Trials and Restorations

~ Part 11 I (of II) ~

Silently crying out, Delana allowed her head to fall forward, exhaling audibly as she felt another orgasm flow through her.

"Faith," she attempted to plead, her entire weight concentrated on her knees, which were crushed into the bed's mattress beneath her.

"What?" the slayer asked, steadying herself on her left hand, as she entered the blonde from behind. Increasingly turned on by her lover's pleas, Faith let her body rest on the waitress' back, her fingers lost inside the woman's body.

Unable to form words as the older woman, fingered her, Delana cried out that she could take no more.

Not satisfied, but kissing Delana's bare shoulder in response, Faith slowly removed her fingers from her lover's soaking entrance. She climbed from atop her, as an utterly exhausted Delana fell forward onto the bed. Laying beside the younger woman, Faith attempted to hold the blonde, pulling back when the woman grimaced.

"What's wrong?" Faith enquired.

Looking to her arm, Delana revealed a large bruise, causing Faith to both curse and ask,

"Did I do that?"

"It's ok," the waitress assured her lover. "It only hurts when you touch it. Or move it. Or when I breathe."

"I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"It's my fault," the blonde replied. "You asked me if I wanted it rough and I said yes." Drawing the brunette toward her in a way that would cause neither of them pain, she kissed and told her to, "Forget about it."

"There's some witch-hazel in the bathroom," Faith told her, moving to get up.

"I'll go," Delana decided, making her way out of her bed and walking to the room's ensuite bathroom.
Watching after the New York native, the brunette's gaze was distracted by the opening of her bedroom door.

"Knock, knock," Kennedy called, entering and holding bags. Instantly looking away, she pleaded, "Please be covered." Obliging and draping the bed's sheet over herself, Faith prompted the younger woman to continue. "So anyway, I got you some new clothes, seeing as I miss all of mine."

Instantly blushing, the slayer replied, "You didn't have to do that. I mean, you could have told me you missed your clothes."

"Nonsense," Kennedy returned. "I just used that as an excuse. Truth is Willow won't let me go on sprees for myself. I *needed* to buy you new things."
She placed the numerous bags onto the floor, noticing the sounds of running water coming from the bathroom. Lowering her voice Kennedy blurted out, "Oh my God, I didn't know she was still here."

"It's cool," Faith replied, putting the brunette at ease.

"So? How was it?"

"What?"

"You know. Willow and I couldn't get to sleep you guys were making so much noise."

"So then *it* was loud," Faith answered the question.

"Ha-ha," Kennedy retorted. "I bet it was so good, you just don't want to make me jealous."

"You got it in one, babe."

"What's her name?" Kennedy asked. "And don't tell me you don't know."

"Delana."

Pausing, Kennedy uttered, "Oh my God! Does she work at the espresso pump?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh my God," Kennedy repeated.

"Would you stop saying that and actually tell me why?" Faith asked.

"No, it's just that the clothes come with a fourteen day return policy."

"What?" Faith had to ask, acknowledging that Delana had re-entered the room, but wanting Kennedy to complete her explanation.

"Kennedy," Delana observed, interrupting. "What a surprise."

"Yeah," Kennedy replied, standing. "Faith just told me that you were the current woman in her life."

"That's great," the blonde replied. She looked to Faith telling her, "I have to go."

"Now? Where?" the slayer replied, her gaze darting from woman to woman, wanting them to explain themselves.

"I told Guy I'd meet him for breakfast," Delana answered, moving towards her lover's bed to give her a quick kiss.

"Guy would understand that you were with me," Faith replied, watching Kennedy slip out from her bedroom.

"I've blown him off twice already, Faith. He will not understand. Can I see you later?"

"Whatever," Faith replied, receiving the blonde's kiss as she hurried off. Following her to the door, she listened out, hoping to catch an exchange between her and Kennedy. When the hall remained silent for a few minutes, she concluded that both girls had left. Taking hold of the shopping bags strewn across her bedroom floor, the slayer excitedly searched through each in turn.

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"Rob, why the fuck didn't you tell me?"

"What?" the store-manager asked the entering slayer whilst waving goodbye to a customer. "Have a nice day!" He called after the man, adding, "You slimy son of a bitch," under his breath.

"You're one to talk," Faith observed. "Did you not think you could have told me B was married?"

"It wasn't my place," Rob replied in earnest. "Besides, I didn't want you to start shooting the messenger."

"You still coulda had my back, man," the brunette told him. "I swear, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack when I found out."

"Well you seem to have seen the funny side now."

"Yeah, y'know me. I'm good and I'm seeing someone else and that's going real well."

"I'm glad," Robert decided. Realising that the brunette must have come looking for him for a reason he asked, "So, what can I do for you?"

"Nothing, man. I was just passing. Stressed out from a hard day's job-hunting."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Turns out nobody'll hire you when you have no resumes and can't come up with a reason you've been M.I.A for the past three years. Not to mention my lack of experience."

