Trials and Complications

Part 10: Pals

"You ready?" Faith asked the blonde slayer, standing in the doorway to their room.

"Yeah," Buffy replied, putting on her last earring.

"Cool," the brunette quietly returned. She turned and left the room, making her way downstairs. Picking up her jacket and keys, she entered the living room.

"We're off," the slayer announced to Xander.

"'Kay. Have fun," construction worker replied, involved in a heated computer game with Joyce.

Upon hearing Buffy walk downstairs, Faith let herself out of the room. She made her way outside and towards her car.

About to follow, the blonde slayer glanced inside the living room to see Joyce out of bed on a school night. "Hey Xander, Joyce has school in the morning," Buffy reminded him, wearing the garment that was in her arms.

"Aw c'mon," Xander pleaded. "This is her last night with her uncle Xan-man, let her stay up a bit longer?"

"Please," Joyce added.

"Ok," Buffy relented. "But you've gotta be in bed by ten at the latest."

"Uh-huh," Xander replied for Buffy's daughter, his attention still on the television screen.

Sighing, Buffy followed after her lover and entered the vehicle, seating herself and putting on her seat belt. She watched as Faith started the car and pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.

The two of them sat quietly, as Faith drove her silver jeep through the darkened Sunnydale streets. Eventually tired of the silence upon them, Buffy spoke. "Faith, we need to talk," she quietly proclaimed.

"About what?" the younger slayer replied, nonchalant in her question.

"You know what."

Faith continued to stare at the road ahead. "There's nothing to say," she merely returned.

Buffy sighed. "Look, Faith, I've thought about it and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked about having more kids." She paused, waiting for Faith to speak. When the younger slayer failed to do so, Buffy prompted, "Faith, say something."

"There's nothing to say, B," the brunette merely repeated. "It's history."

"So we're ok?" the blonde slayer asked.

"Five by five," Faith returned, her eyes not leaving the road ahead.

Buffy sat back at a loss for what to do. She knew that she was powerless when Faith reverted back to her defensive nature. Her girlfriend would just sink further into her stubbornness like a typical Leo, until she’d finally realise that she was wrong. It was a routine the blonde slayer knew too well and was becoming tired of. Pondering the notion, Buffy was alerted back to the present when Faith pulled over.

"We’re here," the younger of the chosen two stated quietly, turning off the engine. She freed herself of the seat’s belt and let herself out of the car.

Buffy stepped out of the jeep, closing the door. She entered the clinic first with Faith following closely behind.

"Doctor Summers, you made it," she was almost immediately greeted by a lady assigned to the entrance area.

Buffy nodded. "How late are we?" she asked, on her way to the meeting hall.

The lady checked her watch. "Twenty minutes," she told the psychiatrist.

"Thanks," Buffy replied. She made her way to the auditorium, quickly reaching the meeting room. Grasping the handle, she quickly glanced behind her to ensure Faith’s presence there. Taking a deep breath, the blonde opened the door and the slayers quietly slipped into the meeting hall, trying their best to remain inconspicuous.

"It gives me great pleasure," the speaker continued despite the interruption of the two late-comers. "To welcome to the stage, all the way from....well, Sacramento," she smiled, continuing with a gesture to the speaker, "Doctor Davis."

The room was filled with applause as the psychologist walked up to the stage. "Thank you, Doctor Richardson," he said, once the noise of those in the room had subsided. "Well as I don’t want to send you all to sleep," he began, "I’ll make this brief. The study of the psychology of humans is one of full many complexities stemming from the fact tas ias individuals we are all very different. I mean, look around you," he told the audience, prompting them to do so. "No two people in this auditorium today, look alike." He paused, checking, "we don’t have any twins here tonight do we?"

Most of the audience laughed as the brunette gave his presentation. Engaging them for a long while with his humour and wit, most of the attendees were enjoying it. Buffy sat fascinated as the man spoke. His intellect shone through his speech and she was almost mesmerised by it. She turned to her girlfriend to ask her opinion, sighing when she found the brunette slayer fast asleep on the chair beside her. Disheartened, Buffy returned her attention to the speech at hand.

