Together We Stand Divided We Fall

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Chapter 5
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That night Faith slept in Dawn’s room on the floor next to her bed. She woke up with a pain in her chest and the vision of Buffy. She could feel that the blonde slayer was in trouble. She jumped up and ran to the door. The dark slayer ran to Tara’s room. “Tara, where’s Buffy?” she jumped on the bed. “I can feel that some thing is wrong. I need to get to her. So wake up and help me.” She pulled the covers off the blonde.

“She’s in the west cemetery. She said that she was only going to do a small patrol,” the Wicca said as she stretched.

“How long ago was that?”

“About three hours ago, but she said she would call. But she never did…oh goddess that’s the same cemetery!” Tara jumped out of the bed and ran to her closet.

“Okay call Xander, get dressed, and get the other witches!” Faith paced the room and raising her voice.

“Faith, you’re going to wake the whole house. We need to not get every one all worked up. This is not the way to work things. We need to stay calm, and you have to think about everyone.” Tara leaned against the closet door. “Now, what did you want me to do first?” She gave Faith a lopped-sided smile.

“Tara, I know I have to get a grip, but I can feel her pain, she’s in wicked troubled! Now we need to get to her, and then I will worry about everyone else. Get dressed first, that would help me in the long run,” she smirked.

“What do you mean feel her pain? She’s hurt?” Tara ripped off her nightshirt.

“Oh shit! Maybe we should call Angel. Oh for fuck sake, will you put something on NOW!” Faith moved to the door and opened it. “I’m going to go get the others. You get dressed and we’ll go get Buffy back alive.” She walked out into the hall and closed the door. “I hope,” Faith whispered to herself.

Faith walked to Willow’s door and opened it without knocking. “Willow you need to get up. Buffy is in trouble!” She covered her eyes in case the two girls were not sleeping.

“What do you mean? How do you know?” Willow was out of bed and on her feet before Faith could finish.

“Willow, we need to move now. We may not have time to help in the cemetery but we’ll help get her back.” The dark slayer dropped her head and began to cry.

“I know this is real, mostly because you called me Willow not Red. You have to know that we’ll win this!” Willow walked over to the slayer. “But you’re a slayer too, and now more then ever you have to stand strong and start acting like you’re the only one.” The redhead walked out of the door. “I need to talk to Tara. Maybe we should get Angel here; we could use him. Are we thinking that Buffy has found the guy that cut her last month?” She turns to Faith with total fear in her eyes from the sound of her words.

Faith stood looking into the green eyes and felt the pain and saw the fear. “Red, we’ll get her back! I promise I’m not going to let you down again. Now get your girl ready for action and get Dawn up and ready. I have Tara calling Angel and Xander. I know I have you doing a lot but if you could also call Giles? I’m putting you in charge of the meeting. I’ll meet you at the Magic Box.” She ran out of the room to the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Willow called to her.

“To the cemetery!” Faith called as she ran down the stairs.

“Take my cell, it’s by the door. Magic Box is speed dial 2!” she called before Faith ran out if the house, and then turned to the phone in the hall to call Giles as ordered.

Willow opened the door before her. “Tara…we need to get ready. Baby, are you okay? Faith left for the cemetery and we need to meet at the Magic Box. Tara we need to go now…you need to move.” Willow moved to her.

Tara turned to her giving the look to shut up. “Yes, if you think that Spike is up to a fight then by all means call him. Does he have the phone you left with him?” The blonde sat on the bed and put on her shoes. “Xander, call him. Faith is on her way. Spike is the closest.” She handed the phone to Willow.

“Xander, we need to meet at the Magic Box like now,” Willow said to the man on the other end of the line.

“Wills, can you tap into Faith’s mind and tell her that Spike is on the way?” Xander asked.

“Oh, she took my phone, so I’ll call her,” the redhead told him.

“Get off the phone and call her. Then get the girls to the shop. Anya is on her way down there. Call Angel, we need all the help we can get. I’ll call Giles.” Then he hung up the phone without another word.

“Xander is going to call Spike. I’ll call Faith, you call Angel. He’s right, we need help I can feel her. Shit...get the others, she’s hurt!” Willow ran out of Tara's room into her own. She grabbed Amie’s phone and dialed the number of her own cell. “Faith, listen, Xander is going to call Spike. Head to his crypt and get him ready. I can feel her and she’s hurt. We need to hurry!” Willow told the dark slayer as she got Amie up and ready.

