Chapter Forty: In Due Time

There were protocols for cleanup. Life threatening injuries had to be dealt with first and foremost while under the supervision of the Slayer in Charge. Second, any witnesses or perpetrators still living had to be rounded up, interviewed, and then handled accordingly. And last, corpses had to be disposed of properly and scenes had to be scoured of any trace evidence and/or torched.

For once, fate seemed to be on Faith's side. There were no life threatening injuries, nor were there any witnesses, and Slayers rarely left their opponents living. Currently, they'd just finished walking through the warehouse and she'd given Rona and Vi orders to stand guard. They would keep an eye out until either the fire department arrived or the fire burned itself out.

Meanwhile, Faith had a few things that needed to be taken care of. One, Shawna was bleeding like a stuck pig from a superficial wound that needed stitches. Two, Faith was fairly certain she wasn't too far off from being the same. Three, her body was pulsing in some painful ways.

Some days she hated being a senior Slayer. She could have passed it off to Diane and taken off to lick her wounds in peace. But Faith wasn't comfortable asking her subordinates to do something she wasn't willing to do herself. It was one of the major differences from her teen persona.

"Come on, kid," Faith called over her shoulder to Shawna. "Let's get that taken care of."

"Aight, you know the drill so I won't bother rehashin' much," Faith taped the bandage down over Shawna's shoulder blade. "Just remember to find one of us if you feel anything pop."

"Okay," Shawna agreed as she turned around. "You need anyone to help you with yours?"

"Nah," Faith grunted, tossing an idle glance at the ragged, bloodied tear in the pale yellow t-shirt sticking to her lower ribcage. "It ain't that bad. A few butterfly strips and I'll be fine."

"It'll be okay, Shawna," Buffy entered the living room. "I've got her covered."

Faith glanced up from rearranging the small first aid kit. She hadn't seen Buffy since they'd returned to the house. Buffy had mentioned something about grabbing a shower and then briefing Giles while Faith looked after Shawna. Silently, Faith returned her attention to the unraveled length of gauze in her hand.

Faith pretended not to notice Shawna's exit. She pinned the roll of gauze closed and was about to return it to the first aid kit when a hand over hers halted her movements. She sighed and glanced up to meet Buffy's gaze. At the determined look Buffy gave her, Faith relinquished the gauze.

"Shirt off," Buffy demanded.

"Well, if ya wanted me naked..." Faith trailed off as she reached for the tail of her shirt.

"Yeah, yeah," Buffy teased. "I've seen it before."

Buffy inhaled sharply as Faith lifted the shirt up away from her wound. She could tell from the way Faith's abdomen clenched and rippled that it was painful. She could see why. The edges of the gash were jagged and gaping, glistening with copious amounts of blood and tissue.

"A few butterfly strips, huh?" Buffy asked mockingly.

"Yeah, yeah," Faith muttered, tossing her shirt. "Thinkin' I should maybe hit the shower before you get started on me. It'll be easier than tryin' to avoid gettin' this damned thing wet."

"You're right." Buffy blew out a harsh breath as she jerked her head towards the door, "Go on up. I'll bring the kit with me and I'll take care of it before you get dressed."

"So, I gave Giles a rundown of the report you gave me earlier."

Faith glanced down at Buffy's bowed head. They were in her and Shawna's shared room. Faith was lying on the bed and Buffy was straddling her waist; the better to see, according to her. Faith figured Buffy was feeding her a line, but she wasn't about to complain about their position.

"Yeah, what'd he have to say?" Faith asked absently.

Faith suspected they were both a little nervous. They were free and clear to talk. They just didn't know where to start. And the adrenaline from the battle wasn't making it any easier to do so, not when Faith was lying there bared from the waist up and shower fresh as she was.

"He's going to interview the girls, and they're gonna bag and tag the food," Buffy glanced up at Faith briefly. "It's kinda scummy to think about, but you may have had a point about that."

Faith winced as Buffy tugged the thread a little too hard. She smiled at Buffy's apologetic pat to her side. Buffy then continued to guide the needle and thread through Faith's skin and Faith kept her breathing low and even so as not to give too much resistance against the stitching. Faith idly scratched the back of her head as she contemplated a neutral topic of discussion.

