See Part 1 for Ratings and Disclaimers
A muffled roar announces the arrival of the warriors onto their chosen field of battle. Kennedy pulls her motorcycle into a wide arc and, making sure the front wheel is aimed at the street, parks under the entry arch. Turning the handlebars, she locks them and pockets the key.
Removing her helmet, she turns her head back toward her passenger. "Uh, Faith? We're here. You can let go, now."
Pulling her own headgear off, the taller girl puts her head on her companions shoulder and whispers, "What if I don't wanna?" Slipping her hand inside Kennedy's open jacket, the older Slayer lightly brushes her fingertips across the front of the other girl's breast. Kennedy inhales a hissing breath at the contact.
Bringing her other hand around, Faith brushes raven hair back, exposing her Slayer's tender neck. Leaning forward a bit, she teasingly licks, kisses and nips at the sensitive skin, sending a soft breath into the younger girl's ear as she extends her playing a little higher.
Kennedy's breath start coming a little faster and a faint moan can be heard as her libido, never that far from the surface, awakens. "Faith..." she gasps as her Slayer begins sucking at her pulse point. "S-shitt! Faith! That f-feels so good, but w-we, " she groans, louder this time as the sucking kiss intensifies. "We need to get, *uuuuhhhhhh!*, g-get going if we want to get that nest."
After another second, Faith releases the kiss, and gives the place one last lick before pulling back to look at her handiwork. Smirking, she reaches back around and kisses her girl. Lips begin moving and Kennedy's tongue licks the other girl's lip, seeking entrance. It's readily granted and the smaller Slayer explores her girlfriend's mouth, licking at the other girl's tongue, before they both sit back, breathing heavily. "Ok, we can go now." Faith says after a moment.
Kennedy feels a light twinge on her throat where Faith had kissed her and, suspicious, reaches up and feels the place. The spot is a little tender to the touch and Kennedy knows there'll be a bruise. "Not that I really mind, but what did you do that for? Will said we'd have to sleep on the couch if we came back with any bites, remember?"
The older woman just laughs. "Oh, I know, but that's not a bite mark, so no couch for either of us."
"Oh? Then what do you call it?"
Faith smiles hugely. "Marking territory. Just in case some vamp gets ideas! Red'll thank me, I know!"
Kennedy shoots her girl a mock glare, then gets off the bike shaking her head. "If I'd know what I was setting myself up for with you," She looks back at the other Slayer and sees Faith's smile has faded and a worried look has entered her eyes. Kennedy reaches up and lays her fingers along the other woman's cheek. Leaning in, she kisses her softly, before finishing what she was saying with, "I'd have done everything the same. Come on," she presses one more chaste kiss onto the Slayer's lips. "We need to go."
Faith nods and gets off the bike, pulling her crossbow around from her back and loading it as she does. A little while later, the two Slayers have reached their target and, finding a pane of stained glass missing, the dark Slayer checks inside.
"Looks like eight, maybe nine vamps. They're not grouped too close. Should be easy, K!"
Kennedy looks into the mausoleum and decides Faith is correct. "Ready? On three, then." The girls look at each other and identical smirks appear.
"Three!" they both shout, kicking the doors open. The vampires all catapult from sleep and try to get to their feet, but their deadliest enemies are already among them.
Faith shoots three in quick succession, then drops her crossbow and pulls a stake, charging the nearest foe.
Kennedy swarms in, sword already drawn and swings the blade in an economical forward then back stroke, harvesting a head in each direction.
"Rise and shine, boys!" Faith snarls gleefully. "Breakfast's gonna be a little late tonight!"
"Are you finished yet?" Dawn whines as she sticks her head back into Vi's room.
The auburn haired girl looks up and nods. "Yeah, just gotta print it out, then I'm good to go! You ready?"
"Waiting on you, slowpoke. I've been dressed and ready to go for twenty minutes. Come'on!"
Vi smiles at the girl's impatience. "Let me change real quick. Meet you downstairs?"
Dawn nods and heads off back down the hall. Vi watches her for a second, then goes to her closet and, looking down at her jeans and deciding they'll be fine, selects a top to match. After changing her shoes, she leaves her room and catches up with Dawn in the kitchen.
Dawn is facing her sister. "Come on Buffy! I'm almost eighteen and I have my license. Not to mention, I'm a much better driver than you! Besides, we're only going to The Place and back. We're not gonna 'Thelma and Louise' it across the country!"
Buffy swallows a bite of pizza, then asks, "What's the name of this place? The one you're going straight to and back home?"
Dawn rolls her eyes. "Deaf much? Told you already, The Place."