Faith stopped in her tracks looking around for the vampire’s crypt. “I know she’s hurt and I’m close to her and Spike. I’m on my way to Spike’s. Get Angel out here, Buffy is close to the crypt. Okay I have to go…let’s get her back!” Faith ran at full slayer speed to Spike’s crypt. She threw the door opened. “Spike, get up Buffy is in trouble!” she yelled.

“I know slayer, let’s move we don’t have time for the song and dance. Xander called me and I was just on my way out.” He stood in front of the dark slayer with a gun in his hand.

Faith stepped closer to the vampire. “You know you use that and your head will kill you.”

“Yes I know, but it won’t you. I mean you could…” Spike handed her the gun.

“I know what you mean and if I have to kill this son-of-bitch it won’t be with this!” Faith took the gun and threw it across the room. She knew that the gun could only bring more trouble. She also knew Spike wasn’t going to understand as long as Buffy was the main target. “Okay, we’ve wasted enough time. Buffy is waiting!” Faith turned and ran out of the crypt.

****

The cemetery was dark and cold. Buffy felt true fear for the first time in her life. She was more scared then the time facing The Master or even Glory. Her thoughts moved around her mind and she found Tara there with Dawn. She even thought of Spike. “Oh gods, this can’t be it. I can’t go out like this. I’m a vampire slayer. That means vampires kill me not humans,” Buffy cried into her hands.

Faith and Spike ran to the place the dark slayer could sense her. “Can you feel her, Spike?” Faith cried to the vampire.

Spike slowed down a little, looking around. “Yes over here…Faith, she’s here…someone is coming toward her.” Spike pointed to the trees. “Looks like he brought company!” the vampire called as he ran to Buffy’s side.

“No wait…it’s Willow and everyone.” Faith jumped in front of Buffy and Spike. “Do what you can to help her, I’ll do the ass kicking. Don’t think you should right now,” Faith told the vampire.

“Cordy, get to Buffy and see if she needs help!” Angel yelled his command.

“Willow, put up a barrier so he can’t get in,” Amie yelled as she moved around to the back of the slayer vampire pair.

“Dawn, get over by Buffy. Help Spike and Cordy,” Willow called as she and Xander split up. Xander moved in beside Angel and Willow trading places with Tara to begin the spell.

Buffy put her head into Cordy’s lap and closed her eyes. She was in pain but the thought of her family here to help made her rest easily.

Dawn moved beside Faith. “Can she be moved?” Dawn called over her shoulder.

“Yes, but if we’re going to move her then we need to now!” Spike called to everyone.

“Okay then, you three get her and let’s get back to the college dorm room before this prick comes back,” Dawn yelled. “I don’t mean take your time, I mean now people!” She slipped her hand into the dark slayer’s hand. “When we get back we have a lot to talk about.” Dawn looked into Faith’s dark brown eyes and smiled.

“You guys ready?” Faith called to the witches.

“Yes, when I say now, then run!” Willow’s voice was heard in everyone’s head.

“Okay, that was creepy. Ready, baby?” Faith held on to Dawn’s hand tightly.

“Yep…kissing…kissing is all I have ever done, nothing else.” Dawn smiled and got ready to run. She knew that no matter what, Faith would never let her go and at that point Faith became her everything!

The voice rang in everyone’s heads as Willow called with her mind. “RUN…RUN NOW!” Then she grabbed Tara’s hand and ran to the jeeps waiting on the other side of the cemetery. They all climbed into the cars and raced off to the Magic Box.

The gang all walked into the shop Spike carried Buffy into the training room where Giles could get a really good look at her.

Willow and Amie sat at the table talking about the spell. “I knew you are into magic, but I didn’t know you were into dark magic,” Amie told her lover. “I know that you don’t like the fact that I use magic, but Willow what can I do I was born with this gift.” She slumped down in her chair.

“Amie it has nothing to do with you using magic, it's that you lied to me.” Willow put her hand over the other girl’s hand. “We don’t keep secrets in the Scoobies. It could be deadly. Baby, we need to have an open relationship and I don’t mean being with other people or spending time apart…”

Faith cut Willow off. “Red you’re babbling, and it’s killing me!” Faith turned and walked over to Dawn who was sitting on the stairs. “That was fast thinking. The dorm room, good choice.” Faith put her hand on the girl’s leg.

