EMPATHY

Chapter two





She rose at six the following morning and prepared for a morning
run. Last night had proven that she couldn’t afford to drop her guard or lose her edge. She was determined to push her body to the peak of fitness.

There was a beautiful young woman in the hall as Faith came out of her apartment. She appeared to be going for her morning run as well.

“Hi, My name’s Kirsten, I’m just down the hall in 420.” She extended her hand in greeting. Faith engaged the handshake and introduced herself.

She couldn’t help but notice how stunning the woman was, with rich mocha skin and sultry brown eyes that offset a dazzling smile. “I’m Faith, just moved into 400 yesterday.”

Kirsten appeared to be down to earth and genuinely friendly. “Hey, why don’t you come running with me. I’d be happy to show you some of the best spots in the area, and besides, safety in numbers.”

The young woman took the lead as they started their run, having no idea just how safe she was on this particular morning, in the company of a slayer.

They had run a total of five miles, passing the time talking and getting acquainted, when they stopped at a small cafe up the street from their building, for coffee and bagels.

Faith found she enjoyed the woman’s company. She had the kind of personality that made her easy to talk to, and she didn’t seem fazed when Faith divulged where she had spent the last three years even though she was careful to leave out the details of the what for.

“Faith, if you’re looking for me to judge you, sorry-wrong girl. I know what it’s like to live with bias and prejudice. However, I need to warn you; in my book an asshole is just that. You wouldn’t happen to be one of those would you?” Kirsten smiled at Faith with genuine sincerity.

Finding the young woman’s upbeat attitude infectious, Faith opened up to her, and returned the smile. She wasn’t looking for a friend, and couldn’t remember the last one in her li Ins Instinct was telling her to give it a chance, and see if it was possible for a friendship to develop.

She was a Yankee, like Faith; originally hailing from the East coast. That instantly gave them something in common. They laughed about the bitter winters and the damned rain. Faith found herself listening attentively, as Kirsten shared a little about herself. Her only regret was, that she couldn’t be as forthcoming.

Kirsten was a Biomedical Engineer, and a self-made woman. She had thrived and succeeded in high school, overcoming a lot of adversity along the way. She’d had a strong, stable upbringing, and a family who loved her dearly. She recalled often how her parents would always tell her, “ The only thing you can’t do is fail.”

Bearing those words in mind, she pushed herself academically and worked hard toward a full scholarship. The letter came in the mail, a week after she graduated from City High with honors. The University of Pittsburgh, whose curriculum offered a state of the art Biomedical Engineering Program; had accepted her.

“I’m sorry, I’ve just been carrying on like I have no place to go.” Kirsten looked at her watch reluctantly, “I thoroughly enjoyed this morning Faith, it was cool meeting you. I’ve got to get to work.” She shook Faith’s hand again as she rose to leave.
Faith watched the young woman leave, and couldn’t help but think that she felt, a little less alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day Faith contemplated writing Buffy to let her know she was out. She awkwardly thought about what was left to say, and then the insecurity and hurt came flooding back. “Sure, I could tell her I’m out, but would she care?”

So she called Giles instead. “Hey, G-man, it’s me.”

He was a little flustered to hear her voice on the other end, “Faith, I...it’s been quite a while, uh, how are you?”

She could tell he was being the consummate English gentleman. “Oh, I’m hangin’ in, just wanted ta let you know I was released.” His sharp intake of breath was audible, and she wanted to calm any misgivings he may have harbored, “Look, Giles, it’s no biggy, ok? I know you spoke up for me at my parole hearing, and I just wanted to thank you.”

He was calmer now as he replied, “I did what any objective Watcher would have done Faith. It was obvious that you weren’t always given fair treatment by the The Council, and I believe it was contributory to your actions.”

Their first meeting crossed his mind, and he blushed still at her unabashed
flirtations toward him. It was evident that she was a rebel, and her nature stirred dormant, but familiar, feelings in that part of himself that he once acknowledged as “Ripper.”

Her voice took on a melancholy tone. “Can you keep this between you and me? I don’t want the scoobs on edge waiting for the psycho bitch, ya know?”

Giles knew she was referring mainly to Buffy, but he would respect her wishes; she deserved that much. “Certainly, Faith, it will be our secret, but
I’m curious, what are your plans?”

She smirked. “Always the Watcher, hunh G.”

