PART 6

Cordelia couldn't sleep. She called Faith's house a dozen times. She didn't know where she lived so she couldn't check up on her. Cordelia was worried sick and she was scared. She shouldn't have left Faith there.

Buffy carried Faith to the Summer's home cradling her in her arms. Dawn was over at Janice's house so she wasn't home. Buffy eased the door open and carried Faith to her room lightly placing her on her bed. Buffy went and got the first aid box and came back to Faith, who was still out cold, and kneeled on the bed beside her. Faith was so young yet she looked so old. She was banged up pretty badly. How was she able to fight those vampires?

Buffy eased off Faith's blood stained Swede coat to her tank top. Buffy first bandaged the cuts on her arms and head. She then eased off Faith's boots and leather pants. Faith's skin was so smooth and tan. Her legs weren't that bad. Just some bumps and bruises. Then Buffy noticed the scars.

They were all over her ankles, with very few on her legs. It was kind of odd. Buffy had to check Faith's stomach for she was bleeding badly through it. She eased the tank top off and found Faith was bra less. Buffy blushed. But the huge cut on her stomach caught her attention. There were many other various scars all over Faith's body that Buffy found. She tended to all of Faith's wounds that she could.

Buffy now sat in a chair beside Faith as she slept. She wondered where Faith got all those scars from. So many questions went through Buffy's head about the brunette. But Buffy soon fell fast asleep.

Buffy woke the next morning to find Faith in the same position as last night. Buffy slightly smiled as she got up from her chair. She decided she was going to make something down stairs first then wake Faith. They still had plenty of time to make it to school.

Buffy mixed the batter for pancakes and started to pour it when she saw someone from the corner of her eye. She turned quickly and saw it was Faith, dressed in the bloody clothes from last night. Buffy opened her mouth to speak but Faith cut her off.

"You think you know," Faith stated smirking. Buffy looked at her in confusion.

"What I am." Faith had answered walking in a circle around Buffy.

"Faith? I..." Buffy started but was cut off again.

"You don't know. You can't save her. She will die loving you," Faith stated. Buffy was so beyond confused. Faith held an evil grin as she began to walk towards Buffy.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" Came a yell from the doorway. Buffy glanced at who spoke...what! Two Faith's? The one in front of Buffy laughed a cruel laugh.

"B, that isn't me," the Faith from the doorway stated. Then Buffy understood. The First. She turned to The First angry. It just laughed at her then disappeared. Faith held her hands in fists next to her sides.

"What did it say to you?" Faith asked. Buffy looked at her dumbfounded.

"You died?" Buffy asked. “When?” Faith sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"Buffy please, I don't want..." Faith started.

"Faith! What the hell is going on?! What are you? I saw you last night. I..." Buffy yelled. Faith looked up at her with the saddest painful face Buffy had ever seen. It made her stop.

"Please Buffy. I can't...I can't tell you. Please just understand that right now," Faith had said. Buffy could see an inner struggle going on inside of Faith.

Faith wanted to tell her. She trusted her...and it scared Faith. She didn't want to tell Buffy and then have her leave her, or get hurt...Faith dropped her head looking at the ground.

"I...I just need time..." Faith said looking back up. Buffy sighed turning to the pancakes and lifting them out.

"How were you able to fight like that?" Buffy asked hopping Faith could at lest answer that. Faith walked over to the little island in the kitchen and sat down on a stool. She had borrowed some of Buffy's clothes for her own were ruined.

"I'm not a slayer like you. I..." Faith started. Buffy turned around.

"How do you know that?" she asked.

"Know what?" Faith asked.

"That I was a slayer." Buffy answered. Faith sighed. But Buffy then thought about it. "It was you." Buffy stated looking at Faith. Faith looked up at her. "You were the one who helped me with those vamps that night."

"Yes," Faith answered. Buffy smiled. Plus one for smarto girl! Faith smiled seeing Buffy proud of herself. Faith had to think of a lie and fast. She didn't want to tell Buffy about her life. She didn't want to lie to her either but it had to be done.

"My father was a retired watcher. He taught me everything. How to fight, what demons were, everything before he passed. When I saw you...I just knew," Faith easily lied. She hoped Buffy bought it and didn't ask too many questions.

Buffy couldn't read Faith. But she was rather impressed as well as surprised. "Wow Faith. I never knew. That's kind of cool," Buffy said turning around to fish out more pancakes. It seemed to make sense.

Faith felt like throwing up. Buffy easily trusted her and she just lied to her.

"But I don't want to talk about it much..." Faith added hoping Buffy wouldn't bug her and would drop the subject. Buffy turned around.

"It's ok, we've got plenty of time. No need to rush all into it now. I understand that you need time Faith. It's ok." Buffy answered. Faith's heart felt like it was melting each time she was with the blonde. Buffy just basically said she wanted to know her. No one ever cared to know her.

Buffy could have left her to riot in that ally. But she didn't. And that meant something to Faith. Faith smiled at Buffy and Buffy smiled back at her. "Ok, now lets eat and get to the school ok. We've got major musical crap to do with in two weeks," Buffy said. Faith groaned.

"Don't remind me. It'll be like one of those movies where right before the show everything goes wrong and someone has to play a part or something," Faith stated picking up a fork.

"Don't jinks us!" Buffy yelled acting like she was all scared. Faith laughed and Buffy smiled. She liked it when Faith laughed. She liked being around the girl.

Cordelia was going insane. She sat in her car outside of school. There was nothing she could do but hope and pray that Faith was all right and would show up. Cordelia had been sitting there even before the weightlifters came to school.

Faith sat in the passenger seat of Buffy's car silent. They pulled into the school parking lot and parked. "Ready?" Buffy asked opening her car door.

"Yup. Let's motor," Faith replied getting out. Buffy and Faith began to walk towards the school. Faith was going to say something to Buffy when Cordelia about knocked her over, throwing her arms around her.

"My God, I was so worried about you!" Cordelia exclaimed basically cramming her tongue down Faith's throat. Faith was startled. She forgot all about Cordelia. Then she remembered last night and what they did. Cordelia hugged Faith tight almost crying.

"I shouldn't have left you there. I..." Cordelia started. Faith kissed Cordelia to shut her up.

"I'm ok." Faith said looking over at Buffy quickly. Buffy had a weird expression on her face. She didn't know Faith was...well...that Faith went both ways. And let alone with Cordelia Chase! Though...she should have guessed that from last night...but then again, Buffy felt odd... she began to walk away shocked. She didn't want to intrude.

Faith was torn. She wanted to be near Buffy. Faith's chest tightened at the sight of her leaving. But there was nothing she could do. Cordelia kissed Faith passionately before gazing into her eyes.

"I was scared that I wasn't going to see you again," Cordelia said looking at Faith. Faith smiled to reassure her, not exactly knowing how she felt at the moment