We Need Each Other

--



"Hey, Runt." Faith said when she came into the kitchen.

Dawn looked up, from pouring herself a bowl of Raisin Bran. "Morning Faith." She smiled. "..and I'm not a runt. I'm taller than you."

Faith just grinned, reaching into the refrigerator for the jug of juice. Suprisingly, they were alone in the kitchen. Not a normal day at Casa de Summers, lately.

"So where is everyone?" Faith had awoken alone, this morning. It was strange that Buffy was up before her, but she had shrugged her clothes on and headed downstairs.

"Me and Amanda are going to school today. Buffy took the rest of the Potentials out early this morning. Guess she couldn't sleep last night."

Faith shrugged wondering where they could have gone without her, but she was still grateful for the opportunity to sleep.

"So, how's the boyfriend?" Faith asked, trying to make conversation with her girlfriend's sister.

Dawn smiled. "He's ok..we're still in the `getting to know each other' stage. But, he's pretty cool so far."

Faith thought awhile. "Ya know, I don't think I've ever had a `getting to know each other' stage. Well..except for your sister that is, and that's been recent."

They both laughed about that, as Faith poured herself a glass of OJ and took a long drink.

"So you know where they went?"

"Nope. I think Buffy's tryin' to find out more about psycho-preacher man. All we know is that he's held up in a mission somewhere."

"Hmm.." Faith acknowledged, worried about her girl and the Potentials.

--

The door opened and Buffy led the girls into the house.

Faith got up and met them at the door; she had been sitting on the couch pretending to watch TV and waiting for Buffy to come home.

"Hey baby!" Buffy beamed, greeting her girl with a short kiss.

"Where'd you go?" Faith asked as she hugged Buffy tightly. "I was worried."

Buffy smiled trying to set Faith at ease.

"Hey, it's ok." She moved her hand to caress Faith's cheek. "We just did a little recon. Actually I think that we should make our strike on the preacher, tonight."

"Really? I think maybe we should wait, until we know a little more about him."

Buffy shook her head. "No. We need to take him out. Hard and fast."

Faith still wasn't sure, but saw the resolution on Buffy's face.

"Ok, if you think that's the smartest thing." She agreed, hesitantly. "We'll go get him. Let's get ready."

--

"I know you, boy.." Caleb said as he held Xander by the throat. "You're the one who sees things..I can change that."

Xander screamed in pain as Caleb drove his thumb into his left eyesocket. He was just about to do the same to the other eye, when Faith rushed him. Caleb hauled Xander to one side just in time to have Faith kick him.

He stumbled back and Faith advanced on him with a right hand to his temple. Her strike rung true, but didn't have the effect that she had expected. Caleb just looked at her and laughed.

Ok, she said to herself. That didn't hurt? Try this. She kicked him in the stomach again, and then pulled her knife. She was ready to gut this son-of-a-bitch. Fuck him and his girl-hating shit.

"Faith, no!!” he heard Buffy call out as her hand was intercepted and redirected into her own gut.

"Ow..fuck!!" Faith sputtered as she felt the knife slip into her stomach. Her eyelids fluttered, but she looked up into Caleb's eyes. He smiled as he withdrew the knife and plunged it into her again.

The last thing Faith saw, before she lost consciousness was Buffy knocking Caleb back and ordering a retreat to the Potentials.

Oh, B. Still protecting me? I love you.

Then she faded out of the material world.

--

"Giles!" Buffy shouted as she burst through the front door of her house. She was carrying Faith's unconscious body. "Giles!" she called again, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She moved to the couch and put her girl down. Faith had been stabbed twice and badly beaten. Oh my god, Buffy thought. This is my fault.

At least two Potentials were dead, and Xander had been taken to the hospital. But, Faith had been hurt the worst. Tears fell upon her girl as Giles rushed into the room, to find out what was wrong.

"Oh dear lord!" Giles exclaimed, seeing Faith's condition. His heart skipped a beat, as he advanced on his two daughters.

"NO!" Buffy blurted out. A moment ago she was calling out for him. But, now she was crouched in a feral manner above her girl. "Don't touch her! She's mine!"

Then Buffy collapsed into tears, snuggling close to her bleeding girlfriend. "She's everything." Buffy whispered into the air.

"Buffy.." Giles said, tentatively and approaching the two of them. "I need to help her. We need to stop her bleeding. Maybe we should take her to the hospital."

"No! We can't take her to the hospital, Giles. If they find out who she is, they'll put her in prison again. I can't lose her again." Buffy's tears were flowing more quickly now, at the thought of losing Faith. Either way.

As he got closer, Buffy relented and more tears flowed from her eyes. She looked up at her Watcher, pleading. "I love her, Giles. Please help her."

"I will." Giles agreed. "Willow! Get me bandages..NOW!"




TBC