Dawn looked down at the hand and shivered. “I hope he thought I was telling the truth. But what if he hurts someone looking for us?” She moved a little closer to the slayer.

“I don’t think he’ll go there, too many people!” Faith patted her leg. “Let’s go see about your sister.”

In the training room, Giles had Buffy on the table looking her over. “I don’t see any cuts but I think your arm is broken.”

“Gee, that would explain the pain,” Buffy said in a small, pain filled voice.

“Buffy, what happened?” Giles pulled his slayer into a loose embrace. He didn’t want to cause any more pain.

Buffy took Faith’s hand and told her. “Faith if I didn’t make it today then you would be the only slayer. You have proven to me that I can trust you with my world, my Hellmouth, and my family. You have proven to me tonight that I can trust you with my sister!” She then released Faith’s hand and took Tara’s. “I was in the cemetery doing my patrol when I saw someone walking in between the headstones. I followed him until he turned around. I saw he was the same man that attacked us. We fought and he broke my arm then he shot me in the leg with this.” She pulled a dart out of her pocket. “He said as I was passing out that I was a dirty girl and I needed to be cleansed.” Buffy held her lover’s hand tighter and looked at Giles. “I looked into his eyes and there was nothing. All I saw was evil.” Buffy then closed her eyes and passed out.

Faith took Dawn’ hand. “Okay, do you want to stay here or go home?” she asked the teen.

“Wait, what do you mean? Faith you have that look…where are you going?” Dawn pulled Faith closer to her.

“What look?” Faith asked as she moved closer to the girl that was slowly stealing her heart.

Dawn moved even closer to Faith and placed her arm around her waist. “I want to kick some evil ass! Look, all ready to go,” the tiny girl said, waving her fists in the air.

The dark slayer put her arm around Dawn. “I was thinking that Angel and I should go looking for this son-of-a bitch and show him the way out of town.” She put her plan to the gang.

“Faith I don’t want you to go out there right now. We don’t know anything about him…and another thing…why is Angel and Cordy here and not in L.A.?” Dawn was now pacing the training room.

“Dawn, if we don’t go back after him then we may never know anything. Hell, he could be skipping town right now!” Faith stopped Dawn from pacing and held her close.

Dawn pulled her closer and wrapped her arms tight around Faith and spoke into her chest. “Why do you always want to go head first into the hornets nest? Why can’t you just wait and see what happens?” Dawn was now begging Faith to stay.

“She can’t just sit and wait. This needs to happen now, but Dawn is right, you can’t go out half cocked, Faith.” Buffy was now sitting up with Tara’s help. “You have to wait until we have a plan of attack.” She held the younger slayer’s eyes.

“A plan of attack…B, we don’t know where to attack, let alone plan the damn thing.” Faith turned away from the teen and the stare of her sister slayer. “What are we going to plan…go looking for him after he kills one of us? Or are we going to look now?” she asked the room as she wiped her eyes and hid a yawn.

Dawn took the dark slayer’s hand and pulled her close. “You’re so tired, baby…maybe you should rest and then we can get into this…I promise to get in it full force if you rest.”

“Faith, Dawn is right we should wait until Buffy is on her feet and ready to fight. Look, Angel and Spike are the only other two that could help here and it’s almost day break.” Everyone looked to the door were Amie stood and gave a voice of reason.

Faith turned fully to her. “You sure know a lot for not having any knowledge of this stuff.”

“Well, you know, you don’t get into MIT because of your looks. It does help to have brains,” Amie sarcastically replied.

“Smart, cute, and sarcastic, Willow has a keeper there!” Faith gave the new witch a wink and turned to Dawn. “Okay, I’ll rest but you and I have to finish talking first, k?” She took Dawn’s hand and walked out of the training room.

***

Back at the Summer’s house also known as the Summer’s Sorority house. Xander had named the house Slayer Delta Pie.

Faith and Dawn were in the slayer’s room when everyone came home. They had gone home and had every intention to talk but Faith fell asleep.

“Dawnie,” Tara called up the stairs there wasn’t an answer. She helped Willow get Buffy settled on the couch and went to the kitchen. Opening the basement door, she quietly walked down the stairs. “Dawn, are you two down here?” she asked.

