A Witch In LA

“Damn.” Faith grumbles as she plops back on the couch, looking around at the apartment. “Okay, not the homiest place, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

“No, we can’t.” Tara smiles at her lover, as she finishes washing the dishes. “We’re lucky they found somewhere that we can all live comfortably that’s already furnished.”

“Yeah, but the place was a fuckin’ pig sty.” Faith bitches.

“But you did a damn good job of cleaning it.” Tara smiles softly at her lover, as she dries and places the last dish away in the cabinet.

“We did a good job.” Faith growls, looking over at her lover. “Now get your ass over here and cuddle with me. I haven’t got my share of kisses today.”

“Well, it didn’t help matters that you picked the dirtiest apartment to make ours.” Tara smirks at her lover as she sits down beside her.

“It was the only one that had one bedroom.” Faith explains her reasoning. “I didn’t want to have to share the apartment with one of the whiney brats.”

“They’re not all whiney, love” Tara lies down beside Faith on the couch, placing her head in her lover’s lap. “Rhona’s funny. She kind of reminds me of somebody else I know with her street tough attitude.”

“Would I happen to know this other person?” Faith growls, raising an eyebrow.

“Possibly.” Tara smirks up at her lover. “We probably should check to see how all the other girls are getting settled.”

“They’re old enough to get settled on their own. Plus with the number of watcher’s able to spread out between the rooms, they have enough baby-sitters.” Faith grumbles as she strokes her fingers through Tara’s hair.

“Yes, but I need to put up the protection spells around the apartment, plus Willow and I were going to make extra charms for any new people that show up.”

“Yeah. It’s great that you finally got that new spell to work that let’s us know if it’s The First we’re talking to instead of the real person.” Faith shivers uncontrollably as she remembers talking to, who she thought was Buffy, but was The First instead. “That is just totally freaky.”

Tara smiles softly at her lover. “You wouldn’t think it was that believable, would you? It’s okay love, it won’t get by with that anymore.”

Faith growls before yelling out. “Come in!” When someone knocks on the door. Smiling as Dawn and Rhona quickly enter their apartment, shutting the door behind them.

“Can we stay here for a little while?” Dawn questions plopping down on the end of the sofa, picking Tara’s feet up to lay across her lap.

Rhona shakes her head, laughing quietly as she plops down in a chair. “Little Drill Sergeant is driving us nuts. She‘s afraid of you two, so we figured she wouldn‘t look for us here.”

“What’s Kennedy doing now?” Tara sighs.

“Trying to order everyone around. Tote that barge, lift that bale, etc…” Rhona rolls her eyes. “I want to know which brilliant watcher it was, that decided she’d make a good leader. Then I’m going to beat him upside the head to knock some sense in him.”

“I think it was Johnson.” Tara mutters, closing her eyes. “He seems to be the most arrogant ass out of the group. Plus he likes to delegate, so my money’s on him.”

“How’s everyone settlin’?” Faith questions looking from Rhona to Dawn.

“Pretty good. Most of us are pairing off okay, but nobody wants to share with Kennedy or Jasmine.” Dawn rolls her eyes. “I think those two should have to share with each other.”

“I don’t know, but we have to get a plan to start training tomorrow. Most of the girls have basics down, but I want to start hitting them hot and heavy.” Faith frowns as she thinks. “I don’t like the fact that B’s staying at the house with Spike by herself.”

“But she has to. A lot of the Watcher’s and Potentials has her address as where to go. Plus this damn town is almost becoming a ghost town.” Dawn bitches quietly.

“Yeah, rats leaving a sinking ship.” Rhona admits looking at the other women. “Should we maybe hit the stores before everything closes up and stock up on food?”

Faith sighs quietly and nods her head. “Probably. Even though, if most of the people are gone, the stores may already be closed.”

“We can’t go without food.” Tara looks at her lover, frowning. “We’ll have to help ourselves, try and keep a list of what we take and have the Council send the stores the money.”

“The fresh stuff will probably go bad anyway. Won’t they just write it off as a loss on their insurance?” Dawn questions as she thinks about it.

“Probably.” Tara shrugs before smiling softly. “They ought to just give it to us anyway, after all the times the world has been saved because of slayer’s.”

“Yeah, what’s a thousand dollars worth of food compared to world saveage.” Faith grins down at her lover. “You two want to go with?” Faith questions looking from Dawn to Rhona.

“Anything to get away from here for a little while.” Dawn nods her head.

“I’m in.” Rhona stands up quickly. “Should we run by Buffy’s to see if she needs anything while we’re out?”

“Probably wouldn’t hurt.” Tara nods her head as she swings her body around to stand, quickly followed by Dawn and Faith. “When I get back I’ll get with Willow to finish the protection spells, if you don’t mind?” Tara questions looking towards Faith.