"The name of the club is The Place?"
"Yeah! It's on Piedmont, and it's a lot like the Bronze, just less vampire. Usually."
Buffy stops her pizza slice and looks at her sister. Dawn could see the "No!" forming in her eyes, so she squeals, "Kidding! No vampires, nope, none. Too well lit and too many bouncers, trust me!"
Xander smiles and shakes his head at Buffy's attitude. [She's gonna hell on any kids of her own! Hasn't changed a bit.] He reaches over beside the sink and picks up the keys lying there. "Hey, Dawnie!" he calls, lofting the keyring toward her.
Dawn flashes him a brilliant smile. "Thanks!" and she and Vi vanish into the garage.
"Xander!" Buffy scolds as she turns to face him. "What're you doing? You know she shouldn't be going out alone! What if vampires do attack this club? Or demons? Or-or some hell god wants her again! Or..."
"Geez, Buff. Overstress much? Caffeine and Slayers! Not a good mix!" he chuckles.
Buff hits the man lightly on the arm. "Xander, I'm serious! She could get hurt. Why did you give her those keys when you know I didn't want her to go?"
"Buncha reasons, really. One, she's with a Slayer. Granted, the one with the least experience, but still a Slayer. Two, she's right and you know it. She is nearly eighteen and in a few more months, she doesn't have to ask, she can just go. Three, we used to go to the Bronze what, three, four times a week? More? You, me and Will, from the time we were sixteen and Me and Will and Jesse for a couple years before that. Couple more reasons, but I think you see where I'm goin with this? She'll be fine."
"Yeah, but..."
Xander sighs. "Does she have her cel phone?" Buffy gives him a look he has no trouble deciphering and he smiles. "Right! Don't know what I was thinking. Teenage girl being separated from her phone, so not gonna happen!" They both grin at the old joke. "See? If something does happen, she'll call, and we'll go get her out of it, no sweat! So, relax."
"Well, ok," the blonde reluctantly agrees, the grins evilly at him. "If anything bad does happen, though, you have to help me with a training session, deal?"
He nods, adding, "Long as you don't do anything that takes longer than a week to heal, sure." They return to their meal, still goodnaturedly bantering and playing.
"This just sucks." Faith wails as the duo finds their way through the last parts of their third cemetery. "One little nest and nothing! Who told the bad guys they could call in sick?"
Kennedy trudges at her side equally bored, but a little more alert. "Slowest night I've seen so far, that's for sure." She checks her watch. "Nearly eleven. Want to keep goin til midnight, then call it?"
Faith considers for a few seconds, then nods. "It's a plan. Maybe we can scare up some action by then. Although," she purrs, "we could always duck behind one of these crypts and scare up plenty of action!" The older girl wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.
The young Slayer just laughs softly and keeps walking. "Geez, obsess much?" She looks over at her lover, then back ahead before continuing. "Always thought a person'd have to be a guy to think about sex more than me. Guess I was wrong, huh?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing!" Faith scoffs.
Kennedy shakes her head. "Not bad at all. If Will were with us, might just take you up on that, but now? I'll wait til we're home and she can join us."
Faith stops, signaling the other woman to as well. Turning toward her lover, she quietly asks, "Don't want to be with just me?" Faith isn't sure which answer she hopes for, but holds her breath anyway.
Kennedy thinks for a moment, ordering her thoughts. When she speaks, it's equally softly. "No, not really that. It's just - kinda hard to explain, is all."
"Try?" A hand starts to reach up, but drops to the once rogue's side.
"All right. This might come out jumbled, ok?" A nod. "It's like this. I do love you, but, like you said last night, I'm not sure yet either if I'm in love with you. I think I'm gettin there, but just not sure. But, we both are in love with Willow.
"Because of that, and because she wants us to try this three way thing so bad, I don't feel like I'm cheating on her when we're all together. And I know it's weird, but I don't feel it when we've made out the various times today or even just kissed. Every thing ok with that. I'm just not sure about just us having sex, yet. I don't want to take the chance that after, we both feel bad, that we betrayed her, 'cause that'll break us all up faster than anything. We both might loose Willow and I can't live with that.
Kennedy sighs heavily and captures her Slayer's gaze. "I just don't want to take the chance, that all. Not until we're both sure we'll be ok with it. I don't think you want to take that chance either, do you?"
Faith thinks hard on what her girl has said. A lot of it makes sense, but it's all such new ground for her, that she's not as sure of her feelings. Still, she can admit that Kennedy has a point and her heart sheers violently away from any thought that might cost her her redhead, so, grudgingly, she replies, "Guess you got a point there, Kennedy. And you're right about not wanting to hurt Red, so I think it's probably a good idea to wait." she smirks at the younger girl. "Til we're home, anyway!"
