FATE’S CHOICE

CHAPTER 3: Understanding

“So”, Buffy said looking at Faith standing by the window. Faith turned and slowly walked over to a couch and sat Gage down and stood against the arm.

“Sorry”, Faith said looking up to meet everybody gazing at her, “So where to start off”. Buffy stood across the room, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at the brunette waiting for an answer.

“First of all let me just say I’m sorry to all of you and I never meant ... I never wanted to hurt any of you …I just …I just didn’t have a choice. I was just following orders”, Faith said fidgeting with the keys in her pocket.

“What the hell are you talking about Faith? You’re the one that went all evil and tried to kill Willow…again. You saved that demon and then teamed up with him. And we were stupid enough to trust you. I guess jail was just a joke to you like everything else”, Buffy said stepping closer towards Faith as her anger rose.

“Mommy you went to jail”, Gage asked beginning to get very confused. Faith let out a big breath she didn’t even know she was holding.

“No boyo I didn’t. And I thought we talked about this”, Faith said eyeing her son.

“Sorry I forgot”, he said. She nodded at him and he looked back down at his picture book.

“What the hell, what’s going on? Angel said that you went to jail that you turned yourself in and that you reformed”, the blonde asked now standing in front of the younger slayer. The rest of the gang also looked as confused as Buffy.

“I did reform”, she started to say before she was interrupted by a grunt from Xander. “I just didn’t do it in jail. I … I was working for The Powers that Be with Angel.” Faith looked down before finishing. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before. I wanted to I just”.

“That doesn’t make any sense. I mean come on Faith, what you think I’m stupid. That we’re stupid enough to believe you, especially after everything you said. Plus you said you changed and wanted to help, which was obviously a lie. And then you betray us. You betrayed me”, Buffy said the hate and sadness evident in her voice. “You’re still the same old Faith, never gave a damn about anyone”.

“Buffy I don’t think that was called for”, Willow said.

“Whatever”, Buffy said rolling her eyes as she turned around to head for the door. “And what’s with you sticking up for her. She tried to kill you remember. Or did you forget that”.

“You have no clue what you are talking about B. I only did what I did because I had to. I knew I couldn’t say anything and that was the only way I could keep you from.…. I was supposed to capture the demon and bring him back so they could question him. He had information and you were gonna kill him. I did what I had to”, the brunette said waving her arms in the air.

“Anything you say won’t take away what you did Faith”, and with that Buffy started for the door.

“Buffy let her finish”, Angel said blocking the doorway. Buffy stood there shocked.

“Angel”, Gage squealed as he jumped off the couch and ran over to the vampire.

“How’s my favorite little man”, he asked scooping up the little boy in his arms.

“Good. I finished that puzzle you gave me”, the small boy said smiling.

“Really how long did it take ya”, he asked smiling back.

“16 minutes and 27 seconds”, Gage said with an even bigger grin on his face.

“What. That thing took me like two weeks to figure out’”, Angel said as he gave a little pout. He looked up and saw a small smile cross both of the slayers faces. When Faith saw him looking at her face got serious. “Faith”, he said nodding at her.

“I don’t need your help, and how dare you. What are you doing now, following me”, Faith said angrily as she walked up to him.

“What’s going on”, Buffy asked looking between the two.

“Hey Dawn can you take Gage now”, Faith asked looking at Dawn. Angel put gage down and he followed Dawn and Andrew out of the office.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she yelled at him. “I quite remember”.

“You know you can’t do that”, the vampire said.

“Watch me” she said glaring at him.

“So it’s true you really are…” Buffy tried to say.

They both ignored Buffy’s comment, “They won’t let you”, he said as he walked closer to her.

“Stay way from me…they used me Angel and…and you helped them”, she said backing away from him. Buffy looked over at Faith she had never seen her look so hurt. She couldn’t help but want to rush to her fellow slayer’s side and hold her and tell her everything would be alright. But she was evil; however she did say she didn’t have a choice. No she shouldn’t….couldn’t trust her.

“What, I thought you were like the good guy”, Xander said looking up at the vamp. Willow slapped him on the back of the head. “Oww what”, he asked.

“I think we’re just gonna…we’ll just go, let you talk”, Willow said pulling Xander up to follow.

“I think that’d be best”, Giles said in agreement as he and the rest of the gang followed. “Buffy?”

“I’m staying”, she replied to her ex-watcher turning back to look at the two.

“Faith you know I didn’t want to. I had no choice, just like you”, Angel said putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I know I just…they could have gotten him killed Angel. What am I saying they almost did”, Faith said as tears began to run down her face.

“Can someone please tell me what is going on”, Buffy asked walking over to the two as she eyed them.

“Do you want me”, Angel began to ask before Faith shook her head and walked over to the window. Buffy just stared at Faith for a moment wondering what was going on with the rogue slayer. She had never seen her so broken down.

Angel grabbed Buffy’s arm a led her into the next room to give Faith some space. Why is he looking at me like that? I’ve never seen him look at me like that. What the hell is going on? This must be really bad. He’s kinda scaring me.