The Gift, Take Two

Title: The Gift, Take Two - Chapter 5: Dreams and Visitations
Email: Dafmeister@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The Buffyverse is owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox and a bunch of other people who aren't me. No infringement of copyright is intended blah blah blah...
Distribution: Faithfanfiction.net, Mystic Muse, Shades Of Grey, Slayer's Fanfic Archive, A Sorta Fairytale, Oralfxatn, anyone else who tells me first.
Rating: Overall R to NC-17
Timing: End of Season 5
Feedback: Yes please, it really helps keep my morale up when my muse is being difficult.
Spoilers: Everything up to the end of Season 5
Summary: Having sustained serious injuries in the battle with Glory, Faith lies in critical condition, and an old friend has finally responded to Buffy's call.
Author's notes: Huge thanks to Kaz, beta extraordinaire, and to Leila, my friend and sounding board. Also to Gabrielle and Alice, who helped me out of the legal minefield I wrote myself into.

*****

"Angel?"

A moment later she was running into his arms. The vampire just had time to brace himself before impact. Buffy hugged him ferociously before stepping back a pace. "Where were you? I kept calling, and I just got the machine..." In spite of the circumstances, Buffy couldn't help smiling at the sight of her ex.

"I know, I'm sorry. We were... uh... out of town, on a case. "Angel wasn't going to try explaining about Pylea in public. "We got back a few hours ago, and Cordy found your messages." In spite of her smile, he could see that Buffy had been through the wringer recently. "How are you doing?"

Buffy let out a little laugh. "I wish I knew..." She took Angel's hand. "Come on, I'll take you to see Faith."

Giles rose from his chair as Angel came in. Their greeting was civil but a little awkward; the matter of Jenny Calendar's death and Giles' torture still hung between them, in spite of their best efforts. Both were quick to return their focus to Faith.

Angel had known from Buffy's phone calls that Faith was in bad shape, but seeing her was still a shock. In the near-silence of the ICU, he could hear her heart beating steadily, but he knew that was only part of the picture. The last time Faith had been in this situation, she had stayed unconscious for eight months. There was no telling how long it would be this time. "Has there been any change?"

Giles shook his head. "The doctor came by to check on her while you were away, Buffy. He told me that Faith's vital signs are stable, she's just unconscious. If her condition hasn't deteriorated by morning, they're going to move her to a regular room. There's nothing more they can do, we just have to wait."

"Buffy, what the hell's been happening here?" Angel asked, keeping his voice low to avoid the possibility of the nurses overhearing.

Buffy was silent for a moment before replying. "Really long story."

Giles rose from his chair, saying "I'll leave the two of you alone..." but Buffy interrupted him.

"Actually, I'd kinda like to get some air." She turned to Angel. "Feel up to a patrol?"

Angel scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Giles. "My cell phone number. Call me if anything happens?"

* * * * *

Willow lay gasping for breath, her eyes glittering and unfocussed, as Tara moved to snuggle in beside her. They had gone to Willow's house after Buffy and Giles had relieved them at the hospital at sunset - their dorm room was missing a wall after Glory's visit. The only thing on their minds had been rest, to recover from the physical and emotional strain of the previous few days, but once the two witches had settled into bed they had found they couldn't keep their hands off each other, in spite of one of Tara's being in a cast. If Willow had been thinking clearly, her psychology studies would have told her that sex was a normal life-affirming response to a dangerous and traumatic situation, but Tara's efforts had virtually reduced her mind to the "fire bad, tree pretty" level.

Tara placed a soft kiss on her girlfriend's cheek and couldn't help but giggle at her glazed expression - the combination of codeine for her broken hand and the endorphins flooding her bloodstream after hours of sex had left Tara feeling slightly intoxicated.

Willow turned to her, a slightly indignant expression on her face. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, I-I'm sorry sweetie, it's just... you looked so spaced out!" Tara replied before giggling again.

Willow managed to pout for a whole two seconds before laughing herself. "Well you know who's fault that was, don't you?" she said, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend. She leaned over and kissed Tara gently, then lifted her head again, her expression suddenly serious. "I love you, Tara. I can't remember the last time I said that..."

Tara silenced her with a swift kiss and said "I love you too, Willow. And you don't need to say it. You saved me, you brought me back." She wiped away the tear trembling at the corner of Willow's eye. "That doesn't mean it's not nice to hear," she finished with a smile.

Willow smiled softly and laid her head on the pillow again. "We should probably get some sleep now."

Tara's only response was a sleepy "Mmhmm..."

* * * * *

"This feels weird."

Angel turned his head to Buffy and looked at her carefully. "What does?"

"Patrolling. With you." Buffy stopped and leaned against a gravestone. "I thought it would be like back in high school, but it's not."

"It's been two years, Buffy. We're not the same people we were then."

Buffy laughed bitterly. "You got that right..."

Angel perched himself on the next gravestone along. "Why didn't you tell me what was happening? Didn't you think I'd help you?"

Buffy was slightly taken aback by not completely disguised look of hurt on Angel's face. "I know you would, but we promised to keep our distance, remember? Besides, it didn't seem necessary. I mean, I knew Glory was dangerous, but we seemed to be dealing. Even when Faith showed up, I though we could handle it. Then it all just blew up... God, it's been less than three days since Tara was attacked! It was all so sudden..."

"I wish I could have been here for you."

"Sounds to me like you've had some stuff of your own going on." Buffy looked over at him. "They really made Cordy queen? She must've loved that."