"So what's been goin' on back at home?" Faith finally asked.

Buffy felt Faith's chuckle at Buffy's very audible sigh of relief and she paused in her meticulous work to deliver a flick to Faith's uninjured side. Then Buffy was off, giving a detailed analysis of everything that had gone on since Faith had left. Buffy was sure to tell Faith of Cookie's obvious longing, and she took time to complain about Dawn and her "younger sister syndrome". She babbled a little about Sgt. Brian O'Malley, and then finally, hesitantly, Buffy broached the subject of the success of the meeting she'd had with Juanita and the buyers she'd found.

"So the house is off the market now?" Faith interjected when Buffy finally fell silent.

Buffy just nodded as she tied off the stitches. While she waited to see if Faith would say anything else, she tidied up her handy work. When it seemed Faith wasn't going to speak, Buffy just threw her leg over Faith's so she could get off the bed. She was reaching for the first aid kit when Faith's hand reached out and clasped her wrist, gently stilling the motion.

"You okay?" Faith asked, and Buffy's heart stuttered at her sincerity.

"Yeah," Buffy looked up, smiling faintly. "I had a few moments where I wasn't, but it passed."

"You're sure?" Faith probed gently. "This is me, B."

"Trust me, I know," Buffy nodded. "And yeah, I'm good."

Faith sat up slowly, tilting her head a little as she examined Buffy's expression. After a moment, Faith nodded as well and returned Buffy's smile with a soft quirk of her lips. Then Faith climbed out of the bed and crossed the room to the dresser. She ignored the odd look Buffy shot at her.

Faith rummaged through the top drawer until her fingers brushed the velvet material of the object she was looking for. She pulled the small sack out, fingering the rings inside as she considered. Then Faith sighed and closed the drawer. Leaning forward, Faith braced her hands on the wood above the mirror, eyeing the reflection of Buffy's questioning expression directed at her back.

"Love hurts," Faith shook her head as Buffy started to speak. "That's one of those early life lessons I'll never forget. I loved my parents, I wanted them to love me, and they couldn't have cared less, and then my father left, and my mother blamed me. They hated me, and they made me hate them; I was eight years old and I resented them for everything and I wanted to know why."

Faith's expression was covered in a hundred shadows of a broken past. It made Buffy's hands clench as she ached to reach out to Faith. She knew it would be a mistake if she gave in. Faith needed to get this out, and Buffy needed to hear it, even if it left her raw and bleeding inside.

"You told me once that you wanted to know why I felt the need to hide," Faith took a shuddering breath and forged ahead, "By the time I met you, I'd figured out that no one could hurt me if I didn't love them. I'd figured out that you couldn't hate someone if you didn't love them. I fought too hard to keep everyone at arm's length to protect myself and eventually I broke.

"Earlier, I asked if we should even try to do this," Faith gave Buffy a pained look. "I'm sorry I hurt you, B. I was tryin' to give you one last out. I forgot for a moment that we already are.

"We disagree, we scream, we ignore each other, we pick fights just `cause we can, we get so mad at one another that we're brewin' for a brawl, and we lose our heads," Faith swallowed tensely. "We've all ready lost our hearts to one another. We're so deep into this thing between us that it's too late for either of us to back out, not without hurtin' the other so bad it'll never really heal."

Faith saw Buffy lose her fight against the need burning inside her. Buffy closed the distance between them and Faith's eyes closed in anticipation. The moment Buffy's hands closed around her upper arms, a shiver rolled up Faith's spine. Buffy leaned her head between Faith's shoulder blades, pressed a kiss to the bare skin, and Faith's hands convulsed so hard the wood cracked.

"Oops," Faith chuckled roughly.

She felt Buffy's lips turn up. The breath trickling across her skin sent goose bumps racing down Faith's arms. Faith let go of the mirror and reached back to clasp Buffy's hips, pulling Buffy tight against her backside. Buffy let out a ragged gasp that made Faith's insides tremble.

"Problems, B?" Faith finally opened her eyes.

"You're kinda naked here," Buffy muttered, muffled.

"Only a little," Faith smirked. "Got the hammer and nails handy?"