“Not at all.” Faith grins at her lover. Watching as Rhona and Dawn head out of the apartment, Faith leans in to quietly question Tara. “Red and Freddy are sharing an apartment, aren’t they?”

Tara chuckles and nods her head. “Yes, but I think it may be two separate bedrooms.”

“Don’t count on it. I caught them kissing the other day.” Faith wiggles her eyebrows at her lover before striding out of the apartment, with a curious witch following quickly behind.

“You can’t say something like that then walk away!!” Tara grumpily calls out.

“Just did.” Faith smirks back over her shoulder. “They didn’t see me, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.”

“Damn, and no one told me!” Tara bitches quietly, before shaking her head. “I’ll have to do some digging when I’m with Willow later.”

“Good.” Faith smirks. “Come on, let’s go, babe.”

“I’m coming.” Tara laughs quietly before smacking her lover on the ass firmly. “Have I told you that you have an absolutely fabulous ass? Sometimes I have the urge just to eat it up.”

“Hmmmm. I like the sounds of that.” Faith growls turning around to pick Tara up and spin her around. “We haven’t gotten much free time lately to get down and dirty. Think there might be a possibility?” Faith questions hopefully.

“It might be arranged.” Tara laughs before kissing Faith firmly.

“Come on you two, we need to go shopping for food!” Dawn whines from beside the car.

“Stop your bitchin’ runt.” Faith growls out. “I was trying to make a date with my witch.”

Rhona rolls her eyes. “You two live together, why are you trying to make a date?”

“Now, that ain’t none of your business, now is it?” Faith growls at the potential, before laughing. “Let’s get goin’.”

****************

“Damn, it even looks like the demons have left town.” Buffy gripes as the group of potentials, being lead by Buffy and Faith patrol Sunnydale.

“Yes, well. The First Evil isn’t something even the demons want to mess with.” Giles mutters quietly, having gotten in from England a few days before. “Especially after they found out what happened.”

“Thank God you weren’t there, G-man.” Faith turns to glance at the Watcher.

“Yes, quite.” Giles smiles briefly at the slayer. “Who would have thought The First would blow up the Watcher’s Council? I’m glad you two thought to place protection spells around the apartment building and Buffy’s house.” Giles looks back smiling at Tara and Willow.

“And Kennedy actually came up with a good idea to set up cameras on the perimeter to over-lap, tied into the cable TV so we can keep track of what‘s going on outside.” Buffy speaks up, still surprised at Kennedy’s ingenuity.

“Yeah. Brat actually came up with a good idea.” Faith glances towards the potential. Slowly the slayer was coming to like the young woman, but still liked to irritate her as much as possible.

“Don’t forget Fred was the one that figured out how to run the wiring and get everything so it would work.” Willow pipes up, smiling at the blushing Fred.

“It wasn’t that hard.” Fred downplays her part, before looking back up and smiling softly at Willow.

“Yeah, well I doubt any of us could have done it.” Giles admits looking at the rest of the group. “When was Angel and the rest going to get here?”

“Sometime tonight.” Buffy shrugs her shoulders. “It isn’t like they can travel in the daytime.”

“Yeah, the Poof would become dust buster feed.” Spike snarks. “Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you.”

“Spike, please!” Buffy groans. “He’s coming to help, can you at least try and get along?”

“For you, pet, I’ll try.” Spike smiles at Buffy.

“Thank you.” Buffy let’s out a relieved breath of air. “Now what the hell are they up to?” Buffy questions quietly raising her hand to bring the group to a stop.

“I’ll check it out.” Faith growls, starting to quietly slip away. Planning on following the group of Bringers.

“Not without me.” Tara slides up behind her lover, narrowing her gaze on Faith when she sees her lover is about to argue with her.

“Fine, but be quiet.” Faith shakes her head.

“Can do.” Tara whispers before placing a small silence spell around herself and Faith, to keep the noise down to a minimum.

Buffy clenches her jaw watching the two women slip away. “Spike take up the rear, Willow move to the middle of the group, everyone make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any danger, and be prepared!” She hisses out quietly as she twirls the stake in her hand.

*********************

Faith silently sneaks to the outside of the building, quickly poking her head around the doorway to get a lay of the land. Looking back at Tara, she frowns at her lover. Leaning in till her lips are against Tara’s ears, she whispers. “Since I know you won’t stay out here, stay close, but be prepared to run the hell out of there if it gets bad.”

“I’m not running and leaving you.” Tara whispers back softly, looking seriously into her lover’s eyes.

Faith clenches her jaws tightly staring into her lover’s ungiving stare. “You can’t protect me all the time.”

“This isn’t the time for this discussion.” Tara mutters. “Go, I’m following.”

