."

Buffy snorted.

"And what about the rest of us?"

"She won't kill anyone," Bronagh said. "Come, let's leave Brigid to take care of Faith."

"How is she?" Bronagh asked in the evening, when he brought his wife some dinner.

"She is recovering. She should wake up tomorrow."

Bronagh nodded.

"Good." He sighed, glancing at Faith. "She is so full of pain and anger. And she's scared."

Brigid glanced at Faith.

"I will have to be very careful."

Bronagh nodded.

"Yes."

When Faith woke up the next day, she felt beat. Her body didn't hurt as much as it did before, but she was exhausted. And hungry. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that she was in a different room and that she wasn't alone.

Brigid smiled when Faith looked at her.

"Good morning," she said.

"Where am I?" Faith asked.

"Back in the castle. I took care of your wound."

Faith looked around and noticed the daggers on the chair. She looked at Brigid, puzzled.

"We left them there so you would know that you are not a prisoner," Brigid explained. "By the way, I am Brigid."

"Faith."

Brigid nodded.

"I'd like to check your wounds, if I may."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Brigid got up and uncovered Faith. As she unwrapped the bandages from the belly wound, she also examined the other wounds.

"How long have I been out?" Faith asked after taking a look at her wound.

"A day." She hesitated for a moment. "I'm an empath, by the way."

Faith frowned.

"A what?"

"Empath."

"So you can read minds or something?"

Brigid smiled.

"No, that is a telepath. I can feel people's emotions, even those they're not aware of themselves. Just so you know. I try to block them out, but my block doesn't always work, especially not with strong emotions. Just so you know."

Faith didn't respond.

"Em, this guy said I was in the past?" she asked after a few moments.

Brigid nodded.

"Yes. We needed a strong Slayer and we wanted to ask for help, but we were interrupted by demons and you were both sucked through the portal. And we also didn't know there were two of you."

"And you can't send me back for a year?"

"I'm afraid so."

Faith thought for a few moments.

"Help with what?"

"Closing a hellmouth."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"A hellmouth?"

"Yes. The demons are threatening to destroy us and we need to close the hellmouth. But we need the help of a Slayer. Buffy had already agreed to help us."

Faith snorted.

"Of course she did."

"Will you help us?"

"You already have a Slayer, what do you need me for?"

"Two Slayers would be even better."

"I'm sure. Thanks, but no, thanks. I have enough of my own problems, I don't need yours."

Brigid nodded.

"Will you at least allow me to measure your potential?"

Faith frowned.

"What potential?"

"Your Slayer potential. You are very strong and I'd like to know how strong."

"What do I have to do?"

"Drink a potion and answer a few questions."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"That's it?"

Brigid nodded.

"Yes."

Faith thought for a moment and then shrugged.

"Fine with me."

"I would like you to learn our language."

"Your…" Faith frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Me and my husband speak your language, but the others don't."

"Oh."

"There is a spell you can perform, it only takes a minute or so."

"I'm no witch."

"I know, but you do have magic powers."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"I do?"

"Yes. You will need to know the language."

Faith thought for a few moment and then sighed.

"Okay."

Brigid produced a scroll.

"Here."

Faith glanced at it.

"I can't read this."

"It's in Latin, I believe. You don't have to understand it, just touch my head and read it."

Faith stared at the scroll for a few moments. Then she touched Brigid's head and said the words.

"Do you understand me?" Brigid then asked in Celtic.

Faith looked at her.

"Yes. Oh," she said, impressed.

"Would you like to have a bath?"

Faith looked at herself. She was a mess and she smelled.

"Definitely. And some food."

Brigid nodded.

"Come, follow me."

Faith got up. She glanced at the daggers and decided to take them with her, just in case.

After the bath and a hefty breakfast, Brigid showed Faith around the castle. They ended up in the inner courtyard, where Buffy was training against a dozen Druids. Buffy immediately stopped when she felt Faith's presence and they stared at one another for a few moments.

"Shall we go measure your potential?" Brigid interrupted the staring contest.

Faith jerked and looked at her.

"Yeah, sure."

"She's not going anywhere," Bronagh said when Buffy stared after Faith.

Buffy looked at him.

"But…"

"There isn't any danger, Buffy."

Buffy looked at the door through which Faith had disappeared, and sighed.

"Okay, let's continue," she said.

Brigid sighed as she and Bronagh sat down in the evening.

"She will not help us."

Bronagh nodded.

"I was afraid of that."

"I felt pain, anger, fear and sadness when she saw Buffy."

"I felt the same from Buffy. And she was also ready to fight."

Brigid nodded sadly.

"There is darkness in that girl. And hope." She sighed. "I tested her." She smiled. "It is a miracle. They are a perfect fit. Her strengths are fire, air and self. And she also has some strength in water and earth."

Bronagh sighed.

"Unfortunately, she is not willing to help us."

"Yes. What do we do with her?"