"Ugh," Buffy decided not to dignify that with a response.

Instead, Buffy turned her attention to Faith's arms. Faith had nice arms. They were all... muscled and silky and, and firm. She slid her hands up Faith's arms to her shoulders and sighed.

Faith tried not to react, really she did. But damn it... Buffy shouldn't be touching her like that. The adrenaline from before was oil and Buffy's hands were a match. She needed Buffy.

Buffy's head lifted. She could have sworn she felt Faith shudder. An intrigued smile creased her lips and she kneaded the knotted up muscles beneath her hands as she pressed closer.

Buffy let her exploration slip lower, sweeping her massage down across Faith's shoulder blades. Her thumbs dug into Faith's well-muscled back in a particularly tense spot. That time, she knew she'd felt it. Buffy's gaze flicked to the mirror and her breath caught in her throat as she found Faith's dark eyes looking back, intent and needy and—oh, God, Buffy groaned internally.

Then Faith turned on her and Buffy found her hands caught between a rock and a hard place; the rock being her and the hard place being Faith. Not that Faith was hard, because Faith was so lacking the equipment to be hard. Buffy wasn't given much time to consider that statement. Faith's lips were a heat-seeking missile and Buffy's lips were definitely hot blooded.

Faith didn't pull away until her lungs burned. They stood there, chests heaving against each other. Moments passed in silence, and then Faith nodded. She tightened her arms around Buffy.

"You deserve flowers and candies and dates and entire days where you tease me `til I'm goin' nuts," Faith panted, "And you'll get `em. But right now, I really kinda need ya bad, B."

"I—I think maybe I'm okay with that," Buffy nodded, equally breathless. "I'm so okay with—"

Faith wasn't interested in waiting to hear the answer. She just wanted Buffy's fingers digging into her back as she called out her name. Buffy's tongue darted into Faith's mouth and the forgotten sack fell from Faith's hand. That was all right; they'd finish their talk in due time.

Chapter Forty-One: As Close As the Holy Ghost Is

Sex with Faith was...sex with Faith was relentless. Faith needed her, and Faith took what she needed. Faith took her again, and again, and again. She took Buffy to the edge, she brought her down, and she drove her over. It was a long, hard fall to the bottom of that cliff.

Buffy had lost control, and it was glorious. Yet somehow Buffy instinctively knew she still had control. Faith controlled how hard, how long, how deep, how quick she made love to Buffy, but Buffy felt it. One word from her and it would all stop. Buffy didn't want to say the word...ever.

She didn't feel worshipped; that was reserved for her very first time. She didn't feel humble; that was reserved for the frailty of her few human lovers. She didn't feel dirty; that was reserved for the darkest time of her life. She didn't feel content; that was reserved for her first time with a woman. For this first time in her life, Buffy just felt loved and needed and oh-so-satisfied.

Buffy was still breathing hard and her eyes were shut. Faith was lying on her stomach between Buffy's thighs with her head pillowed on Buffy's lower abdomen. Buffy's hand was buried in Faith's hair, fingers tangled in the thick curls. Buffy didn't think she could move even a toe.

She was still throbbing inside from that last orgasm. A groan reverberated in her chest. Then Faith shifted and Buffy groaned again as Faith freed herself of Buffy's restraining hand. She forced her eyes open and glanced down the length of her body at Faith, too tired to glare.

"Why?" Buffy grunted.

Yeah, she wasn't feeling particularly verbose at the moment. Her throat was a bit hoarse from their activities. Well, more from her expressions of enjoyment than the activities, themselves.

Faith didn't respond to Buffy's question, she just smiled languidly. Buffy watched as Faith crawled her way up her body. She couldn't take her eyes from Faith's. Then Faith was looming over her, and kissing her again, and Buffy suddenly found the energy to move some more.

Faith had yet to lose her jeans. Buffy could feel the dual sensations of rough denim and silky skin sliding all along her body and it made her moan into Faith's mouth. It felt all kinds of good. But she really, really wanted Faith to lose those pants, and in the worst kind of way.

