Gladiatrix

Title: Gladiatrix Summary: Tara wasn't mind sucked and Faith didn't go to jail. Spoilers: Season 5 Disclaimer: No money made from this fic. No copyright infringement intended. All characters owned by Joss Whedon and Co. Rating: PG-13 A/N: Thanks to beta elizabethrex1 ******************************** Part 2 Faith wasn't sure how long or how far they'd run when Tara began to slow down from exhaustion. Not releasing her hold, Faith pulled them into an alley. Tara leaned against the wall of a building trying to catch her breath. "You okay?" Faith asked. Tara nodded. The witch stared down at their joined hands. She grimaced then eased her hand out of Faith's grip. "I don't think it's broken," Tara stated, cradling the hand against her chest. Faith took a step towards her then stopped. Her face hardened as she stared at the other woman. "You're lucky she didn't kill you. What were you doing out there by yourself?" Faith asked. "Are you an idiot?" she snapped. She started pacing back and forth in front of Tara. "Glory doesn't have to wait until it's dark to come out and play. She's a Hell God, not a vampire." Faith couldn't stop herself. She crept towards Tara like a cat stalking its prey. "Is Willow not doing it for you anymore and you wanted a taste of the dark side?" She stood inches from Tara, her warm breath caressing the blonde's face. "Glory isn't the only one who likes to get rough," Faith whispered. "If you want, I can make it hurt so good. All you have to do is ask me." Something flickered in Faith's eyes. Desires she'd buried suddenly reappearing. Tara could feel herself blushing from the intense scrutiny. Tara's eyes darted around the alley. There was no place for her to go. "I-I-," She took a deep breath, starting over. "W-w-willow--," Tara closed her eyes and turned away. Faith stared at the witch noticing how fragile she looked. Tara was trembling cradling her injured hand protectively against her chest. Taking a deep breath Faith pushed down the darkness inside her. There was something about Tara triggering an innate need to dominate. Faith backed away, giving Tara some space. "I'm sorry. It's just - what if I hadn't been at the carnival? There's no telling what Glory would've done to you," Faith said. Tara hung her head, Her face concealed by her long hair. Faith sighed, not sure what else to say. "Come on. You need some ice for that hand. I'm not staying far from here." ************************************ Faith left Tara in her motel room while she went to get some ice. The brunette scooped ice chips in her hand. She ran them over her face trying to cool down, not only from the summer heat but the heat building from the adrenaline still pumping throug her veins. The fight with Glory had left her keyed up. Her heightened senses making it impossible to ignore the sweet vanilla scent coming from Tara. Faith wondered if there would ever come a time when she wasn't fighting her inner demons. She shook her head. Her dark locks settling over her shoulder. The brunette retuned to her room relieved to find Tara sitting quietly on the side of the bed. Faith knelt next to Tara and picked up her swollen hand. "Are you sure you don't wanna go to a hospital? Something could be broken," Faith questioned. "No," Tara whispered. Faith noticed that Tara still wouldn't look at her. "I----uhhh wanted to apologize for yelling at you in the alley." Faith licked her dry lips. "Sometimes I can be a bitch." She paused. "Just ask B." Blue eyes peeked out from underneath long lashes. Faith thought she could detect the hint of a smile. "I remember you, Faith." Tara raised her head. She gazed at Faith, searching her eyes. "You're a little hard to forget," Tara said. Encouraged by her soft tone Faith continued. "I know it's not my business, but in the alley you started to say something about Willow. Does she know you were out there by yourself?" Blue eyes looked away, breaking contact. "Hey, like I said, it's none of my business. It's------just I wouldn't think Red would want her girl getting hurt," Faith said. Tara fidgeted, gripping the gauze skirt she was wearing. Faith raised the ice pack, checking Tara's hand. Calloused fingers gently stroked the growing bluish purple bruise. "Swelling should go down in a couple days. You wanna be sure to keep it wrapped," Faith advised, experienced from years of nursing her own injuries. "W-Willow and I, w-we argued." Faith looked up in surprise, having thought the blonde wasn't going to answer. "She was m-mad at me." Tara stopped, taking a deep breath. "I w-wasn't p-paying attention and didn't see Glory." Faith nodded. "S'okay. It wasn't your fault." She glanced at the shy woman. "What could you do to piss off Red?" Faith asked. "You don't seem like the bitchy type." Closing her eyes in what looked like an attempt not to cry, Tara confided in Faith about her and Willow's argument with Willow. Faith listened quietly, shaking her head when Tara had finished. "You were just trying to support B. Letting her know your mom suffered too and that she could come to you for support." Tara nodded. "I only wanted to help. I wasn't trying to come between them." Sad eyes regarded Faith. "Same ole' Willow," Faith said. "Still wants B all to herself." Her gaze slid down Tara's curves, hidden underneath the baggy clothes she wore. "What would Red want with a skinny