Kennedy laughingly agrees. "Fine! Fine! Still gonna make you scream again, you know." she taunts as they resume their patrol.
"Sure you are. Seem to remember it was Red doin all the work, not you, Brat!" Kennedy just snorts another laugh. "Speaking of that, and Xander's redesign of the house, I had an idea earlier."
"You?! An idea? Did you treat it kindly? Being so lost and in such a strange place and all!" Kennedy teases.
Faith swats at her, then returns to what she was saying. "I'm serious. I can tell Red doesn't want to move and Xander was saying something about needing more space. Didn't he also say the rebuild includes a new training area?"
"Think so, yeah. Why?"
Faith shrugs. "I was just thinkin. If I'm gonna move in with you guys, and it looks like I am, what if we get Patch to rebuild the basement into our own apartment after the new training room is built. Then he'd have two more bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs to play with and we wouldn't need to make the house that much bigger. We could stay where we are a lot easier and Red'll like that, right?"
Kennedy walks for several minutes in silence while she thinks over Faith's idea. She finds, after examining it from several angles, that she rather likes the thought. It'd be more like they had their own place, rather than feeling like they were in some kind of Slayer army barracks, and that really appeals to her. She figures that's part of what Faith likes about it, since it was her idea in the first place.
"You know, I think I like it. It'd feel more like a home than a boarding house, you know?"
Faith nods. "A lot of what I was thinking too. Think Willow will like it?"
"Yeah, I do. I think you're in for a big thank you tonight!" she replies with a knowing leer, looking once more at her watch. "Hey, it's eleven thirty. Let's say to hell with it and go tell her!"
Faith smiles at her lover and a challenge fires her eyes. "Race you for the bike!" The dark Slayer takes off, barely three steps ahead of Kennedy. They taunt each other all the way there.
Lights flash rhythmically and the beat thunders as Dawn and Vi enter the Place. Hearing the song currently playing, both girls grin maniacally and Dawn leans over to yell in her friend's ear, "Let's dance!"
Vi just smiles and nods vigorously.
The former key grabs her hand and they thread their way over to the dance floor. They dance together for a nearly a minute before guys materialize out of the aether and both girls are surrounded. They stay by each other's sides, but twirl and flirt with all the guys and some of the girls around them. The two teenagers are rarely apart, but both have a blast as they dance for hours.
Finally, around twelve thirty, they're both ready to head home, exhausted, but relaxed and exhilarated. They leave the club arm in arm, giggling the whole way to the car.
As they near the car, Vi is suddenly shoved violently to the ground as someone grabs Dawn from behind. Startled into an involuntary shriek, Dawn turns to see her attacker and, looking at his yellow eyes and wrinkled forehead, her first thought is, [Buffy is never gonna let me come here again!]. Then more than a year of training kicks in and she kicks back toward the vampire's kneecap and tries to roll forward out of his grasp.
The vamp, who had been a semi-pro wrestler before he died, therefore, was a very large and muscular man, absorbs the blow with a grunt. When Dawn attempts to fall out of his hands, he merely pulls the girl closer and opens his mouth, slamming his teeth home, beginning to feed.
"Get away from her!!" Vi snarls as she jumps at the demon, kicking at his other leg. Where Dawn's kick had just bounced off, the vampire screams in pain and rage as his other knee snaps ninety degrees in the wrong direction. Dropping the teen in his hands, he falls to the ground, clutching his leg.
When it's obvious her foe is down for a moment, Vi spins and kneels to check her friend. "Dawn! Dawn!!" She rolls the brunette over onto her back, turning her head so she can check her neck. Seeing the blood oozing from twin punctures, the Slayer rips her jacket off and presses it to the wound.
"Dawn! Come on, Dawnie, you gotta wake up now!" The teen caresses the other girl's face, then gently shakes the former key. "Come on, open those blue eyes for me, please?"
"You're gonna pay for that, girly! Gonna kill you slow now," the vampire snarls as he slowly stands and eases his weight onto his still healing leg.
Vi's head snaps around toward the undead creature, her eyes blazing molten hatred. Spinning to her feet, she growls at him, "No, I'm not, but you sure as hell are!"
The two enemies circle slowly for a few seconds. Suddenly the vampire throws a roundhouse punch that Vi easily evades. The Slayer feints a kick to his leg again, then quickly plants that foot and spins on it instead, kicking the vamp in the face, snapping his nose. The demon grunts and responds with a backhanded blow that clips Vi on her shoulder, throwing her toward the ground.