"Nothing. She is here against her will and until we can send her back, she is our guest."

Brigid nodded.

"We also have to make sure they don't kill one another if they meet."

"Yes," Bronagh agreed. "And it would be good if we could get them to train together. Buffy will soon outclass Faith, but it would be good for both of them. Buffy would stay on her toes and Faith would stay in shape."

"Yes," Brigid nodded. She thought for a moment. "There is a chance that Faith might join us."

"There is?"

"Yes. She is an active girl and she needs to have something to do. She might change her mind after a couple of days and join us just so she wouldn't get bored."

"But will we be able to trust her?"

"I think so. After all, she wants to go back and if we die, we can't sent her back."

"True. But what about later? Can we send her back to her world with all her powers?"

Brigid thought.

"I don't know." She smiled. "An interesting paradox. If she helps us and we teach her about her powers, we might win, but her world might pay the price for it. And if we don't teach her about her powers, we might not win and her world will be safe."

"Her world won't exist if we lose."

Brigid frowned and rethought the paradox.

"Yes," she nodded. She sighed. "It's a no-win situation for her world."

"Perhaps not," Bronagh said. "If we can get her and Buffy to clear things up between them, Faith might become an asset to her world."

"True. We should talk to them tomorrow."

"Yes. Tell me what she told you."

When Faith woke up in the morning, she was a bit confused at first, but then she remembered where she was. She sighed and got up. She did her morning routine, took a bath and went to the dining hall. The Druids ignored her, only Brigid and her husband smiled at them. She considered joining her, but she decided against it, she didn't want to be close to Buffy. She found herself a seat as far away from Buffy as she could and ignored her. Bronagh and Buffy finished first and left and Faith was relieved that she would catch Brigid alone.

"So, what's the plan for today?" she asked Brigid after the breakfast as they walked toward Brigid's room.

"Not much," Brigid said. "I want to talk to you first."

"About what?"

"You."

"Me?" Faith frowned. "What about me?"

"Do you think you can spar with Buffy without trying to kill her?"

Faith glared at her.

"She's the one who tried to kill me."

"You're not exactly an innocent yourself."

"Fuck you," Faith immediately went on the defensive.

"You should talk to Buffy."

Faith snorted.

"Yeah, right."

"You do want things right between you two, don't you?"

Faith sighed.

"It's too late for that."

"It's not too late. Talk to her, explain things."

"I start talking about that and she'll laugh her ass off. Then she'll gut me."

"She won't. She wants things right between you as well, but she's afraid of getting hurt."

"Oh so I'm the bad guy now."

"That's how she feels. And your actions only strengthened her beliefs."

Faith sighed and didn't respond.

"Things won't change if you two don't talk," Brigid said. "And I don't think they can get any worse."

"I'll have to think about it."

Brigid nodded.

"You can go training now, if you want, maybe teach us a couple of moves. Buffy is with Bronagh now, so you don't have to worry about her."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

On the other side of the castle, Bronagh was having a similar conversation with Buffy.

"I was thinking," he said. "It would do you good if you spared with Faith."

Buffy gave him a blank look.

"You're kidding, right? She'd just love an opportunity to do something."

"She's scared, you know."

Buffy looked at him, surprised.

"Of what? Me? She better be."

"You're not the only thing she's afraid of."

Buffy frowned.

"What else is she afraid of?"

"That's what you're going to have to find out. To help her."

"Help her!"

"Yes. I know you still care about her. Talk to her, gain her trust, let her tell you why she did the things she did."

Buffy snorted.

"She had her chance. More than one."

"But there was always something in between. Now, there's only the two of you. Talk to her, you might be surprised."

Buffy thought about it.

"I don't know."

"Think about it."

Buffy sighed and nodded.

"I will."

"Good. Now, let me show you some of the things you are capable of."

"As in magic?"

"Yes."

"Oh." Buffy frowned. "What about Faith? Will you also teach her magic?"

"No. She has decided not to help us and she won't need that knowledge."

"Oh. Good."

After an exhausting morning of showing small groups Druids defense moves, Faith was looking forward to lunch. She wasn't very exhausted, but she was getting tired of teaching the Druids. She wondered what Buffy was doing, she thought teaching the helpless to defend themselves would appeal to Buffy's ego. Well, the Druids weren't exactly defenseless, they could do some serious mojo, but physical fighting was apparently alien to them, even though they were all in very good shape. She was relieved that Buffy was not there and that Brigid sat beside her. She didn't exactly want to talk, but she didn't want to look like an outsider. Not that she cared. Much.

Buffy arrived a few minutes later with Bronagh. Bronagh headed to his wife and Buffy hesitantly followed him, not quite ready to be close to Faith. She saw that Faith was watching her, obviously ready for a confrontation. She slowed down and sat on Bronagh's free side, so that Bronagh and Brigid were between her and Faith. Faith was apparently relieved by that.