When she did not receive an answer, she walked fully into Faith’s room. The room was filled with the smell of sweat and Tara knew the two girls have taken their relationship to a higher level. She walked closer to the bed where she found Dawn and Faith asleep in Faith’s bed. She felt a pain come into her chest. She quietly laid a soft hand on Faith’s arm. She didn’t want to startle the girl. Living with a Slayer for almost three years, she had learned very quickly not to scare them.

Faith opened her eyes to see Tara looking down at her.

“Tara, what’s wrong?” She looked closer and saw tears filling the shy blonde’s eyes.

“Okay, I’m up…what happened…is Buffy okay?” Faith was up on her feet before she could finish her question. She pulled the covers to the bed so hard that Dawn flew out of the bed and hit the floor with a loud thud.

“I just came to tell you that we are home.” Tara bent down to help Dawn off the floor. “Are you okay Dawnie?” she asked as she took the teen full into her arms. The blonde was now fighting the urge to cry holding the young girl close.

“Tara what is wrong?” Dawn asked her sister and sergeant mother.

Tara pulled away from her little girl and moved her way to the stairs. “Nothing I’m f…fine. I have to go ch…check on Buffy,” she stuttered and then ran up to the kitchen where she sat and cried.

“Faith, something is wrong with her. I need to go find out what happened,” Dawn said as she looked for her shirt.

“Hey baby, let me go talk to her. I think it’s a 'me' thing and not a 'you' thing. Or even an 'us' thing.” The older girl walked to the stairs and turned to Dawn. “So what if it is an 'us' thing…I mean is there an 'us'?” Faith felt a twinge of fear as she asked the teen.

Dawn shook her head in disbelief. She couldn’t trust her ears. Was Faith really asking her this? “Faith, I really like you and yes this is new to me…oh hell of course this is an 'us' thing! I can’t be in a relationship alone. Well, unless I was Sybil.” She walked over to the older girl and placed a loving hand on her shoulder. “Faith say something…did I scare you?” Dawn was not one to hold back or walk on eggshells. She said what she felt and saw and right now Faith was looking quite scared.

“No, you didn’t scare me but I am surprised that you like me.” She leaned in and kissed Dawn on the cheek. “Who’s Sybil?” she asked as she pulled away from Dawn.

“I’ll tell you later, go find out what’s wrong with Tara.” Dawn walked back to the bed shaking her head.

Faith walked up to the kitchen to find Tara sitting in the dark. With her slayer sight, she could see that the blonde was crying. “Tara, why are you crying? Okay, stupid question.” Faith looked at the floor and decided to jump in headfirst. “Are you mad cuz Dawn and I were sleeping together?”

“Yes and no…hell I don’t know. Faith, this week has been so hard I think I see myself leaving as I was coming,” Tara said to the slayer trying to side step the real reason for her tears.

Faith walked slowly over to the blonde witch and sat down across from her. She looked at the girl sincerely. “Tara, what are you talking about?”

“Faith it’s a saying. It means…actually I’ll explain it later, okay?” Tara dropped her head and began to cry again.

Faith looked around to see if anyone had been listening. “Tara, you knew she was going to grow up and fall in love so why are you taking it so hard? Is it me…are you upset that she fell in love with me?” she asked, hoping the blonde would say anything other than yes.

Tara sat looking at Faith with tears rolling down her face and shaking her head. “Faith, I’m glad Dawn is in love and I’m happy she’s in love with you! It’s everything...Buffy getting hurt, Willow having problems with Amie, and now my daughter is in love with my girlfriend's best friend. I just reached my breaking point.” She reached over and held Faith’s hand. “If Dawn has to fall in love and with a girl I’m truly happy she fell in love with you. But now that we are on the subject, I need to know. Are you in love with her? And if you are, Buffy needs to know!”

Faith pulled away from the witch, a haunted look crossing her face. “I don’t know…B will kill me if she found out that I loved her baby sis…I think I am in love with her…” Faith pushed up from the island and walked to the back door. “Tara, I can’t deal with this right now. I have to…” Then she turned and ran out of the house.

Dawn sat at the top of the stairs listening to their conversation. She couldn’t believe that Faith could feel so strongly to think she was in love with anyone, let alone her.

