We Need Each Other

--



"Faith..you should be in bed." Buffy said. She had gone up to check on her girlfriend, and found her stumbling across the hall to the bathroom.

Faith grinned. "Look at you, B..I'm all hurt and all you can think about is getting me in the sack..oww." She managed a smile as she made her way across the hallway. She was leaning on Tiffany, one of the new Potentials. Tiffany blushed, but remained silent.

"What am I supposed to do, B? I hafta go.." Then she looked at Buffy and smiled reassuringly. "It's ok, baby. I'll make it."

Then Faith went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. It had been four days since Faith had been injured, and she had healed remarkably well. However, Buffy was still worried and Faith was still not getting around that well.

Buffy leaned against the wall, waiting for her girlfriend to come back out of the bathroom, and smiled at Tiffany. "Thanks, Tiff."

The pretty blonde Potential grinned. "It's ok. She's my buddy."

Tiffany had spent a lot of time with Faith over the past days, being with her whenever Buffy was gone to patrol or visiting Xander in the hospital. "You guys really love each other, huh?"

Buffy smiled. "Yeah, we do."

Tiffany sighed, happily. "She talks about you a lot..even when she's unconscious. Some of it's..not totally clean either." Then she giggled, blushed, and Buffy brought her into a hug.

"Thank you." She finally said, blushing herself.

Tiffany shrugged, playing it cool, before she walked away. "Later Buffy." She ran off to join the other Potentials at breakfast.

--

"I'm ok, B..really." Faith said as Buffy helped her back into bed. Faith sat on the edge of the bed and smiled up at her beautiful lover. "Four days, you've waited on me hand and foot. You shouldn't have to."

"You're too independent, lover. You're gonna sit there and let me wait on you, hand and foot. Got it?"

Normally, Faith would put up more of a fight. But, she knew that she didn't have the strength to argue. Then she sighed.

"Okay, B.."

Buffy beamed. "Great! I'll get you breakfast, so you lay down."

Faith laid back against the abundance of pillows that everyone had brought her. Ahh..comfy. This was really the shit. However, if anyone brought her even one more pillow or stuffed animal, Faith doubted that there would be any room on the bed for her.

It had only been a few days since she had been injured. But, Faith really felt like she should get out of bed. The Potentials had visited her a few times, making sure that she was ok.

Then there was Buffy. Sweet, wonderful Buffy. Almost every time that she had opened her eyes, her girlfriend had been there.

--

Hell, at least I'm not in a coma again. I couldn't handle being away from B for that long. Not away from my girl.

My B.

The door opens again and there you are. Aww, you even have one of those neat little trays. The ones that have the tiny legs that sit on either side of the person eating. I love it.

--

Buffy sat the tray down on Faith's thighs. Eggs, toast, bacon..mmm yummy.

"Thanks, baby." Faith smiled at her lover, then reached out and put her hand on Buffy's cheek. She brought her into a long deep kiss.

"Mmm. That'll make all this food taste even sweeter." She gave a wicked grin.

Buffy smiled. "I see you're feeling better."

Faith reached out quickly and smacked Buffy on the behind, hearing her give a "YIPE!"

"Gimme a few days and I'll show you just how good I feel." She said, waggling her eyebrows, as she brought a forkful of eggs to her mouth.

"You devil."

"You betcha." The dark haired Slayer smiled again. Buffy smiled sweetly and rested her forehead against Faith's.

"I've gotta go to work." Buffy finally said. "Is there anything you need?"

Her girlfriend thought a while. "Turn the radio on..?"

"Sure thing." Buffy got up and clicked the radio knob on, and music began streaming from the speakers.

"Thanks.." Faith said. "..and don't worry about me, ok?"

Buffy blew her another kiss at the door, and then closed it behind her.

--

My life is so cool. Even apart from being friggin' impaled by some psychotic fuckstick.

Ok, so I'm on the run from the cops, and we're facing the possible end of the world. Those are two more big imperfections. But, in my own mind, it doesn't matter. Everyone in the house keeps popping in to check on me. Tiffany has become my new friend, and it's not too bad to have another friend.

I think she has a little crush on me, but that's ok. I'll let her down easy. B's my girl, and noone else. Can't help myself.

I get up and try a few stretches, loosening the muscles that have become a little stiff. My stomach hurts a little, so I'm not pushing myself too hard. But I just hafta get up and move some. It's hard, but I continue.

After a little while, I open the bedroom door and head downstairs. I need to get outta this room, for a while. Down the stairs, taking each one gingerly.

"Hey, Runt." I say as I enter the kitchen.

"Faith!" she exclaims smashing into me and hugging me. Oww. I'm glad that she's so happy to see me up and around. But still..oww. Having so many people care about me is still a new experience. But, I'll get used to it.

--

Later that day, Faith sat on the back porch as she watched the girls train in the yard. She watched each of them intently, studying their movements. Noting, based on their individual skill, which of the girls she wanted backing her up when shit went down. Also which ones she or Buffy would need to give back up to, were they all to survive.


More than anything she wanted to be out there with them, kickin' some training ass, but she used all of her newfound restraint to lightly rest her ankle on a nearby table and stretch her legs. She may not be a hundred percent yet, but she was starting to get her groove back.

The back door burst open, quickly and Faith looked up from her light stretches.

"You guys, have you seen..? FAITHY!" Buffy beamed when she saw her girlfriend, and moved forward, pressing her body against the other Slayer. Faith held her back a little to avoid Buffy hitting any sore spots, but still hugged her girl closely.

"Hey, easy there Tiger. Still damaged goods here, ya know." Faith winked.

Buffy smiled. "It's just good to see you up. Are you.."

"Five by five. Well almost five by five, but getting close. I'm getting around a lot better." Faith brought Buffy into a kiss, a slow sweet kiss. Followed by another, which stopped only for the two of them to catch their breath. They rested against each other, then finally separated and looked up. They had an audience.

The girls were all stone-still just staring at the two of them.

"Hey!" Faith yelled, grinning. "Get back to practice!" Then she grabbed Buffy's hand and led her into the house; through the kitchen, and into the living room. The potentials just grinned and went back to their workout.

Faith led Buffy, slowly (as she was moving well but not quickly) to the couch in the living room. She held her girl's hand as they both sat down. Then she spoke with solid resolution.

"We're gonna make it, B."

Still smiling, Buffy quirked her head thinking Faith was talking about their relationship. "What do you mean, baby? Of course we are."

Faith realized what she meant. "No. I mean after all this. The preacher.. The First.. everything. I know it. We're both gonna make it."

Buffy's brow furrowed. "How do you know?" Buffy wasn't even sure if she herself would live through the final battle.

"I thought about it a long time this afternoon..then it just came to me. Like one of our special dreams, ya know?"

Her lover nodded, but was still slightly unconvinced and Faith could tell. She moved both hands behind the blonde's head.

"We need each other for a reason, B. We make each other stronger."

"Stronger?"

Faith took a breath, and explained. "When I was out of it..I knew you were there. I..I know for sure that I would have died if it wasn't for you being right beside me, giving my your strength along with mine. We love each other."

Buffy's face lightened, finally, as she understood.

"I get it! Love is stronger than evil!"

Faith grinned. "You know it."

--