After lunch, Faith went to her quarters and lay down. She tried to sleep some, but she had way too much energy to burn. She decided to go find Buffy and see what she was doing.

But after a thorough search of all public places, she couldn't find Buffy anywhere. So she decided to find the armory guy and practice with weapons. She was just in the middle of her practice when she felt Buffy's presence. She stopped and faced Buffy, who was observing her. They stared at one another for a while.

"Wanna practice?" Faith finally broke the silence.

"You're kidding, right?" Buffy said. "You've got the whole armory at your disposal."

"Then pick a weapon."

"You'd just like that, wouldn't you? And then accidentally gut me."

"You're the one to talk. As I remember, it was you doing the gutting. And I don't think it was accidental."

Buffy bit her teeth.

"You know damn well it was."

"Was it? You were after my blood, as I recall."

"You poisoned Angel."

"Yes. You could've given him your blood."

"Not while I had yours at disposal."

"Not anymore, B."

Buffy sighed and turned to leave.

"What's the matter, B, scared?"

Buffy faced Faith again.

"Of you? In your dreams."

"Oh, you're not scared in my dreams when you scream, believe me," Faith said, leering.

"You're disgusting," Buffy said.

"You're the one screwing a vamp."

"Fuck you."

"You wish," Faith said and grinned. "What's the matter, Angel not enough for you? Wanna play for the home team now?"

Buffy blushed.

"Grow up," she said and left.

Faith grinned, but when Buffy was gone, she turned around and hurled the sword across the courtyard, embedding it in the far wall.

"Bitch," she muttered.

She looked at the weapons and didn't feel like practicing anymore. She needed to slay something. She took another sword and went back in.

"This is not good," Brigid said as she and Bronagh observed the two Slayers.

"No," Bronagh agreed. "I don't like this," he said when Faith took a sword and headed after Buffy.

"I'll go after her," Brigid said.

"Where are you going?" Brigid asked as she intercepted Faith.

"I need to slay something. I'm sure there are demons around here."

"You can't," Brigid said.

Faith glanced at her.

"Why not?"

"This castle is magically protected and is hidden from the demons. If you kill too many of them and some of them escape, they will know that there is a Slayer in the neighborhood and then we will be in danger of being discovered."

"Shit," Faith said and stopped.

"Why don't you practice with Buffy?"

Faith gave her a blank look.

"I asked and she declined. She doesn't want the psychopathic little old me to hurt her."

"Would you?"

"What?"

"Hurt her if you had the chance."

Faith sighed.

"I don't know. I mean, I…"

"Yes?" Brigid asked when Faith trailed off.

Faith shook her head.

"Doesn't matter."

"It obviously does to you," Brigid observed.

"Stay out of my head."

"I'm not in your head, you're screaming at me. Luckily, Bronagh and I are the only two empaths here, but later, several others will join us."

"Great," Faith grumbled.

"Do you want to spar with Buffy?"

"She doesn't want to."

Brigid sighed.

"Without weapons."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Yeah," she said.

"Then go to the courtyard and wait there."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You think she'll listen to you?"

"Perhaps, I'll let you know."

Faith shrugged.

"Okay," she said and left.

"You're upset," Bronagh said when he caught up with Buffy.

Buffy glanced at him.

"Faith was running her mouth again."

"And it bothers you?"

Buffy grimaced.

"Yeah."

"Then don't let it. You both go on the defensive when you're around one another."

"We both have good reasons to."

"But she was sincere earlier," Bronagh said, "she just wanted to practice."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Buffy sighed.

"And I blew it."

"She still wants to practice."

"How do you know?"

Bronagh smiled.

"My familiar is with her."

"Oh."

"She is waiting for you in the courtyard. The weapons have been taken away."

Buffy sighed.

"I guess I could use some serious practice."

"Then go to her."

Buffy nodded and left.

Faith was nervously pacing around the courtyard. A part of her wanted to train with Buffy, to let off some steam, but another part was worried that she would lose control or that they would start insult one another again.

Her pacing was interrupted when Buffy arrived. Buffy stopped and they stared at one another across the courtyard. Finally, Buffy started to approach her. Faith was relieved that Buffy didn't appear to be looking for a fight.

"You still wanna practice?" Buffy asked after she stopped a safe distance from Faith.

Faith shrugged.

"Sure."

"And you're not…" Buffy trailed off, realizing she was about to piss off Faith again. "Never mind. You ready?"

"Yeah."

Buffy came closer and they circled around one another for a few moments before Faith attacked.

They fought for a few minutes and then Faith's hand hit an invisible barrier as she tried to hit Buffy from behind.

"What the fuck?" she said and backed off. "What the hell did you do, B?"

"What? Oh, the shield." Buffy smiled. "Bronagh taught me that."

"Yeah?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"What else did he teach you?"

"A couple of useful things. I'm still trying to get the hang of them though."