Applause caused Faith to wake up from her slumber. She joined in with the clapping of the other members of the audience and watched as the woman who had initially introduced the speaker returned to the microphone. "Thank you Doctor Davis," she told him. Turning back to the audience, she announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes this evening and now you're all welcome to join us in the next hall for refreshments."

Faith stood up along with the other guests. She followed Buffy into the next room, queuing up with others for some wine. Grateful at the prospect of alcohol, Faith was distracted as one of the attendees approached them.

"Doctor Summers," the older woman said, addressing Buffy.

"Doctor Richardson," Buffy replied.

"That was quite an entrance you made."

"I know. I’m sorry," the slayer apologised. "There was traffic."

The woman nodded, despite not believing the excuse. She gestured to Faith. "I see you brought someone," she noticed.

"Uh, yeah," Buffy replied, blushing slightly. "This is my... friend Faith Lehane."

Doctor Richardson shook the hand of the seemingly slightly disheveled brunette. "Are you a psychiatrist too?" she asked.

"Nah," Faith began. "I’m a-"

"She's in retail," Buffy abruptly interjected.

The older psychiatrist smiled. "Oh. Well, enjoy your evening, ladies," she told them, moving on to greet more people.

As if just regaining the ability to speak, Faith confronted the older slayer. "What the hell was that?" she snapped. "So I'm your 'friend' now?"

"I know. I’m sorry," Buffy apologised. "It just came out-"

Exasperated, the brunette put up her hand to silence her partner. "You know what? Save it. Where are the bathrooms?"

"Down the hall," Buffy replied. She cringed as Faith made her way out of the room. Feeling guilty she thought on following her girlfriend, to explain, but was distracted by a familiar voice.

"Buffy, you made it!" Parker exclaimed, happily. He handed the younger woman one of the drinks he was holding in his hands, taking a sip of the other.

"Parker," the blonde replied. "Yeah," she added, replying the question and taking the offered beverage. She walked over to the seats at the side of the hall, sitting and prompting Parker to do the same.

"So. What did you think?" the brunette asked his colleague.

"It was great," Buffy answered. "Doctor Davis is really good."

"The guy's a genius. His theories on psychological interpretations floor me."

"And the way he described the relationships between sociology and anthropology, completely...."

"Blew your mind?" Parker completed, causing Buffy to smile.

"Yeah."

The two of them burst into laughter, giggling like school children.

Parker stopped examining his wine glass. "How much alcohol is in here, anyway?" he asked the pretty blonde.

Buffy groaned also examining her own. "Not enough," she commented.

"Why, what’s up?" the brunette asked, empathetically.

"Ugh, nothing," the slayer lied. She looked into the eyes of her concerned colleague and suddenly feeling desperate for a subject change, she smiled. "Are you here with someone?" she asked.

"Yeah, I got people," Parker replied, pointing behind him. "You?"

Buffy nodded. "I've got people too," she imitated.

"Cool," Parker replied. He took a sip of his drink watching as Buffy did the same. "So what are you doing after this?"

Having returned to the conference room, Faith scanned it for her girlfriend. Locating her sitting alone with a young brunette, she felt herself overcome with both jealousy and anger. The slayer walked up to Buffy. "Hey. Let's go," she interrupted.

Slightly embarrassed by her girlfriend’s abruptness, Buffy was about to speak before Parker stood and offered his hand to Faith in handshake. "Hi," he said, introducing himself as, "Parker."

Faith scoffed at the outstretched hand. Replying to the man, "Beat it pal. Neither of us swing that way."

"Faith!" Buffy scolded.

"It’s ok," Parker replied her, under the icy stare of the brunette. "I have people waiting anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow Buffy."

"Parker, wait," Buffy tried in vain as the brunette walked away. She turned to Faith. "You had no right-" she started.

"I had no right?" Faith asked a little too loudly. "I’m gone for two minutes, come back and find you throwing yourself at the first guy you find."

"This is not the place," Buffy replied the accusation, lowering her voice.

"You’re right, B," Faith agreed. "Wouldn't wanna embarrass you any more in front of your college pals."

With that, the brunette slayer turned and left the room, ensuring she loudly slammed the double doors to the auditorium on her way out.


TBC...