“Tara, I’m sorry if I make you sad but loving Faith isn’t something you should be sad about. I mean she has proven herself in more then one way on many occasions!” Dawn tried hard to make the blonde witch understand.

“Dawnie. Sweetie. You don’t have to convince me. It’s like I looked away for a moment and you grew up. You have become this beautiful young lady and what makes me sad is that I missed it. I think we all did. I didn’t get the chance to teach you things like my mother did, but I guess that isn’t my place is it? It’s Buffy’s and I’m not your mother. I don’t know where I fit and that was proven yesterday at the Magic Box,” Tara told the teen.

Dawn looked at the island, listening to her. “Tara, where did you get this idea that you don’t fit in with us? You do belong here. Look, what I know about love is what I learned from you. Do you really think I learned anything from Buffy? I mean look at her record. She had managed to chase off not one but two men and almost killed the third. So I don’t think I could learn anything from her…well, unless I was trying to rid Sunnydale of all single men. Tara, you have been the most important part of my life. You were there when no one wanted me around and you took care of me when no one else could. You were there when Buffy was busy when Mom got sick; you took care of me when Mom died. You made sure I was well taken care of when Willow was trying to find a way to bring Buffy back and you’re here now! I may have grown up but I turned out to be a good person because of you!” Dawn pushed up and walked to Tara, taking her into a tight embrace. “You see, your place is here with us!” she said as she pulled away from the blonde.

“Dawnie…I love you!” Tara wiped her eyes and then pointed to the back door. “I think I’m going to call Angel to find Faith. You should go on to bed.” She turned to the phone.

“Don’t bother Angel. If I know Faith, she didn’t go that far.” Dawn walked over to the back door and opened it. “You see! Faith is out by the tree smoking. She promised Buffy she wouldn’t leave, so there she is!” As Dawn stepped out on the back deck she saw a shadow and before she could call a man jumped Faith.

“Tara, call Angel! He's here and he has Faith!” Dawn turned and yelled at Tara.

Willow ran into the kitchen with Buffy slowly coming behind her. “What’s going on? Who has Faith?” Willow called to the two women.

“The guy that attacked Buffy!” Dawn answered. She ran to her sister. “Please Buffy! Help her…please for me!” the young girl begged her sister.

Buffy locked eyes with her sister and saw the love the teen had for the other slayer. “Willow, call Angel and Cordy. We’re going to need both of them. Tara, call Xander and Anya, have them call Giles!” After giving her demands, Buffy turned to the door. She walked into the living room to her weapons cabinet. She wasn't only prepared to fight the guy; she planned on killing him.

They all waited in the living room for the others. Giles, Xander, and Anya arrived first, fully armed; now they were waiting for Angel and Cordy.

Dawn was pacing the floor. Willow and Tara are discussing possible spells. “You know, Will, maybe we should get Amie in on this. I mean, she does have the gift,” Tara told her old friend.

Willow smiled at Tara. “You know, you’re right. I guess a fresh brain would help.” She placed her hand over Tara’s. “It’s good to see you still look out for the new Scoobies.”

The front door flew open Angel and Cordy ran into the house. “Okay, so where’s that son-of-bitch that has Faith?” Cordy yelled as she reached the living room.

All eyes were on her as everyone stared in shock. “Err…we don’t know…so...ready to fight?” Willow asked a very angry Cordy.

“Yes, and I called for some more backup. Fred, Wes, and Gunn are on their way. I just hope it’s over before they get here! Not that I don’t want their help…it’s just I get more of this fucker’s ass if they’re not here!” Cordy stated and then walked into the kitchen.

Willow sat with wide eyes and mouth open. “Okay, she’s wired and ready for war...So Buffy, where do we start? I say send Cordy and we can just…you know, clean up,” the hacker grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

“Okay, this is how it’s going down. Queen C, get your ass in here! We’re going out in three groups; Angel, you lead the second group. Dawn you’re with Angel.” She turned to see everyone, including Cordelia, was listening. “We have played with this bastard for too long and I’m done. So, game faces everyone. It is time to end this. Okay. The groups are Angel, Dawn, Giles, Spike and Anya. Group two is Cordy, Tara, Xander, Willow, Amie and myself. Group three will be the others of Angel Investigations if and when they arrive.” She rounded up the Scoobies and then ran to the door. “Alright, we hit the west cemetery and get Spike then we off this fucker!”