Faith stared at Buffy for a few moments, thinking about it. She decided to ask Brigid about it later.

"Okay," she said and took a fighting stance again.

After the fight was over, Faith was seriously annoyed. She couldn't even touch Buffy, thanks to that forcefield of hers. Though she had to admit that Buffy wasn't too hard on her. And that annoyed her further, she didn't know if she should be glad or insulted because of it. She decided to just drop it. She took a shower and then searched for Brigid. She found her in her room.

"Brigid?"

"Hello, Faith."

Faith came closer and waited for Brigid to stop doing whatever she was doing.

"What can I do for you?" Brigid then said and looked at her.

"Why aren't you teaching me that mojo stuff that Bronagh's been teaching Buffy?"

"Ah. Because she will need it when we close the hellmouth."

"Oh. And I won't?"

"No. You will stay here. Once the demons realize that we've moved, they will follow us and this castle should be safe."

"And Buffy will go with you?"

"Yes."

Faith thought for a moment.

"So if I had decided to go with you, you'd teach me that stuff?"

"Yes."

Faith wanted to say that she did want to go with them, but she remembered that Brigid was an empath and that she could probably tell if she lied. She sighed.

"Okay," she said. "And what do I do now?"

"Whatever you want. Just don't leave the castle, okay?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Okay," she then said.

Brigid smiled and returned to doing magic. Faith stared at her for a few moments and then left.

After a couple of days of basically doing nothing, Faith was getting seriously restless. The only relief was when she could spar with Buffy, but that only took an hour, leaving her with a whole lot of hours with nothing to do. She tried taking time eating, bathing, even sleeping, but she still had plenty of time left and not even helping the Druids learn how to fight seemed to be helping her. And when she realized that she would have to spend a whole year basically alone and with nothing to do, she decided to go and help the Druids. Sure, she would put her life on the line for them, but it was better than losing her sanity.

"Okay, Brigid, you won," she said as she walked into Brigid's room.

She noticed that Brigid was doing magic again and she waited.

"Won?" Brigid asked when she stopped doing magic and looked at Faith.

"Yes. I've decided to help you. I'm going crazy here and if I don't have something to do, I'll be ripe for the loony bin."

Brigid smiled.

"Very well. Come to me after your practice with Buffy."

"Okay," Faith said, relieved. "I'll see you later then."

Brigid nodded, and Faith left.

The next day, Buffy and Faith were practicing again and this time Faith didn't try to pound on Buffy because she knew that she couldn't get through her shield. She knew she could probably get through if she used magic, but she also knew that her control over it was nowhere good enough for her to show off. Not yet. She decided to wait a couple of days and then surprise Buffy. And since her grasp on the shield magic was not very good, she only used it as a defense. She had concentrated on that the most and she had a feeling that she had mastered it sufficiently for her to use in a fight. But she soon discovered that it was exhausting to constantly keep the shield up. So she decided to use the second thing she had concentrated the most on, slowing down the time. Not literally, of course, just her perception of it.

"What the hell was that?" Buffy asked when her fist finally connected and instead of hitting Faith hit the shield.

Faith smiled.

"A shield."

"A shield?"

"Yes. You know, magic."

"What? Is Brigid teaching you magic?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"And why shouldn't she?"

"But Bronagh said…" She frowned. "Wait, you've decided to come along?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to go insane from having nothing to do for a whole year."

"How do I know you're not going to join the demons?"

Faith glared at her.

"Fuck you, B. You have a problem with me being a Slayer, go whine to the someone who cares," she said and left.

Buffy stared after her, not quite sure if she should be angry with herself for pissing Faith off or with Faith, after all, her concerns were legitimate. She sighed and decided to find Bronagh.

"Bronagh?" she said when she entered his room.

"Buffy."

"I just found out that Faith is coming with us."

Bronagh nodded.

"Yes."

"And you're teaching her magic?"

"Brigid is."

"Why? I mean, she can take care of herself. And if you teach her magic, who knows what she'll do when we get back."

"Give her time, Buffy, and have faith in her." He smiled. "No pun intended."

"Faith? In Faith? You're kidding, right? She's caused enough damage already, she should be in jail."

"We need her." He paused for a moment. "You need her."

Buffy looked at him incredulously.

"I need her?"

"Yes. And she needs you."

Buffy snorted.

"First of all, I don't need her, and second, she's got the Mayor."

"Really?"

Buffy opened her mouth to answer that, but then she realized that it was a rhetorical question. She sighed.

"You're making a big mistake," she said and left.

Bronagh sighed and shook her head.

Faith, on the other hand, went to her quarters. She was seriously pissed at Buffy. She knew that Buffy had a point and that she was concerned for a good reason, but it still pissed her that Buffy kept throwing it to her face. After all, if Buffy had been a better friend, she wouldn't have gone to the Mayor.

She was very agitated and restless and she craved a good slay, but she couldn't go out. She decided to go to Brigid.