Tucking and rolling, the Slayer is instantly back on her feet and in a fighting stance. The vampire swiftly closes again and punches at the girl's head, once, twice, missing both times by fractions of an inch.
Vi avoids the second punch by dropping into a squat, then drives upward again, connecting her fist to the vamp's jaw. An uppercut, backed by all the power in her Slayer's muscles, further enhanced by her fury driven state, smashes the huge man up and backwards, his jaw broken in three places. He falls with a crash heard even over the music from the nearby club.
Never pausing, the young Slayer jumps on top of the vamp, straddling his chest, and starts punching his face with all the strength and speed her adrenalin backed hatred can muster.
At first, the demon's healing abilities try to repair the damage the girl is doing as it happens, but it's soon overwhelmed and the vamp stops struggling, sliding into unconsciousness. Vi never even slows down, continuing to rain bone cracking blows onto the demon.
"Don't... ever... touch... her... again! Hear me!!" Each word is snarled between blows that keep landing long after the vampire has ceased all his struggles.
Dawn groans and struggles back to consciousness, feeling a little light headed and not understand the throbbing in her neck. Her thoughts muzzily return as she reaches up and, pushing the makeshift bandage away, brings her fingers back to where she can see the blood. [Right. Vampire. Musta bit me.] Dawn groans again, but this time in resignation. [Buffy's gonna kill me!] she thinks, still trying to get her bearings.
She finally notices a sound to her right, like someone hitting a tree with a large stick. Rolling toward it, her eyes slam open as she sees Vi literally beating a vampire to death. Sitting up, stifling another groan as moving that much causes her head to explode in pain, the teenager grabs her bag and fishes out the stake Buffy makes her carry everywhere. Staggering over to the Slayer and the steadily disintegrating vampire, Dawn reaches passed Vi and shoves her stake into the vampire's chest.
Vi suddenly finds herself kneeling in a dust pile, gasping for breath, not understanding what happened for a few seconds. Looking up, she sees Dawn standing there, a little unsteady yet, and her eyes start to glow joyfully. The Slayer starts to uncurl her fist, meaning to take the younger girl's hand and reassure herself Dawn was really there, but screams and freezes instead.
Dawn starts to ask Vi why she was beating the shit out of the vampire instead of just slaying him, when the other girl's scream echoes through the street. Dropping to her knees beside the girl, Dawn puts a hand on her friend's shoulder and asks, concern in her voice, "What's wrong? You ok?"
Vi just pants and tries to control the pain, before answering. "My hands! God, Dawn they hurt so much!"
The brunette looks down and sees Vi's arms are covered to the elbow with the dark red of vampire blood and not a little of the brighter red of her own. The girl's face is also spotted with various sized drops of dark crimson liquid.
Dawn reaches down and, saying, "Sorry.", takes Vi's left hand into her own, holding it up toward the light from a streetlight nearby. Even with the spotty illumination, the teen can tell the Slayer has broken at least one bone in each finger, probably on both hands. Long experience with the scoobies has taught her to deal first, panic later, so she looks into the other girl's face.
"Vi, your hands are broken, so we need to get to a hospital. And no arguments, ok?" she adds as he Slayer starts to protest. "Hating hospitals comes with the Slayer package, doesn't it?" Dawn asks, trying to lighten the mood. She helps the other girl to her feet, trying not to jar her hands too badly.
Vi smiles wanly, sweat popping out on her forehead as the throbbing in her hands cranks up a notch. "Guess so," she says between gritted teeth. She looks at the brunette and remembers. "You probably need a couple stitches. He started to feed before I could stop him."
"Forgot about that. I was wondering why my neck was cold."
Reaching the car, Dawn helps Vi get in and to put her seatbelt on, then gets behind the wheel and heads for the nearest hospital.
Willow sat at her computer, but had started the shut down procedure, having researched the subject of 'polyamory' or 'multiple loves' for hours. She knew a lot more now and wanted to share what she'd learned with her Slayers, so they could avoid the common problems several websites mentioned. All had stressed the importance of communication between multiple loves and Willow could understand why.
When she thought back over what not talking had done to Buffy and Riley, or herself and Tara, the witch knew she was now a big fan of talking things out. She was determined to not loose either of her lovers because of some misunderstanding.
[Willow, can you hear me?] Dawn's frantic mindvoice startles her out of her musings.
[Yes. What's wrong, Dawnie? Why can't you use a phone?] Willow sits very still, her attention on the inner conversation. She doesn't even notice the muffled roar of Kennedy's motorcycle getting home.