Buffy arched her back... and promptly forgot what she was about to do. Rubbing up against Faith when every nerve ending in her body was sparking was bound to make a girl forget herself. It was Faith's raspy chuckle that reminded her. Buffy arched her back, twisted her hips, and flipped them over, coming out on top and grinning wildly against Faith's lips as she did so.

Buffy broke the kiss and sat up, straddling Faith's waist much as she had earlier. She drank in the sight before her. Faith was beautiful, all flushed and breathless with her hair sprawled out around her head in a dark, mussed halo and her lips bruised from kissing. Faith's eyes were wide open, so vivid, and shining bright with everything she was feeling. Buffy's heart clenched painfully.

She inhaled sharply and gave Faith a shaky smile. Then Buffy leaned forward and lowered her head to press her lips to that shadowy hollow set between Faith's collarbones. Faith's body was calling to her, and Buffy was answering. She wanted Faith's voice to join the symphony.

Her lips and tongue blazed a slow trail down the length of Faith's body. Faith tasted clean like water and soap and salt. Buffy was lost. The sounds pouring from Faith didn't even register.

Buffy's hands deftly worked the closure of Faith's jeans open and Faith lifted her hips up to give Buffy maneuverability room. Faith's buttocks clenched hard when Buffy cupped her backside and then held her there while she made love to Faith's panty line with her mouth. Buffy's teeth nibbled and teased the delicate skin. She reveled in the tiny tremors she sensed more than felt.

Buffy let go of Faith's firm butt with a squeeze and then hooked her index fingers inside the waistband of Faith's pants and her underwear. She tossed a triumphant smile up at Faith and started sliding the clothing down Faith's toned thighs. It was probably one of the slowest jobs any Slayer had ever done at stripping her new lover. Buffy couldn't resist though; her hands were kneading the contracting muscles of Faith's legs as she crept down the bed.

Then the pants and boi shorts were gone and Buffy was kissing her way back up Faith's body from the inside of her ankle. When her hands brushed gauze, Buffy faltered as her focus shifted. She eased the bandages off, careful of the tape. A row of neat nude toned stitches adorned the thickly muscled calf, the very edges of the wound still an angry pink color. Buffy let out a soft hiss and glanced up at Faith, concern and sadness written across her features.

Buffy wanted to confront Faith about the cause of the injury. She wanted to confront Faith about the reason behind her drive to be in these situations. But mostly, she wanted to kiss away the hurt and make them both forget the past for a while. She pressed her lips to the wound and continued on her previous path, paying a profuse amount of attention to any and all of the scars she crossed.

The smell of sex was heavy in the air. Buffy could taste it thickly on the back of her tongue. She could feel it swelling her clit. The closer she got to Faith's apex, the more it overwhelmed her senses. By the time Buffy reached her eventual destination, she was craving Faith.

For her part, Faith was clutching at Buffy's back, the sheets, the bed, anything she could reach in order to stay grounded. For Faith, sex had always been about Faith's needs, and Faith's ultimate fulfillment. She was finding that that really wasn't the case here at all. Here with Buffy, Faith just wanted to bury herself inside Buffy and never come up for air again. It was unsettling.

Buffy's hands worked the closure of her jeans open and Faith lifted her hips up to give Buffy more maneuverability room. Faith clenched her buttocks hard when Buffy's hands cupped her backside and then held her there while she made love to Faith's panty line with her mouth. It wasn't with so much of a conscious decision that Faith let go of her anxiety. She just did.

This felt too good. Buffy's hands and mouth were on her. Their skin glistened from sweat and sex. Faith's body was burning in that oh so good way. She thought maybe this would kill her.

Faith felt the momentary change in the mood when Buffy uncovered the wound from Faith's earlier bout with Corrine. She wanted to reassure Buffy that she was okay. She wanted to wipe away that look and make everything okay. Then Buffy's lips were on her again and Faith couldn't speak for the tortured, oblivious moan of pleasure that tore from her throat.

Buffy was trying to drive her insane. Every touch of her lips, every trail her tongue made, every mark her teeth left behind, was all devised to make Faith lose her mind. Faith was certain of it. Then Buffy's mouth finally touched Faith where she needed it most, and Faith keened, loudly.