"Brigid?"

Brigid glanced at her.

"Hello, Faith," she said and returned to collecting the herbs in the garden.

"Do you know a spell that would instantly help me fall asleep?"

Brigid stopped collecting the herbs and looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because I'm gonna go crazy. I have so much energy and no means to get rid of it."

"I can show you how to channel it."

"Channel it?"

"Yes, dispose of it."

"Oh. Cool."

"Aren't you supposed to be practicing with Buffy?"

Faith bit her teeth.

"I was, but she was being all holier-than-thou when she found out that you are teaching me magic."

"I see."

Faith bit her lips, thinking.

"Even though she's a bitch, she does have a point though. Why are you teaching me magic? I mean, you know I've sided with a demon-wannabe in my time."

"We have faith in you," Brigid said and Faith snorted. "No pun intended."

"You have faith in me?" Faith asked. "Then you're the…" She trailed off, thinking. "Third," she quietly finished, annoyed that a thought of betraying the Mayor crossed her mind. She sighed. "When will you teach me?"

"As soon as I finish here."

Faith looked at the garden.

"You need help?" she asked after a few moments.

Brigid smiled.

"Yes. Come, let me show you what to do."

When Buffy returned to the courtyard for some more practice, she was surprised to see Faith in the garden, helping the Druids… do something. She stared at her for a few moments and then started to practice.

The next day, Buffy waited for Faith to show up. She waited ten minutes, but Faith was nowhere to be seen, so she went to her room.

In her room, Faith was practicing magic. Brigid had shown her some useful stuff and she was taking the full advantage of it. Since she had plenty of time to spend, she tried to release her energy as slowly as possible.

Her concentration broke when she felt Buffy's presence, followed by a knock on the door. She took a deep breath and ignored Buffy.

"I know you're in there, Faith," Buffy called and knocked again.

"Go away!"

The door slowly opened and Buffy looked in. Faith rolled her eyes and ignored her.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked. "We were supposed to be practicing."

Faith gave her a blank look.

"I am practicing."

Buffy frowned.

"What? Magic?"

"Yeah, you got a problem with that?"

Buffy opened her mouth to say yes, but she decided against it, she knew that it would only make things worse. She took a deep breath instead.

"Look, if it's about what I said yesterday…"

"You know it is," Faith interrupted her. She took a deep breath. "Look, B, whenever we're together, one of us says something and then we hate one another even more. I think it would be best if we avoided one another, okay?"

Buffy stared at Faith, surprised that Faith wanted to avoid her.

"We could keep quiet," she suggested. "I mean, we both need to practice, both fighting and using magic in a fight."

Faith thought for a moment and then took a deep breath.

"Fine, just give me a couple of minutes."

Buffy nodded and left.

Faith lay back and growled. She extended her legs and took a couple of deep breaths to relax. Then she got up and followed Buffy.

They circled around one another and Faith knew that Buffy was using magic to try and determine what she would do. Faith smiled, two could play that game. So she waited for Buffy to attack first.

Buffy wondered why Faith wasn't attacking. She finally had enough of waiting and she attacked. Faith sidestepped and backhanded her. Buffy used her shield, but when Faith's hand connected, Buffy felt like she was being drained.

"What did you do?" she asked, surprised.

Faith frowned.

"I'm not sure." She thought for a moment. "I think I know. Use your shield. Ready?"

Buffy nodded and Faith hit her.

"Au!" Buffy yelped. "You… It was like you drained my shield."

Faith grinned.

"Yeah."

"How did you do that?"

"Just a little something Brigid taught me," Faith said, glad that she finally did something better than Buffy.

"What?"

"She showed me how to channel my energy."

"Channel?"

"Dispose of. You know, when I need a really good slay and there's no action."

"Oh."

"I just reversed that."

"Really?"

"Ready for more?"

"Okay, just don't use that."

Faith grinned.

"Scared?"

"No. It hurts, okay?"

Faith wanted to say something, but she decided against it, remembering their earlier conversation.

"Okay," she said.

After the fight, Buffy went to Bronagh, who was already waiting for her.

"How did it go?"

"Okay," Buffy said. "Listen, Brigid taught Faith how to channel her energy. Can you teach me that?"

"I can."

"She sort of drained my shield when she hit me."

Bronagh nodded.

"That's possible, yes. But if you want the details, you better ask Faith."

Buffy made a face as she thought about it.

"I'll think about it," she then said.

"Come."

When Faith and Buffy trained the next day, Buffy tried to reverse what Bronagh had taught her, but she couldn't. Instead, she disposed of her energy, which Faith absorbed.

"Thanks, B," Faith said with a grin.

"How…"

"I anticipated, B. You were trying to do what I did."

"Yes," Buffy said, smiling sheepishly. "How did you do it?"

Faith grinned.

"Professional secrets."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Can you show me?"

Faith stared at her for a moment, surprised.