“I’m coming with.” Buffy whispers as she sneaks up to the two women.

“Why don’t we bring the whole fuckin’ group?” Faith growls, rolling her eyes. “Let’s go.”

The three women slowly work their way in the building, keeping an eye open for any trouble. When Faith comes to a sudden halt, Buffy and Tara look around the slayer watching as a couple bringers walk down a staircase. Faith looks back with a question in her eye at Buffy. At Buffy’s quick nod, Faith eases silently towards the staircase. Pulling a knife out, she kneels beside the hatch and peeks quickly over the side. Not seeing anybody in the area visible, she nods her head towards Buffy who gingerly slips down the stairs, followed quickly by Tara. Faith glances around the room one more time before following the other two women.

***********

Angel, Gunn and Wesley drive slowly around the ghost town of Sunnydale when Angel smirks and points at one of the cemeteries. “There they are. Park it here, we’ll walk.”

As the three men quietly walk up to the group, Spike smirks at his grandsire. “About bloody time.”

“Shut up, Spike.” Angel growls at the other vampire. “What are you doing? Playing come and get me, I’m standing here waiting for you?”

“Nah. The two slayers and Glinda decided to follow a group of Bringers to see what they were up to.” Spike admits quietly. “We’re baby-sitting this group of potentials, making sure nothing tries to make dinner of them.”

Angel nods his head as he looks around the group, smiling at Fred and Willow. “Well, just to let you guys know, this here is Gunn and Wesley.”

Gunn nods his head towards the group of mostly young women, his eyes looking questioningly as one of the girls narrows her gaze on him. Shaking it off he smiles. “Nothing like a midnight stroll in a cemetery, huh ladies?”

Wes smirks at Gunn before walking up to clasp Rupert’s hand. “Glad to see you made it here in one piece. Got anymore ideas of what to do?”

“Not really.” Giles rubs his forehead. “But if those three women don’t get back here in a few minutes, I’m going to take the lot of these girls and go after them.”

“How long have they been gone?” Angel questions quietly.

“About half an hour.” Spike answers. “I say they get fifteen more minutes then we head in.”

“Give them a chance.” Willow speaks up softly. “We’re talking about two slayers and a very powerful witch. They should be okay.”

“Yeah, and remember when Buffy fought for her life with that damn Uber Vamp came a calling?” Spike snarls out. “It almost killed her before she was finally able to take it out. The Bringers ain’t so much, but there’s a lot of them, with just those three women against ‘em, I don’t like the odds much.”

“Wes, Gunn?” Angel looks at the two men. “Be prepared. Spike, let’s see what we can find out.”

Spike raises an eyebrow in surprise at the Poof, before smirking. “Let’s go.”

Willow raises an eyebrow as the two vampires silently leave. Looking over at Giles she whispers. “We going to trust those two not to kill each other?”

“Well, I don’t see that we have much of a choice.” Giles admits. “Hopefully them caring about the three women will override their natural animosity towards each other.”

“They’ll be okay.” Fred pipes up. “Angel’ll do anything to protect Tara and Faith. Especially Tara.”

“Really?” Giles questions looking towards Fred.

“Yeah. He kinda considers her family.” Fred chuckles for a few moments. “Plus she’s the only one that has balls enough to get in his face when he does something to piss her off. I think he respects that.”

“I’ll be damned.” Giles mutters under his breath looking out towards the building in the distance, seeing a glint of white disappear inside.

“It doesn’t hurt that her lover’s Faith, either.” Gunn smirks. “I was lucky that I didn’t piss Faith off too much.”

“You’re the one that hit on Tara, right?” Kennedy questions eyeing the tall, muscular black man. “Tara made a comment about you a while back.”

“Yep, that’s me. The stupid black man that hit on Tara. She was trying to let me down softly and I thought she didn’t want to date me because I was black.” Gunn rolls his eyes.

“Tara isn’t like that.” Willow speaks up softly. “Skin color doesn’t make a hill of beans difference to her.”

“No, found that out. It was the fact that I was male, not black that did me in.” Gunn shakes his head. “Almost worth having a sex change for that one. If it wasn‘t for the fact those two belong together, I might even consider it, if I had a fighting chance.” Gunn chuckles.

Willow chuckles quietly. “I don’t think you have a chance, Gunn. So I’d suggest you not even think about it.” Willow unconsciously reaches out and grasps Fred’s hand, lacing their fingers together as she talks with Gunn. “She’s a wonderful woman, but her heart belongs totally to Faith. No question about that.”

“No, there’s not.” Fred agrees quietly, smiling at Willow. “But sometimes things work out differently for a reason.”

Willow’s eyes light up, as she smiles softly at the woman. “Sometimes for the best reasons.”

***********************