A new twist on reality

Buffy shot to her feet and both she and Dawn turned to see Faith come tearing down the stairs, sword in hand looking for a fight. "What the hell was that?" Faith demanded, seemingly almost as angry at the sun for daring to shine through the windows as she was at Dawn for being uninjured.

"Shes gone." Dawn said in a rush turning back to Buffy. "I was going to make nice with her you know like i did with Cassie that one time but she wasnt in school and when i was on the bus i heard these kids talking and one of them said they saw Maggie get grabbed by some soldiers last night and i got them to tell me where she lives and i went there PLEASE dont look at me like that anyways it was an abandoned building off Broadway and it was tore to hell and i found these." Dawn reached in her pocket and pulled out long wires with small metal needles on them.

"Those are what the Inititave use to tazer there monsters." Faith said softly. Looking to Buffy she nodded and grabbed her coat and made her way to the door.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked, realizing that Faith was leaving and they didnt know jack.

"To find some answers B, get Beefstick on the phone and figure out what the hell is up." Buffy nodded and mutely watched as Faith walked off. Turning to Dawn.

"If you have homework do it now because i may need you to do research." Buffy said as she went to the phone. Picking it up she quickly dialed Rileys personal cell.

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Buffy sat at the table going over the medical file that Willow had faxed her. It was Maggies and all it could tell her is that up until six months ago Maggie had been incredibly sick,then suddenly the cancer had vanished and in its place she was the picture of perfect health. The dates however coincided with the day that Willow had turned all potentials into slayers. After Will had done a scan it had confirmed that Maggie Compton was indeed a slayer.

Which raised the question, what did the Inititave want with a slayer? Buffy looked up when she heard a knock at the door, standing she went and opened it to find Riley in his combat gear along with three other soldiers.

"Buffy, can we come in?" Riley asked. Buffy looked from him to his other...comrades? Stepping back she watched as they all shuffled inside.

"Whats this about?" Buffy asked, watching each one of them carefully for any funny buisness.

"Its about the Compton girl. Shes a slayer." Riley said seriously. Buffy arched her brow and nodded.

"Yeah knew that...what are your soldier boys doing with one of MY girls?" Buffy said territorily. Riley cleared his throat and Buffy could feel the onset of a 'Thats classified' speech. "Look if your going to help...HELP."

"Fine, what were about to tell you is highly classified." Riley pressed that part and Buffy nodded. " One year ago a faction of the Inititiave broke off and are now fugitives, they were...expirimenting with human cyborgnetics and since Adam that has been illegal. But there leader is beleived to be preforming them now...on slayers. A new campaign to make a super soldier."

"What is WITH you guys...jesus cant you leave well enough alone.Dammit...wait...Faith." Buffy pushed past Riley and momentarily forgot that there were four well armed soldiers in her living room. Turning she walked back inside. "Al of you eithe rcome with me or leave, either way your invitation is as of now gone."

"Buffy, should you be...going out in your...condition?" Riley asked softly for her ears only. Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Im pregnant Riley not invalid and the babys fine, thanks for asking." Buffy turned and began walking in the direction that Faith had disapeared. Riley walked faster to catch up with her, Buffy tried to ignore him for the most part.

"How is he?" Riley asked, Buffy took a deep breath and looked up at Riley.

"Healthy, the babys heartbeat is strong and in a week im going in for an ultrasound and ill be able to see if its a boy or girl."

"Im sorry i havent been around...work and the divorce." Riley said softly. Buffy smiled sympathetically.

"Dont worry about it Riley, just if your going to be a dad be a dad and stick around...if not then well you know."

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Four Hours Later

"Anything?" Soldier number one called out, Buffy looked around her at the debrie. Thanks to Faith and her connection she had been able to lead them to where Faith had last been. They had walked all through Seattle and were now under an overpass right on the peir.

"No nothing...wait." Buffy said, bending down she picked up a small silver chain, it was Faiths, she had given it to her last Christmas. The necklace gleamed soflty in the moon light. Fighting back tears Buffy steeled herself and turned to see Riley already at her side.

"What is it?" Riley asked, concern in his voice.

"Its Faiths...im going to try her cell again." Buffy reached into her pocket and hit speed dial. After letting it go to answering machine Buffy cursed. "We have to find her Riley...we HAVE too." Buffy felt hot tears begin to fall as Riley gently wrapped his arms around her.

"We will, ill take my men back to the base and see if theres anything we can find out." Riley said softly. Buffy nodded against his chest. "Come on...ill take you home."

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Buffy didnt get any sleep that night, after she had gotten home Dawn had verbally jumped down her throat for leaving with a word until Buffy had said that Faith was missing. Dawn reasoned that maybe Faith had just taken off? But both of them knew that that wasnt the case.

Buffy looked up when the sun broke across the sky, part of her wishing that the ornery slayer would just come stomping into the house. The other part, just wished that she knew where to look...and that she could kill humans cause then at least she coudl find whoever RAN the Inititave and whoop there ass seven ways from sunday.

Giles and Willow were on the next flight out here to help. Because as Big Bads went this was seriously shaping up into one. They had also alerted the team leaders that the 'unregistered' slayers were being taken and so far all the abductions seemed to be in the North West which gave Riley beleif that this is where his little faction guy was...what was his name? Cervantes thats right, Willow had jacked the file for Buffy and as she read over it it had the makings of a crazy doctor all over it. Certifiable genius, top of all classes and indredibly ambitious. So Dr. Cervantes had up until a year ago been one of the best for the Inititave, mainly in biological warfare as well as weapons research.

Combining this with what they already knew...he was trying to make super soldiers out of super humans...slayers. Life really is amazing.

Buffy looked up as Dawn came walking downstairs, the sisters stood on opposite sides of the room and stared awkwardly at one another. Buffy felt her heart clench as Dawns eyes would occasionally glance over to Faiths chair and back to her.

"I have a question Buffy. I want you to tell me the truth." Dawn said seriously, sounding much older than she was. Buffy nodded."What...do you love Faith?"

Looking away Buffy felt herself choke up slightly before nodding. "I do." She whispered. "I love her very much." It was strange to say the words that had been floating around her head and heart for the last three months.

"Then...why did you...dammit...whyd oyu do it?" Dawn said, they both knew what IT was. Buffy leaned back and looked over at her sister.

"I was stupid...and scared. Id never felt anyhting like what Faith makes me feel, not even Angel. It, it scared me Dawn. And i have to pay for it everytime she doesnt come home at night and i wonder if shes in someone elses bed, everytime i take pre-natal meds. My fuckup stares me in the face."

"Are you sorry? That your pregnant?" Dawn asked, moving to sit at the table across from Buffy.

"Yes and no, i mean it was unexpected but i already love my baby. Rileys sure itll be a boy but i dont know, feels like a girl to me." Buffy admitted, feeling in no uncertain terms the all consuming love she already had for her child.

"If...i mean...WHEN we find Faith, will you do something for me?" Dawn asked. Buffy looked at her confused. "Tell her...Buffy she...she loves you so much, all she does is ask about you and if your okay... god wouldnt think you guys are roomates. Just...stop being a chickenshit...please?" Dawn asked earnestly. Buffy laughed bitterly.

"Okay, you have a deal Dawn."

"Good, Giles and Willow will be here soon, why dont i fix us something to eat before we have to go get them." Buffy looked in surprse at Dawn, volunteering to cook?

"Sounds good. Im going to go bring down the blankets and the cot for them." Buffy said as she made her way upstairs.


TBC

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