"You're asking me me to teach you something?"

"Yeah," Buffy said, suddenly feeling nervous.

Faith thought about it. On one hand, she had an advantage over Buffy, but if she taught her, then perhaps it would ease the tension between them a bit. Again, the thought of betraying the Mayor crossed her mind and she shook her head. Then she noticed Buffy's look.

"Oh, no! I mean, yes, I'll teach you," she quickly corrected herself and then frowned, wondering why it meant so much to her, after all, she and Buffy were enemies.

"Great," Buffy said and smiled.

Faith started to smile back, but then she realized she was smiling and she stopped.

"Okay, here's what you do," she said, getting to the point.

"How did it go?" Bronagh asked Buffy when she came to him after the fight.

"Okay. Faith taught me how she does that and I taught her to control her shield."

Bronagh nodded.

"Good. Get some rest now and we'll pack later."

"Pack?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yes, we leave tomorrow."

"Oh. Okay then. How long will the journey last?"

"We're not sure. It depends on the demons. We hope to be there by the spring equinox."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "That's in less than three months. Do you think we will be ready by then?"

"We hope so. We meet with Mabon in two weeks and he will teach you from then on."

"Mabon?"

"A warrior-mage."

"Oh." She thought for a moment. "Why don't you use the ghost roads?"

"You know about them?" Bronagh said, surprised.

"Yes. I used them before."

"I see. Well, we would use them, but the demons are invading them as well and they are not safe."

"Oh."

"Go rest a bit now."

"Okay," Buffy said and left.

"Everything okay?" Brigid asked when Faith came to her.

Faith nodded.

"Yeah. I taught B that trick and she taught me how to better control my shield."

Brigid smiled.

"Good. Go rest now, we need to pack later."

"Pack?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes, we leave tomorrow."

"Oh. Okay," Faith said and left.

Brigid looked at Bronagh's familiar.

"They seem to be getting along," she said.

"Yes," Bronagh agreed as he looked at Brigid's familiar. "But there is still fear in them."

As they walked down the road, Buffy was always somewhere at the beginning and Faith always somewhere at the end of the caravan, neither comfortable with being around the other. Not that they had much to talk about, at least nothing they would both be comfortable with. They concentrated on observing the surrounding area for demons, but they quickly discovered that several of the birds they've seen were familiars and that the Druids used them as scouts. So they thought about one another instead, which annoyed both of them.

During the breaks, at Bronagh's and Brigid's insistence, they practiced and learned together, but they didn't speak to one another, unless it was necessary.

Buffy wondered how come that she and Faith tolerated one another and even helped one another when less that two weeks ago they tried to kill one another. She was surprised by her own willingness to help Faith with magic, even though she knew that Faith could turn against her once they came back. Still, she had faith in her own skills and she believed that she could beat Faith. But what really astonished her was Faith's willingness to teach her. She thought that Faith would do anything to get an upper hand. Apparently she was wrong. And indeed, Faith seemed like a whole different person, she wasn't trying to impress anyone, there were no sexual innuendoes and she even helped the Druids. Buffy had to admit that she liked the new Faith, even though she still didn't trust her.

Faith, who spent most of her time as far away from Buffy as she could, was having similar thoughts. She and Buffy had reached a sort of agreement, but she still didn't trust her and she knew that Buffy didn't trust her. Still, Buffy's willingness to help her with magic and vice versa surprised her. First of all, she was surprised that she helped Buffy. She knew she should've kept the upper hand, but she hasn't. And Buffy's attitude surprised her as well, she wasn't trying to boss everyone around. It was very confusing and she tried not to think about it, because the less she thought about it and about Buffy, the better. Her life was a bitch as it was and being around Buffy, or even thinking about her, only made it worse.

Buffy wanted to know more about Faith, but she wasn't sure how to ask Faith. She knew Faith wasn't ready to talk about herself and if she did, they would end up fighting. But she wanted to know, she wanted to understand Faith. She finally decided to ask just one vital question and let Faith answer it whenever she was ready.

"Faith."

Faith glanced at her.

"Yeah?"

"I want to know one thing."

"What?" Faith asked, having a bad feeling.

"Why did you go to the Mayor?" Buffy asked. "You don't have to answer right now," she quickly added. "When you're ready."

Buffy left before Faith could respond. Faith stared at her, anger mixing with sadness and regret. She knew the answer to Buffy's question, she just wasn't ready to admit it, not to herself and most definitely not to Buffy. She took a deep breath and tried to forget about it.

For the next week or so, Buffy noticed that Faith was avoiding her and she regretted asking her about the Mayor. She wanted to say she was sorry, but she feared that she would only make things worse. So she said nothing and gave Faith space and time to think.

Faith had noticed Buffy watching her and that only reminded her of the question Buffy had asked. But she didn't feel like telling her to stop staring, she knew it would only lead to another confrontation. So she simply turned away and tried to forget Buffy existed.