Buffy was...relentless. The teasing was over with. Buffy's mouth was everywhere as she tried to clean up every drop of wetness that spilled from Faith. Buffy's tongue was stabbing deep inside Faith's pussy, again and again, and then her lips were wrapped around Faith's clit. Buffy sucked, hard, and then Faith was calling Buffy's name loudly as release thundered through her.

Faith had no idea what time it was. She was too drained to even turn her head to find out. She didn't know how long she'd been lying there. Her head was fuzzy with lassitude and desire.

She had no idea how that was possible. Jesus... Faith muttered internally. She shouldn't have been conscious at this point, much less capable of needing anything...more. Faith sighed.

Buffy was sprawled on top of her. She was solid, and warm, and...and so goddamned beautiful. Faith's heart ached to look at her right now. Buffy had more than fulfilled Faith's every need.

Faith blinked away a tear, startled. Buffy was everything Faith needed. Something clicked inside Faith's heart and resounded in her mind. She was finally as close to home as she'd ever been.

I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses

"I know you're awake."

Faith's amused voice drew Buffy's attention from the heartbeat under her ear. Buffy just snuggled closer, pressing her lips to the pinnacle of the valley between Faith's breasts. She'd been awake for a while now. She'd just been...basking. Well, more like reliving.

"We need to talk, B," Faith sighed.

Buffy cringed. Those weren't the words anyone wanted to hear after a night of lovemaking. Yet, Faith didn't sound worried. Faith sounded almost enthusiastic. Buffy forced herself to nod.

"Do we have to move to do so?" She almost whined.

"Not just yet," Faith conceded and Buffy felt Faith's hand dip lower to the small of her back. "I'm gonna have to get up after, though. When I'm done talkin' to you, I gotta see G-man."

"Mmm," Buffy murmured agreement, "If we have to."

"I was thinkin' after you fell asleep," Faith admitted thoughtfully. "I need to make some changes. I love my job, and I love my life. Robin wanted me to give that up."

Buffy tried not to tense up. She kissed Faith's chest again. She would listen. Chances were, this was something in Buffy's favor, so she could deal with the semi-reminiscing Faith had done.

"I'd never ask you to do that," Buffy couldn't resist.

"You wouldn't have to," Faith sighed again. "You live this life the same as I do. I don't have to be so far away from home to do my job. I don't have to be so far away from you to do it."

Buffy lifted her head to meet Faith's gaze. Then she pushed up onto her elbows, not once looking away from Faith. If Faith was saying what she thought she was... Buffy bit her lip.

"Giles and Red have this trainin' program they cooked up," Faith seemingly changed track. "Satsu was supposed to take up the position. But now that she's leavin'..."

"They're gonna need someone who can handle those girls," Buffy completed the thought.

"I think it's time I really came home," Faith's eyes questioned Buffy.

Buffy's mouth trembled. She hadn't even had the opportunity to think about what would happen when Faith had to work again. She tried to speak and her voice broke. She nodded jerkily.

"Yeah," Buffy finally managed. "Yeah, I think so, too."

"Ah, Faith," Giles greeted her as she came into the office. "There you are."

"Yeah," Faith said absently. "Here I am."

She glanced around the room. It had been tidied up. The totaled computer monitor had been removed and the debris had been swept up. And Aaron was conspicuously missing.

"He's been teleported out for trial," Giles interpreted her unspoken question, giving her a mild look. "I would have thought Buffy would have told you that when she found you last night."

"Imagine that," Faith chuckled. "It must have slipped her mind."

"Ahem," Giles cleared his throat as he removed his glasses. "Then perhaps you are ready for a full debriefing now? I can inform you of anything else Buffy may have failed to mention."

"That works," Faith nodded, taking a seat. "I got somethin' I need to run by you, anyway."

"Oh?" Giles asked.

"Your idea for a Special Operations division may warrant a closer inspection," Giles commented as Faith stood to go. "I believe it would certainly benefit the girls more than any course would."

"Most of `em just need a positive outlet with the right kind of guidance to lead them into whatever their purpose is," Faith shrugged. "They need someone who knows them."

"You are more than well-equipped for that role," Giles agreed, and then gave her a look over the lenses of his glasses. "And you are certain you're prepared for this step? You weren't before."