[Didn't think of it and didn't want Buffy to know what's going on yet. Can you or Xander or anyone but Buffy come to Fairview hospital and get me and Vi? Not sure I can drive, now]
Willow's eyes open wide as she thinks, [Why are you at the hospital? Are you hurt? Is Vi? Oh, Goddess! Buffy's gotta know you're in the hospital. I have to tell her!]
[Willow!] Dawn's voice "shouts" in the witch's mind, then continues. [I got bit by a vamp. I'm fine. Vi broke her hands, though, and the doctor's with her now. Can you come get us?]
[On my way, Dawnie, but you have to tell Buffy when we get home, ok?] Willow stands and moves toward the kitchen and the door leading to the garage, snagging her bag and the keys to the van as she passes through.
[Already planning to. Head hurts now.] the teen's mindvoice is growing faint.
[Rest. I'll be there soon.]
Entering the garage, she sees Kennedy and Faith getting off the bike and smiles at them, happy to see them and relieved she doesn't have to go to the hospital alone. "Goddess, I'm glad to see you!" she declares, pulling Kennedy into a hug. Releasing one arm, she adds Faith to the embrace, then quickly kisses each woman.
Faith speaks for them both. "We're happy to see you, too, Red. Got something we want to talk to you about." She grins at her Slayer. "And a bet to settle. Wanna help with that?"
Willow smiles and hugs them both again, then releases her lovers and starts toward the van parked nearby. "I have to go to the hospital. Can you come with? You can tell me what it is on the way."
Both brunettes instantly shift back into 'Slayer mode' at the word hospital, and move toward the van. Kennedy gets into the front passenger seat, while Faith jumps into the one on the driver's side, behind Willow.
"Who's hurt? What happened, Will?"
Willow starts the vehicle and concentrates on backing out into the street, then starts out toward the distant medical facility before answering. "Dawnie and Vi were attacked by a vampire. Dawn said she was bitten and that Vi had broken her hands, but that's all I know."
"Shit!" Faith mutters, then leans around the seat so she can see both her girls. "Where's B?"
"Dawnie didn't want her to come, but promised she tell her as soon as we get her home."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Kennedy says. Seeing the wondering looks on both her lovers faces, she adds, "You know how Buffy can be when Dawn's hurt. She probably just didn't want Buffy to embarrass her in public. You guys know she's done it before."
Both women agree and the drive continues in silence for a few minutes.
"What did you want to tell me about?"
"Huh?" Kennedy looks confused for a few seconds, then smiles. "Faith had an idea about the rebuild at the house."
Willow looks into the rearview mirror and captures her older Slayer's attention. "Is this like the three person shower thing?"
Faith smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Like that, did you, Red?"
"I'd have liked it more if you'd told Xander in private."
Faith's smile fades instantly. "Sorry, Willow. Just sorta slipped out. Then Patch started up with the whole camera thing, and..."
"And you just had to be you. It's ok, sweetie. I understand." She turns and flashes a smile at her girl, then turns her eyes back to the road. "So, what's the idea?"
Faith shrugs. "How'd you like our own apartment instead of just a room?"
Willow's eyes open wide and she starts to shake her head. "Faith, the whole idea of Xander rebuilding the house is so we *don't* have to move. I like where we live"
"It's ok, Will." Kennedy puts a hand on Willow's leg and Faith puts one on her shoulder. "Faith's idea is to have Xander rebuild the basement for us after he moves the training area."
"Exactly, Red. That'd give him a couple bedrooms and bathroom he doesn't have to build and us a hell of a lot more privacy. We'd still be in the house, though, and I knew you'd want that. Whadda ya think?"
Willow concentrates on her driving for a few minutes while she thinks about it. The more she thinks, the more she likes the idea. [How many times has someone interrupted Kenn and I making out?] she thinks. [Now they'd have to knock first!]
"I love the idea!" she gushes. "It'll help Xander and be a lot better for us and..." She stops and looks at Faith quickly, smiling broadly. "You said, 'our apartment' and 'us more privacy'. "
The dark Slayer looks unsure and glances at Kennedy. They'd talked about this for the last couple hours and the whole conversation had been based on the three of them living together. [If Red wants a little space at first, though, hey, five by five with me. No rush.] "Sorry, Willow. Makin assumptions. Guess I'm the ass, huh?" she attempts the old joke.
Willow's smile remains and she reaches up and covers Faith's hand with her own. "No, baby, it's ok. You have the right idea. I was just noticing that you had us all three in this apartment automatically. You didn't hesitate. I'm just happy about that is all." She turns her head and swiftly kisses the Slayer's fingers. "What about you, Kennedy? You ok with this?"