"Why don't you come back here?" the store-worker suggested. "Lord knows we could do with an extra pair of hands around."

"Are you outta your mind?"

"It's ok, Faith. I'd treat you really well; give you days off and stuff."

"No, it's not that," the brunette clarified. "Though, I'm pretty sure I'd rather eat my own liver than work for you. I'm just
trippin' about working for Buffy. Do you know how wrong that would be on so many levels?"

"Oh crap," the blonde replied, quickly picking up the nearest phone and dialling frantically. Listening for a reply, he uttered, "Hello, boss… Yeah, the delivery actually came through to the States this morning but it needs approval before they'll send it here… No, I don't have the new pass codes for the system… I can't override it… Oh… How would I do that?" Rob asked, turning on the store's computer and looking nervously at its screen. Drawing a blank, he attempted to type in a command. Swearing he had to clarify to the person on the line, "No, I was talking to the computer."

"Man, you just type in," Faith interrupted, not finishing her sentence but instead walking behind the counter and using the
computer's keyboard. "This and then… Score," the brunette stated, beaming as the computer gave a pass code prompt.

"Never mind," Robert told his superior on the phone. "It's been done… Faith…" He looked to the brunette who was typing away and
completing the order for him, reminding Buffy, "You're the boss."

He dropped the phone, looking to the brunette. "Thanks. Sorry, but she told me this morning that if the delivery didn't go through today, it'd be my ass on the line."

"No problem," Faith replied. "But now you owe me."

"Just name it," Rob replied.

"You know anyone who's hiring?" the slayer asked, adding, "And if you say you, I'll flip."

"Actually, I might. Let me make a call."

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"So you're not looking for a chef?" Robert asked the caller on the shop's phone line. "How about a waitress?... Or a manager… A
painter, perhaps?"

Faith's expression changed to one of sheer boredom having been listening to the blonde make pointless call after call.

"How about someone to stand outside the restaurant with a bell?"

"Dude, screw it," the slayer finally and audibly decided. "I'll be better off finding my own job."

"I'll get back to you," Robert promised the caller, ending the call. "What d'you do that for?" the store-manager asked. "He was
thinking about it. And the rate was good." Glancing at the door, he returned his gaze to the brunette, telling her, "Oh, I have another friend who's in the music business. I'll give her a call."

"You know what, man? I don't really think I'm a budding singer or whatever."

"You could make CDs," Rob suggested, thankful when his boss walked through the door. He rushed to the aid of a customer.

"Hi," Buffy greeted when Faith acknowledged her entrance.

"Hey," Faith replied, walking to her. Silent for a moment, the slayer remembered, "Hey, how's your side?"

"Better," Buffy told her. "Listen, thanks for what you did for me and for taking Joyce on her first day."

"Don't mention it," the younger slayer told her ex.

At a loss for a different way to phrase that which she wanted to say, Buffy confessed, "I'm really glad I ran into you actually. I wanted to show you something. Do you have a few minutes?"

"A good something or a bad something?"

Smiling at the fact that the slayer was responsive, she assured her, "You'll love it, trust me."

"I'm in," Faith stated.

"Great," Buffy replied her. Turning to her store's manager, she told him, "Rob, feel free to close up early." Leading Faith from the store.

HBC… in part II.


~ Part 11 Part II (of II) ~


"You never told me how your date went," Buffy realised aloud, turning her car into a less crowded street.

"My date?" Faith echoed, realising, "Oh. Yeah. It was great."

"Where d'you go?"

"Look-out point," Faith answered.

"So it was a second date."

"A first," the brunette replied. "Though, why?"

"No reason," Buffy replied. "I just remember that look-out point was our second date."

Racking her memory, Faith recalled, "Look-out point was our third date."

"No." Buffy re-stated, "It was our second."

"Wow," Faith uttered. "Your memory must be shot, 'cause look-out was definitely our third date. Our second was the Pizza house and our first the movies."

"You counted that as a date?" Buffy asked in disbelief. "We went to a porn flick."

"I paid, you put out," Faith completed, grinning. "Hello, date."

Laughing, Buffy accepted, "Fine, it was a date. Even it wasn't really seeing as your main mission was to get me into bed."

"It was not," the dark slayer retorted. "I was so all about the going home that night and you were all, 'Faith we've got the place all to ourselves. Why don't you come in and screw me?'"

"I was not," Buffy argued, nearing their destination. "You were the one who was all, 'Buffy there's no-one in your house. Can I come in and have sex with you?'"

"Oh my God!" Faith uttered in disbelief. "You were begging me to come in. I only put out that night 'cause I felt sorry for you." Immediately feeling her last statement both inaccurate and inappropriate, the slayer tried to retract with an, "I'm sorry."

Not taking her eyes from the road, Buffy replied, "It's ok. You were joking."

"Yeah," Faith affirmed, emphatically. "That night meant loads to me."

When Buffy made no reply, Faith emphasised, "It did, I swear."