He responded in that vaguely annoyed tone that made her fond of him, “Please don’t call me that. Good Lord, didn’t you learn anything about
respect and decorum while you were away?”

She mimicked his accent, “Well, old chap, that wasn’t a bleeding country club I went away to, now was it? And yes, I learned all about being a proper lady, I even got a chance to watch that Audrey Hepburn film.

“I have few guilty pleasures in this world, and one of them is knowing I can make you squirm.” Her voice became lower now as she asked, “Are you still as sexy as I remember?”

He momentarily allowed himself to be carried away by the hypnotic tone of her voice, while his mind conjured past memories of her supple, young slayer’s body. Balderdash, he thought, it could never be.

“Faith, I believe we both know that kind of talk is inappropriate.”

She chuckled sexily, “Yeah Giles, but please don’t try to act like the thought never crossed your mind. Any how, just wanted to call and say thanks.”

He said with sincerity, “You’re welcome, be well. If I happen to come across any pertinent information about The Council, I will certainly keep you abreast.”

She knew she would have to deal with that part of her past sooner or later, but thoughts of her behavior in Sunnydale cast a pall over any positive feelings she held about the future. A lazy lounge in her cheerful kitchen was just what the doctor ordered. She poured herself a cup of tea, and reviewed the morning paper.

Years of discipline and harboring secrets conquered his urge to inform Buffy of his contact with Faith. And he had given her his word, a principle that personified Giles.

It wasn’t very often that he heard from Buffy these days. Everyone had seemed to go about living his or her own lives. She was often in his thoughts and he missed her terribly, a fact he would never admit during the rare times when he talked to her.

She had long since surpassed anything he could teach her as a watcher,
growing into her gifts at full capacity. He was awestruck at the power and skill only he knew she possessed. Buffy had honed her skills to the point where she had the power to mesmerize, though her use of the power was limited because it was extremely taxing on her mental and physical strength.

No, Giles couldn’t bring himself to leave his slayer, whom he loved as if she were his daughter. His life was here, always at the ready, should evil rear its ugly head and she needed him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy had faired well over the past three years. There was no love interest in her life to speak of, but it was just as well, because she found it only complicated things. She had her share of lovers over time, to temper the fire that raged within her, but she wasn’t looking for “Gone With the Wind”

She had cultivated her interest in psychology and was just finishing her work study program that would make her an accredited Licensed Social Worker with a focus on troubled teenage girls.

The ordeal she was confronted with when she was called, as the next Chosen One had been her unofficial field experience, along with raising Dawn without their Mom. She wondered if being a self-centered, closed off bitch was a prerequisite to being a slayer.

Try as she might, there was always that feeling that put her on a different plane of existence from everyone else. Everyone except for Faith, she wondered about her beautiful, chestnut haired nemesis. Regret filled her mwhenwhen she thought of how their story could have gone another way.

She had sworn everyone involved to secrecy on the day she testified at Faith’s parole hearing. She gave her testimony in the judge’s chambers, before the actual hearing, under the pretense that she would be out of the country.

Those who knew the saga of Faith and Buffy understood that her conscience wouldn’t allow her to face the girl, let alone admit to helping her. But, Faith remained as an afterthought in the back of her mind.

Dawn had become quite the model student, graduating at the top of her class. She was awarded a full scholarship to Stanford University to study law. Buffy always knew that incessant chatter would serve her well one day. The Summers' household was always animated with activity whenever she came home for various holidays.

Buffy kept the tear-stained letter Dawn gave her on the day she left, pulling it out of her memory chest on occasion, when her absence became unbearable. Dawn had written across the front, “You are so going to be cursed if you open this before I leave!”

They had embraced like it was the first and last time, the day Dawn
left. Buffy looked into the eyes of the young woman she had become, touching her face with pride and a mother’s love. “Dawnie, I…” She had to lower her head then, as the tears welled and her voice faltered.

Dawn understood her pain as she pulled her into an all-encompassing embrace so strong, she made Buffy gasp.

“Please remember that you have always been my hero, and that I love you more than life.”

Dawn pressed the envelope into her hand, and withdrew herself as she walked toward her car.

The contents of the letter read: “I hate to leave you Buffy, but I remember what you told me that day on the platform, just before you died for me, you asked me to keep on living, for you. So I promise I will do my best to have the kind of life, I know you want for
me. I’ll make a life for the both of us Buffy, hoping that one day, you will leave Sunnydale, and share it with me.”


TBC