little slayer, when she's got you waiting at home." Faith winked at the other woman. "Bet Buffy can't set the sheets on fire like you can." Faith wiggled her fingers at Tara as if performing a spell. Tara blushed, covering her face with her hands. "Faith!" she squealed. Faith laughed at the red faced witch. "Okay, sorry." Tara lowered her hands to look at Faith. The brunette's dimpled smile didn't appear very apologetic. "You want something to eat or drink?" Faith asked, changing the subject. Tara smiled for the first time. The smile transformed her face, drawing Faith's eyes to her high check bones and full pink lips. "Thanks, Faith, water would be good," she answered. Faith stood up to get water out of her small fridge. She returned to Tara's side, helping her get settled on the bed. Not wanting to make her nervous, Faith pulled a chair next to the bed to sit in. "That was some wicked knife trick," Faith said. "I thought Glory was gonna pee her panties when the blade turned around." Faith laughed. "On second thought, that skank probably wasn't wearing panties." Faith turned up her nose at the thought. "And I'm guessing you caused the rain, too. How'd you do it? I didn't even see your lips moving." Tara seemed reluctant to answer. "My mother was a witch and  so was her mother," Tara explained.  "Each generation,  the Goddess has blessed us with a single female  child." The sound of Tara's melodious voice held Faith's attention. "Each of us are born with magical ability, but when one generation dies her powers are inherited by the next," she said.     Faith sat up in her chair, a look of awe on her face. "So when your mom died," Faith paused glancing at Tara, "you got her powers and all the witches in your  family before her?" she clarified.    The blonde bit her bottom lip, pushing a strand of loose hair behind her ear.  "Yes," Tara whispered.  "Damn!" Faith yelled jumping up. "Does Willow know?" she asked. The brunette bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement. Tara watched amused by the animated display. Her own energy drained from performing the spells. All she wanted to do was curl up in the slayers bed and go to sleep. "I  bet you could kick Glory's ass. Bury that bitch so far down in hell her minions wouldn't find her until Doomsday."    Tara smiled at Faith's enthusiasm. "My father forbade the use of witchcraft in our house." Tara's smile faltered as she spoke. "He would beat me and my mother if he caught us practicing," she  said. "And I'd have to go days without food." Faith gritted her teeth. "Mother wasn't able to teach me enough magic to fight someone as powerful as Glory."  Tara sighed.  "To destroy Glory I would need to harness energy from  the five elements without causing an imbalance in nature." Tara shook her head. "What good would it be  to save the world if I left it a barren wasteland for the next generation?"     She looked away from Faith. "I guess my father was right. I am worthless." Tara muttered. Once again Faith felt a connection with Tara. They were two weary souls, searching since childhood for a safe haven, protecting the world from monsters when no one had protected them. Faith crawled across the bed, the cheap mattress creaking under her weight. She kneeled over Tara, staring down at her. "At this moment, if I had to choose between who to slay - Glory or your father - I'd choose your father," Faith said. "I'd make sure he never hurt you again." Faith's words should have concerned her, but Tara found herself comforted by the passionate statement. Tara looked into unfathomable chocolate brown eyes. She reached out slowly, giving Faith the opportunity to back away. The witch placed a hand on the tattoo circling Faith's bicep. The hard muscle jumped when she touched it but Faith didn't retreat. "As the slayer your duty is to protect humanity not judge it." She said gently. "I believe you've changed and your redemption is worth more to me, and to the world, than the life of a mean, lonely old man." Faith glanced at the hand on her arm, then into bright blue eyes. Only Angel knew the extent of her childhood abuse. She'd never told the Scoobies because she didn't want their pity. Tara shook her head as if reading her thoughts. "What happened to us wasn't our fault. I didn't accept that until I was free of my father. Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Giles gave me the courage to do that." Tara's hand glided down Faith's arm leaving a trail of warmth in its wake. She clasped Faith's hand in hers. "Their friendship helped release my demons." Tara smiled remembering the lie her father had told her to frighten her into submission. That on her twentieth birthday she'd turn into a demon. "All I'm offering you is my friendship, and the promise that you don't have to fight your demons alone anymore." Faith stared at their joined hands, the walls she'd built around herself cracking just a little. She opened her mouth to speak, but fell silent when a speck of light appeared dancing between them. It floated in front of Tara. The witch's eyes widened in surprise. "Faith," she said, releasing Faith's hand. Tara backed away from the slayer. She pressed herself against the headboard, staring at the door. Faith followed hovering over the frightened girl. "What's wrong, Tara?" she asked, glancing between the blonde and the door. (tbc)