Slowing her car to a stop, the older slayer announced, "We're here."
Stepping out from the vehicle, Buffy moved over to the young brunette's side of the car, letting her do the same.

"Where are we?" Faith asked, looking around at the identical buildings surrounding them. "Some sorta lot?"

"Yes," Buffy confirmed, reaching into her pocket. "I wanted to give you this," she told the younger slayer, handing her a key. "I didn't want to mention it before because I had actually lost it. But Joyce helped me find it this morning."

"You couldn't have given me this at the store?" Faith asked, looking at the blonde with a playful smile.

"And miss the look on your face?" Buffy asked, leading her to a lot whose number matched that on the key.

Opening the door, Faith walked into the room, cluttered with things that at first glance seemed to be junk. "You shouldn't have," she called dryly, walking up to a large object covered by a sheet.
Whipping off the cover, she gasped as she looked upon the black vehicle it had concealed. "Oh... You *really* shouldn't have! My
jeep?" she asked to which Buffy gave a nod.

"The key's under the wheel. Though, I'm not sure it'll work."

"You kept it all this time?" the slayer asked her senior.

"I just couldn't sell it," Buffy admitted to which the brunette had to smile. She looked around, the other belongings catching her eye.

"This is all my stuff," Faith noticed, finding herself staring wide-eyed at her former belongings. "My leather jacket," she noticed, dusting it off and putting it on. "This is fucking awesome," she stated, moving to embrace her former girlfriend. "Thank you."

Excited, she ran back to the jeep, finding its key where she had been told it was and using it to let herself in. Putting the key into the ignition, she turned it, attempting to start the car to no avail. Popping the bonnet from inside and stepping back out, the brunette moved to the front of the car and lifted its hood. Looking to all the wires and gadgets, she began to fiddle around with them.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Buffy asked, observing the slayer's careful method of pulling, sniffing and hitting the parts of the jeep.

"Not really," Faith replied. "But I think this is the engine." She prodded at the car part, removing her and finding it covered in black liquid with a, "Gross."

Buffy observed with a smirk. "You're covered in it."

"Yeah," Faith replied, noticing that the liquid had managed to get itself on her new shirt. She removed her jacket and then the top, searching around for alternative clothing.

"Here," Buffy chose, opening a box and handing her ex something else to wear. "This was actually a given to me from a Theresa after you'd left."

"Thank you, Theresa," Faith replied, taking and putting it on. "Even though I have no idea who she was."

"That's funny. She came to your funeral."

"Still not ringing a bell," the younger slayer deflected, refusing to comment on the identity of the woman in question.

Looking to her watch, Buffy realised, "I'm going to have to go now; I said I'd see Giles. Do you want me to drop you off somewhere?"

Trying to start her jeep for a final time, Faith gave up, accepting, "Thanks. I guess I'll just have to get someone to fix it
tomorrow and that's probably going to cost me shit-loads."

Leading the way out and to her car, Buffy offered, "If you like, I wouldn't mind paying."

Locking up, Faith followed her ex, dismissing the idea with a, "Nah. No way, you've done way more than enough just keeping it." She added a, "Thank you. So much."

With a warm smile, Buffy replied her, "I'm just glad it has you back."

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"Of course I haven't slept," the retired librarian admitted, solemnly pacing the front room of his home. "How could I?"

"Giles, it's okay," Buffy replied her former watcher, attempting to calm him whilst locating and taking up a double-headed axe.

"No, it's not. I will find another way, Buffy. I have to."

"Of course you will," the petite blonde returned correcting herself with a, "We will. Until then, I'm just going to keep having to fight these things. Do you know where the last one was sighted?"

"Near the marina," Giles informed her. "I'd call Amanda but I doubt she'll be up to fighting it after the last time. I could give Faith a call, two slayers are better than one, you know, Buffy."

"And three slayers are better than two, etcetera. Giles, what's your point?"

Startled, the Brit went to explain, "My point-"

"I'm kidding, Giles. And no. No calling Faith. I don't want her to know about this, especially as we don't really know much ourselves." When the watcher made no move to agree, Buffy assured him, "I've killed one of these things before, I can do it again."

"But the last time you ended up being thrown into concrete and nearly killed."

"Then I'll stay away from the concrete," the slayer joked. "Maybe this time I'll land in something softer, like wood. Or better yet, I might be thrown into the sea. I haven't been swimming in a long time."

Looking blankly, the watcher felt and understood that Buffy was in no mood to be serious. "I can't stop you," he voiced. "It's taken me twelve years to realise that. But I will forever care for you, Buffy. Please, promise me that you will be safe."

"I don't really see the point. It's pretty much a win-win," Buffy told him, to which a near dumbfounded Giles could only choke out,

"What?"

"Nothing," Buffy replied, feeling her behaviour insensitive. "I'm just being moronic. Listen, I'm going to head out, find this thing and kill it. Please, keep working."

"Of course," Giles agreed. "I won't stop."

Smiling tenderly, Buffy picked up the axe, leaving the grey haired man staring after her.

TBC...