Kennedy smiles and stacks her hand on top of Willow's and Faith's. "What do you think we've been talking about for the last couple hours, Red?" Her smile turns lustful. "Well, that and keepin you awake til dawn!"
Faith chuckles hungrily and Willow's smile becomes a grin. "Is that all you two think about?"
The two brunettes look at each other for a second before answering with, "Yeah!"
Willow stops at a red light and turns to see both her girls. She gives them her best sexy, seductive smile and replies, "Good."
Willow and her Slayers enter the emergency room of Fairview Community and immediately start toward the nurses station. A Slayers life means familiarity with hospitals, so they know the drill before they even start.
Willow takes the lead, getting the clerks attention. "Hi! I was told my sister is here, Dawn Summers?"
The volunteer checks the list of recent admits and sees the name, with a notation that she's been discharged. "She was here, but she was treated and released. Have you checked the waiting area?"
Willow glances at Kennedy, who nods and moves off. "Thank you. She was with a friend, Violet Reynolds, is she still here?"
The clerk checks again. "She's still in a room. Apparently, there was a question in her treatment."
Kennedy returns shaking her head. Willow faces the clerk again and asks, "Can we check on her? We can return to the waiting room afterwards, if the doctor wants us to."
"Treatment 3. Down that hall, third on the left. Don't stay long, please."
The triple thanks the man, who ignores them, already intent on his interrupted work. Locating the appropriate room, they find Dawn sitting in the corner, while Vi is in the bed, her hands on a table across the bed. A doctor examines an x-ray beside her.
As they enter, the doctor looks at them and starts to say something. Vi quickly cuts her off, proclaiming, "It's ok. I live with them. They can be here."
Dawn runs to Willow and hugs her, further allaying the doctors suspicions. Willow spots the sutures on Dawn's pale throat and looks at her Slayers to see if they've noticed. Kennedy has, but Faith's attention is on the youngest Slayer.
"Damn, Rookie, what'd you do?" she asks.
Vi glances at the doctor before telling her, "A guy tried to mug us. He slammed me into a wall and knocked Dawn down. Couple people from the club scared him off before he could do anything else, though."
A look passes between the triple. "Get a look at him? For the police, I mean." Kennedy asks.
Dawn answers. "Not really. He was just there then, poof! He was gone!"
Faith and Kennedy smile, glad to hear the teens can handle themselves, but Willow frowns, thinking about Buffy going ballistic when they get home.
The redhead returns her focus to the room. "Doctor, how soon can we take Vi home? It's kind of late, you know?"
The doctor studies the x-ray again for a few seconds before responding. "I'd feel a lot better if she could stay overnight. Normally, setting a broken finger is relatively simple, but, when it's seven bones and four knuckles, we'd prefer to go slowly. That, of course, takes more time. Miss Reynolds, though, is insisting that she wants to go home as soon as possible."
She looks at Willow. "Can you talk her into staying? I'm almost positive she'll be home by lunchtime tomorrow if she'll just stay and let us work."
Willow nods. "Can you give us a moment, Doctor? We'll see what we can do."
The doctor agrees and leaves. Faith approaches and takes a closer look at the girl's hands, and whistling lightly, says, "Ok, Rookie. What really happened?"
Vi looks nervously from Faith to Willow, then Dawn. "Uh, big vampire. He hit from behind and knocked me down, then bit Dawn. I snapped his leg and he dropped her, then we started fighting. I-I guess I was still charged up from the club, 'cause I-", the girl turns red and flicks a look a Dawn, then looks down. "I kinda beat him to death. Dawn staked him, but that was just cause, well, you know. Vamp."
Kennedy's face has a look somewhere between concern and approval."Damn, girl, why didn't you just stake him? Why hurt yourself?"
Vi again flicks a look at Dawn, but Willow catches it this time. "Don't know. I-I guess I wasn't expecting a vampire attack and he scared me. Adrenalin, y'know?" She grins sheepishly.
"Uh huh." Faith grunts. "Still, even with Slayer healing, Doc's right. They need to set the bones, so you stay here til tomorrow." She holds up a hand to cut the girl's protest off. "I mean it. Nobody hates hospitals like I do and I'd stay, so you have to, too. Got me, Rookie?"
Vi looks grumpy, but reluctantly agrees. The doctor returns and the group tells her Vi will stay and that they'll be back in the morning.
"I could stay with her." Dawn offers.