Then one night, she felt something weird. She woke up and listened with all her senses. She felt demons, but they were far, farther than… Then she realized she was projecting a weak shield.

"Wake up!" she called.

"What is it?" the guard asked, ready to fight.

"Demons."

"Demons?" Buffy said, sleepy. "I don't feel any."

"But I do. Seven."

"You can tell how many?" Buffy asked, surprised, and Faith nodded. "How?"

"I'm projecting a shield."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised. "How?"

"I don't know. They're coming this way."

Buffy was on her feet in a few moments.

"Let's get them."

"They haven't spotted us yet."

"How do you know?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

"Because they're moving slowly."

"Oh."

"Let's go."

The Slayers slipped out of the camp and Brigid woke her familiar and sent it after them. Faith went right and Buffy went left. They soon approached the demons and they observed them for a few moments, studying them. Then they moved in unison. Before the demons knew what hit them, half of them were dead. And when the survivors finally realized they were under attack, Buffy and Faith finished them off.

"How could you project the shield so far away?" Buffy asked after they made sure the demons were all dead.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. I didn't even know I could do it."

"Are you still projecting?"

"No."

"Can you try?"

Faith hesitated for a moment and then concentrated.

"I'm projecting," she said.

"Yes, I feel it."

Faith concentrated some more.

"There are more demons," she said suddenly.

"How many?"

"Too many. They're fighting someone."

"Let's go."

The Slayers started to run again.

They soon reached the fighters and they were impressed by the skill of the human. They glanced at one another and then attacked.

A minute later, the demons were either dead or running.

"You must be the Slayers," the stranger said.

Buffy and Faith looked at him.

"Yes," Buffy said.

"I am Mabon."

"The warrior-mage?"

"Yes."

"Man, you sure can kick ass," Faith said, impressed.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

"Come, we must move," Mabon said, "there are more demons in the area."

"This way," Buffy said.

Mabon looked at Brigid's familiar.

"Pack," he said.

"Who are you talking to?" Faith asked, puzzled.

"Brigid's familiar."

Faith then noticed the bird.

"Oh."

"They are returning," Brigid said. "We must pack."

Bronagh nodded and the Druids started to pack.

As they continued the march, both Slayers noticed Bronagh and Brigid talk to Mabon.

"I feel like a rat," Buffy said as she approached Faith.

"What?" Faith asked, puzzled.

Buffy nodded at Mabon, Bronagh and Brigid.

"They're talking about us. It makes me feel like a rat."

"Oh. Yeah."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Can you show me how you projected the shield so far?"

Faith looked at her for a few moments and then took a deep breath.

"Sure."

A week later, Faith finally decided to answer Buffy's question. She approached her from behind and touched her shoulder.

"Don't turn," she said when Buffy started to turn.

She felt Buffy tense, but Buffy didn't turn.

"You wanted to know why I went to the Mayor," Faith said.

"Faith, you…"

"I want to," Faith said. She took a deep breath. "After I killed Finch, I was scared and I couldn't deal. I had no one to turn to. Everyone thought I was bad and a part of me wanted to live up to that expectation. But another part of me wanted to prove to you that I was good. I wanted to spy on the Mayor, but then he gave me something I've never had before, a family. I knew he was a psycho and I knew that he planned to massacre Sunnydale, but I didn't care. He was the dad I never had and I was ready to do anything for him." She gulped. "But a part of me wanted to end it."

She took a deep breath to hold back the tears and let go of Buffy's shoulder. She quickly turned and left.

Buffy, who had quietly listened to Faith, was shocked. She realized that she had been a lousy friend. She knew that if she had killed Finch, her friends would have forgiven her. She guessed that was the reason Faith told everyone that Buffy had killed Finch. But nobody had believed her. She realized that Faith was never really a part of the Scooby Gang, just an outsider who helped them occasionally. She had thought that she and Faith had a special bond, that they understood one another like no two other people, but now she knew she was wrong. They may have understood one another as Slayers, but not as people. She didn't know Faith and Faith didn't know her, they were two strangers sharing the same destiny. She wished things had worked out better between her and Faith, she missed the closeness she felt when they went slaying together.

She felt Faith leave and she turned. She saw Faith was quickly leaving the camp. She wanted to follow her, but she noticed Mabon shaking his head at her. She sighed and looked around for a secluded place, she needed to think.

As soon as Faith was out of the camp, she let the tears flow. Thinking about what she had done and why was one thing, saying it out loud and to another person quite another, especially when that person was someone she had hurt. She found herself a tree to lean on and cried. Not so long ago she would have said crying was for the weak, but at the moment, she really didn't care. And strangely, she felt a bit better, the tension leaving her. She decided that maybe crying wasn't just for the weak after all.

Finally, it was the evening before the spring equinox and after a consultation with the Druids, Mabon decided to talk to the Slayers about initiation.

"A what?" Buffy asked.