Angel laughed quietly. "You have no idea. Except the part where they were going to kill her, of course."

Buffy looked at her watch. "It'll be dawn soon. We should get back to the hospital. You got anywhere to stay?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead. I could always go to the mansion..."

"If you want, you could stay at my place. There's a bed set up in the basement, Faith was sleeping there. It's not much, but it's pretty much sun proof."

Angel smiled gently. "Sounds great. It'll be good to see Dawn again..." He trailed off, remembering. "I've never met her, have I?"

Buffy shook her head ruefully. "Takes a bit of getting used to."

* * * * *

The branches rustled gently in the warm summer breeze. Faith stood silent, her eyes closed, soaking up the warmth and the mingled scents of the woodland.

"I think one of us is supposed to be in there."

Faith turned at the sound of the voice, her eyes snapping open. Buffy was standing a few yards away, gazing down into an open grave. Her outfit chilled Faith's blood: black leather jacket, black t-shirt, red leather pants - the same clothes she had worn the night they fought at Faith's apartment. Looking down at herself, Faith realised she was wearing her clothes from that night too. The scar on her stomach began to throb slightly.

"We in my head or yours?" Faith asked, trying to control her fear as she walked over to stand beside her.

"Isn't that my line?" Buffy smiled weakly for a moment, then her face became solemn again. "This is here for a reason."

"You think? So we don't even rate a headstone..." Faith snorted in disgust. "How come these scenes always star you and an open grave? You think the PTB're trying to tell me something?"

"I don't think it's here for you, Faith." Buffy said sadly. "I think I've out-stayed my welcome. I'm not supposed to be here any more. You were right, Sunnydale is supposed to be your town." She took a step toward the edge of the grave, and Faith grabbed her arm.

"Don't even think it, B! I didn't do all this just to let you go now!"

"Please stop calling me that..." Buffy tried to step forward again, but Faith pulled her back. "Faith, this is how it's supposed to be. You're the Chosen One now..."

"I DON'T WANT TO BE THE CHOSEN ONE!" Faith screamed, spinning Buffy around to face her. "I'm not like you, I can't do it alone..." Buffy wrenched her arms free of Faith's grip and pushed the younger girl away. Faith stumbled and fell to the ground.

"The Slayer is always alone, Faith. That's how it's always been, ever since-"

"Fuck that! Who cares how it's always been?" Faith scrambled to her feet, her eyes widening in shock. In the brief moment she'd lost sight of Buffy as she fell, Buffy's outfit had changed; instead of the clothes from their pre-graduation battle, she was wearing a long, almost funereal black dress. Behind her, Faith could see that a headstone had appeared at the other end of the grave.

Buffy Anne Summers
1981-2001
Beloved Sister, Devoted Friend
She Saved The World A Lot

"We can't fight our nature, Faith. Take care of the world, okay?" Buffy stepped backward over the edge of the grave. Faith darted forward and grabbed her wrist, but couldn't keep her balance against their combined momentum and they both tumbled in...

Buffy snapped awake, her eyes darting around as she tried to get her bearings. Realising she was in her bedroom, she sat up slowly, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. She looked over at the clock: 12:42 pm. She'd been asleep for barely four hours. She'd been looking forward to getting Angel settled and being in bed soon after sunrise. In retrospect, she should have foreseen the complication...

Spike. In her house. Alone with her sister. Angel hadn't been pleased by that revelation, and Spike wasn't happy about the object of his affections having her ex as a house guest. There had been a lot of glowering and muttered threats before she finally got Spike out of the door and Angel into the basement. The confrontation had woken Dawn from a night of fitful sleep, and she hadn't felt like going back to bed, so the sisters had shared an early breakfast before Buffy headed upstairs. Once in her bed, however, Buffy had been unable to settle, tossing and turning for hours until exhaustion overcame her.

As her heart-rate returned to normal, Buffy slipped out of bed and headed for the shower. She tried to put the images from her dream out of her mind as she washed off the sheen of sweat it had caused. The sweat washed away easily; the residual disquiet was more persistent.

Buffy's sense on unease only grew as she went downstairs. There was no sign of Dawn. Her bedroom door had been wide open, showing a clearly empty room, but she wasn't in the living room or kitchen. Buffy was about to start calling Dawn's name when the slightly ajar basement door caught her eye. She found Dawn sitting on the camp bed with Angel, talking quietly. Dawn was smiling for the first time in days, and started giggling as she saw Buffy.

"You two getting acquainted?" Buffy asked, wondering what had her sister so amused.

Dawn's giggles burst into full-fledged laughter as she said, "Angel sang Barry Manilow!"

"Can we please stop dwelling on that?" Angel pleaded, without much hope - he'd been trying unsuccessfully to get Dawn off the topic for nearly an hour.

Buffy did her best, but within seconds she was laughing harder than she had when she heard about Harmony and her "minions". As much as he wanted to feel put upon, Angel was glad to hear the two Summers girls laughing; he had a feeling that there hadn't been much laughter in the house recently.

Eventually, lack of air forced an end to Buffy's laughter, but she still couldn't look at the vampire with a straight face. "I'm sorry, Angel, but I really needed that."

"Well, as long as my public humiliation was in a good cause..." Angel said, smiling fondly. Buffy was about to ask for details when they all heard the phone start to ring. Buffy ran up the stairs and into the kitchen, snatching the phone from its cradle on the wall.

"Hello?"

"Buffy, it's Tara. She's awake!"