The three lovers shake their heads and the Slayers each grab an arm. "Oh, no, Little D. We're not facin the wrath of B without you! And you gotta see her sometime, so, home you go!" She looks at her girls. "Guys, I'm gonna drive the kid home. You leadin or you want me to, Red?"
Kennedy answers. "We'll lead. Stay on our ass, ok?"
"Every chance I get, Junior!" the dark Slayer agrees, laughing.
Willow and Kennedy both groan and get in the van, and pulling out in front of Buffy's car, the group heads home.
"So what really happen, D? Was it like the Rookie said?"
Dawn opens her eyes and looks at the Slayer, thinking for a moment about what happened. "Not really sure. We were leaving the Place, heading for the car when that vampire came up behind us. He knocked Vi down and grabbed me. I tried to kick his knee, but he just stood there like it didn't hurt and next thing I know, I'm an appetizer."
Faith nods and stares at the tail lights ahead of her while she listens. "After that? You see Vi goin medieval?"
The teen shakes her head. "Not really. I kinda passed out when he dropped me. I only caught the last part of the act, when I staked him. 'Course, he was pretty dead by then. Um, more dead, I mean. She really beat the shit out of him!"
Faith chuckles at her friend. "Wicked obvious, there D, busted hands and all. Any ideas why?"
"Don't really know. Guess she was just all charged up and he did scare the hell out of both us, like she said."
Faith thinks everything over for a few minutes, then asks, "Anything else you can think of?"
Dawn closes her eyes and the whole event replays in her mind. "Not really. I staked him and she just stayed where she for a couple seconds, then looked up at me, all happy. Then she screamed when she uncurled her fist and I got her to the hospital and then tried to call Willow. They put a couple stitches in my neck and the rest you know."
The Slayer looks at the teenager quickly, confusion evident on her face. "She was happy to see you?"
"Yeah. I guess she thought I was all dead and everything, then I was there, so she was happy." Dawn looks at the dashboard, not seeing it as she remembers. "We all lost so many friends in Sunnydale. I know I don't want to lose any more, and I know Vi doesn't either, so, the happy."
Faith looks at her young friend, suspicion in her mind, but all she replies is, "Yeah, that's probably it."
As the vehicles approached the house, Dawn sees that the house is dark and breathes a sigh of relief. She's been dreading Buffy's reaction all the way home and now it looks like she might get to put off tell her about the evening's adventure til at least tomorrow sometime. She might even get lucky and be able to wait til Vi gets home, since Buffy's lecture will be different if it's directed at both girls, rather than just Dawn herself.
"Lucked out, D. Looks like B's in bed already." A smirk appears as a thought occurs. "It's kinda chilly tonight. Wonder if she's alone or if she grabbed a one eyed bed warmer?"
At the comment about the night's weather Dawn started to protest. It was the hottest night they'd had since moving to Cleveland, well into the nineties, though she was told is was typical for August. When Faith called Xander a 'bed warmer', Dawn got really angry, though she didn't really know why.
"What do you mean it's chi - NO! I mean, yes! I mean yes, she's alone! Buffy doesn't think of Xander that way and Xander just lost Anya a few months ago, he, no!"
The dark Slayer laughs at the girl's confused babble. "Chill, Dawnie. Like the Willowbabble, but I was just playing. Well, mostly!" she smirks again.
"You're awful! They wouldn't and I don't know why you keep saying things like that anyway! What does Willow see it you anyway? You can be so mean!" the girl lashes out, still not sure why she is, but too angry to pay attention to what she says.
The Slayer's face immediately looses all expression. "Don't know that one myself. Tried to tell Willow and Junior I was bad news, but they wouldn't listen."
Dawn is instantly contrite. "I'm sorry, Faith. You know me, open mouth, insert foot, chew on knee." She looks down at her hands in her lap. She hates it when she says something stupid that hurts her friends and this time, even if she doesn't understand why she did it, she knows she went too far.
Faith glances at Dawn a couple times before replying, tonelessly, "Forget it, D. Doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does. I'm really sorry."
Faith shrugs. She pulls the car into it's spot in the garage, avoiding Kennedy's motorcycle, and shuts off the engine. As she reaches for the door handle, a soft voice stops her.
"Are you glad they did?"
Faith looks back at Dawn, confused. "Did what?"
"Are you glad they didn't listen. That they talked you into staying with them?"
The Slayer smiles softly, momentarily lost in memories of the last couple days. "Yeah. Yeah, I am. Wouldn't want it different."
Dawn studies the older woman for a short time, then nods. "Good. Do I really need to give you the 'Hurt Willow or Kennedy, feel my wrath' speech?"