"Initiation. As warrior-mages."

"Like you?"

"Yes, but you will be far stronger, since you are Slayers."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment and then looked at Faith. "Faith?"

Faith looked at her, surprised that Buffy was asking for her opinion. She shrugged.

"I don't know."

"I wanna do it. We're gonna need all the strength we can get."

Faith nodded, thinking.

"You go ahead."

"And you?"

"I don't know yet. I have to see the ritual first."

"Okay," Buffy said. She looked at Mabon. "When?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I'll be ready."

Mabon nodded and left.

Buffy looked at Faith. She considered asking her about why she was hesitating, but she decided against it, not wanting to upset Faith.

The next morning, Faith quietly observed the ritual. She didn't know whether her mind was playing tricks on her or whether the bluish dome and the four colored pillars she saw were for real. She ignored the light show and Buffy's naked body and concentrated on the words. It didn't take her long to realize that she couldn't go through with it. She was startled when Buffy suddenly started to levitate, and when a sword appeared in Buffy's hand out of nothing, she realized she was scared.

When the ceremony was over, Faith quietly left.

As Buffy recovered, she looked at where Faith was supposed to be, but she was not there.

"Where did Faith go?"

"To think, I believe," Mabon said.

"But what about the initiation?"

"I believe she has decided against it."

Buffy frowned.

"Why?"

"Remember what you promised?"

Buffy quickly ran the ritual through her head.

"Oh," she then said. She sighed. "But she will fight, right?"

Mabon nodded.

"I believe so."

Buffy took a deep breath, feeling strangely bad about being a warrior-mage when Faith wasn't.

One hour later, Faith returned. She tried to avoid Buffy, but Buffy decided to confront her, she needed Faith to be focused.

"Faith, it's okay," she said. "You made your choice, I'm not holding it against you."

Faith finally met her gaze and they stared at one another for a few moments. Then Faith nodded.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled.

"Let's go make a plan."

"Buffy," Faith spoke as they approached the site and she saw the demons in the distance.

"Yes?" Buffy said and looked at her, wondering why Faith was using her full name.

"I'm sorry," Faith said and Buffy raised an eyebrow, surprised. "I know it's not nearly enough to make up for what I've done, but if we make it back alive, I promise that I'll do whatever I can to make it up." She paused for a moment. "Including killing the Mayor."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, surprised, and then nodded.

"And I'll try to be a better friend. I should've been there for you when you killed Finch, but I was scared."

Faith nodded and took a deep breath.

"Does that mean we can start from scratch?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Ready to kick some demon ass?"

Buffy smiled back.

"Always."

"Then let's do it."

Buffy concentrated and a sword appeared in her right hand.

"Nice trick," Faith observed.

"Yeah," Buffy said, wishing Faith could do it too.

The fight was bitter and Faith was impressed at how well Buffy fought. Together with Mabon and several Druids, they kept the demons at bay as the majority of the Druids tried to close the hellmouth. Faith soon lost the count of demons she had killed, but she figured it must be over a hundred, at least. She also figured Buffy must have killed several times that many. But then, unfortunately, demon reinforcements arrived and the Slayers were forced backwards, into the Druids. The Druids were forced to step aside and the protective circle broke. The backlash from the built-up energy killed some demons and sucked the others straight to Hell. Mabon managed to jump away, but the Slayers were sucked in. The demons then backed off and the Druids re-established the protective circle. Mabon resumed to kill demons, who were trying to figure out what to do to stop the Druids without getting themselves killed or sucked to Hell.

Finally, the Druids closed the hellmouth and the demons retreated, realizing that the warrior-mage was about to receive help from the Druids. The Druids were all quiet, thinking about the loss of the Slayers.

"Can we get them back?" Mabon finally broke the silence.

"Perhaps," Bronagh said. "We haven't sealed the hellmouth yet."

Mabon nodded.

"I will search for the Slayer."

Bronagh nodded.

"And we will attempt to form a plan."

Mabon nodded again and left.

In Hell, the battle raged on. The Slayers were disoriented at first, but they quickly regained their bearings and they continued to fight. Faith had a bit more problems than Buffy and she guessed it was because she wasn't a warrior-mage. And if she was impressed by Buffy's power before, now she was terrified by it as Buffy seemed to have gone berserk. She knew she had made the correct decision.

But finally, the demons overwhelmed them. Faith was the first to drop. Buffy tried to protect her, but her own powers were dwindling. And then the demons were all over them.

"Well, well, Slayers," Buffy heard someone say.

She opened her eyes and saw a slimy demon laughing at her. She frowned. Or was that tar. She had no idea and she wondered why the hell she was thinking about it. And the pun was bad as well.

"It is time to face your worse nightmares," the demon said. "You will both face your own nightmares and that of the other." The demon grinned, at least Buffy thought it did. "But first, some physical torture." He looked around. "Where's the one who wanted to have sex with Human females?"

The End