For anyone else, Faith probably would have told them to mind their own business; only not so nicely. For anyone else, Faith may have forgone the verbal and belted them one. This was Giles, Buffy's father figure and Faith's mentor and everyone's role model. Giles, more than anyone other than Dawn, had dealt with the fallout of Faith's drawn-out breakup with Robin.

"I'm not giving up anything for her," Faith gave Giles an easy smile. "I'm gaining everything."

"Oh," This time it was said with a different kind of inflection.

"Yeah, oh," Faith nodded. "I'm more than ready for whatever life throws at me..."

...Except for maybe Shawna waiting outside the office. Faith almost tripped over the girl. She caught herself just in time. Faith threw a questioning glance at her as Shawna got to her feet.

"Sorry, I wanted to catch you before you, uh, disappeared again," Shawna muttered, giving Faith a sheepish expression as she flushed scarlet. "There was something I wanted to run by you."

"What's up?" Faith asked easily.

Faith wasn't going to tease the girl. The one drawback of their enhanced hearing; there was no privacy in a house of Slayers. Someone did the deed? They ran the risk of getting overheard.

"I don't want to go to another Slayer House," Shawna rushed out.

"Kid—" Faith tried to interject.

"I didn't even really wanna come here," Shawna continued. "But it was either this, or the academy. I wanted to go there even less. I've found myself back at square one, really."

"There aren't too many other options," Faith shrugged apologetically.

"Maybe there is," Shawna hesitated, looking almost pained as she glanced away.

"What did you have in mind?" Faith prompted gently.

"You," Shawna flicked a glance at the stairs and Faith followed her gaze to find Buffy coming towards them. "Well, you and her. You could take me. You could be my fosterers."

"Say huh?"

And then life goes and throws her a curveball. Faith determined to keep her mouth shut from now on. She'd wanted to make sure Shawna was taken care of. She just hadn't had that in mind.

Epilogue: A Propensity for Pigs

They were in First Class on a plane heading for Cleveland. Giles was seated with the other girls several rows ahead in the mostly empty compartment. Faith could hear his soft snoring amidst the gentle, even cadences of the Slayers. Behind her, she could hear Shawna's matching breaths.

Faith was trying not to think about her right now. She hadn't been able to deny the kid; not when she knew what that kind of openness took. She'd told Shawna her coming home with them was just a trial run. Faith was too anxious to make any promises. Faith figured she would screw up.

Buffy was convinced things would be okay. Faith glanced down at Buffy's head pillowed on her chest. Faith secretly hoped Buffy was right. Shawna felt like family; like Buffy and Dawn and Giles, and even Xander and Renee and Willow and Kennedy. She really kinda wanted this.

Faith consciously pushed those thoughts aside. There was something else she wanted too. Her eyes flickered down to see her hand sandwiched between Buffy's thighs. She squeezed, gently.

"Mmm," Buffy murmured, sleepily nuzzling Faith's grey Henley-clad cleavage.

Faith waited until Buffy tilted her head back and then swooped down, bringing their lips together. She kept it soft until Buffy was conscious enough to return the kiss, then she put more effort into it. Buffy moaned, her thighs parting a little. Faith grinned and slipped her hand up the denim-clad surface of Buffy's inner thigh, teasingly drawing circles with her fingertips. She wasn't surprised in the least when Buffy's thighs clamped tight around her hand.

"Don't," Buffy warned against Faith's mouth.

"Please," Faith let her voice break in just the right place.

"No," Buffy pulled back with a shiver, straightening up in her own seat with a rigid self-control that Faith could never manage. "Behave, Faith. We aren't alone."

"Hey, come back here," Faith muttered, reaching for Buffy's hand. "Just `cause you don't wanna make out doesn't mean ya have to move. You know I had to try at least once."

Buffy eyed Faith for a moment. Then she cracked a smile. She allowed herself to be guided back into the waiting circle of Faith's arms. This was a bit of that normality she used to crave. Buffy captured Faith's wandering hand before it could return to her thigh and entwined their fingers.

"You're such a pig," Buffy muttered, still smiling.

"Well, yeah," Faith drawled, grinning. "Why else would you love me?"