Faith laughs. "Patch already did that, remember? Besides, I don't plan to and if I do, I'll even hold still and you can all take turns kickin my ass, deal?"
"Deal." Dawn smiles sleepily and gets out of the car as the van's motor stops and Willow and Kennedy get out.
Faith palms the door control and the group heads in the house, quietly due to the hour.
Willow looks at her 'sister' and shoos her up the stairs. "Dawnie, bed. It's late." she whispers, then hugs the teen. "I'm glad you're ok."
Dawn returns the hug and grins. "A pint or so low, but ok. Will you guys be there tomorrow when I talk to Buffy?" she asks wistfully.
"Think we can manage that, if we're up in time." Kennedy answers, leering playfully at her girls.
Faith grins broadly and Willow smiles and shakes her head, dolefully, as the group trudges upstairs.
Willow goes to the bathroom first and gratefully crawls in bed while she waits on her Slayers. When Faith comes in, damp from her shower and dressed for bed, she smiles up sleepily at her new lover and raises her arm, silently asking Faith to lie down and let the witch spoon around her.
Seeing Willow looks tired, Faith just shrugs and lies down, Willow's arms around her waist, and she snuggles back into her redhead. She's not prepared when Willow suddenly cups her breast and slips a hand inside her panties, fingers sliding into soft curls.
The wicca leans in to lick and nibble on the Slayer's ear for a second before whispering, "Which of us is going to be awake until dawn?"
Willow's hands slip from their resting places as Faith spins around, the surprise on her face rapidly giving way to something more primal. Willow smiles at her, then kisses her quickly once, twice, the third time deepening the kiss. Lips move as their tongues constantly dance back and forth.
Breaking apart for a moment to breath, Willow surges forward, rolling the brunette onto her back. "Better." she murmurs, then kisses her girl again. Hands roam freely on top of clothes as they continue to make out.
After a few minutes, the witch sits up panting and yanks her top off. "Too many clothes, baby." she growls as she reaches for Faith's tank top. Faith raises herself up onto her elbows and helps as best she can.
Soon, both women are naked and are kissing again, hands busy as well. Willow kisses, licks and nibbles down the Slayer's throat, stopping at her pulse point. She plants a couple small, pecking kisses there, then kisses harder, suckling at it at the same time.
Faith surges upward with a moan as her body's humming rhythm kicks up a notch. She starts to caress and touch Willow, but the redhead grabs her wrists and pin her arms to the bed.
Willow continues what she's doing for a few more seconds, then leans back and looks at her handiwork. A satisfied smile crosses her face before she kisses Faith again quickly, then eases back and tells her, "Now you match!" She giggles at the Faith's expression and restarts her assault on the dark haired beauty.
Kennedy finishes drying her hair and hangs that towel up to dry. Wrapping the other use she'd used around herself, she turns the bathroom lights off and heads for her room. As she reaches for the doorknob, she hears a soft moan and smiles.
Entering quietly, she sees Willow on top of Faith, the Slayer's head thrown back as the redhead nuzzles and kisses her way down the brunette's collarbone and chest. One of Willow's legs is pressed between Faith's and the girl's body has already started an unconscious rhythm against the wicca's thigh. Willow has released the Slayer's hands, but they're still where she left them, Faith's mind and body nearing overload.
Kennedy shrugs out of her towel and crosses to her lovers, moving up behind her witch. Running a finger teasingly up Willow's spine, causing the girl to shudder, she leans in close to her girl's ear and whispers, "Starting without me, huh? That'll cost you, Red."
Willow looks at her everything, concern starting to fill her face, then relief as she catches a glimpse of an evil grin before Kennedy kisses her, deeply and lustily. After a timeless moment, Kennedy pulls back and smiles. "Want help?" she inquires, indicating the girl under them.
The redhead grins impishly and nods. Both girls immediately turn their attention to the third. Kennedy starts kissing and licking on Faith's throat, noticing the mark there. "I see Will's been marking territory!" she taunts softly into an ear. Faith moans and nods slightly. Kennedy chuckles and takes the girl's ear lobe in between her lips, alternately sucking and nibbling. Her right hand begins to roam across the Slayer's sweat soaked body, ending with lightly stroking a breast.
"Ohh, shiiiiittt! Feels s-so damned GOOD!!" Faith managed to gasp before groaning as Willow removes her leg.
The Slayer's disappointed groan turns quickly a shudder and moan as the redhead slides fingers through damp curls and down to stroke the brunette's center with a feathery, teasing touch.
Faith arches her back, trying desperately to get to Willow's exploring fingers, but the wicca just smile and moves her hand with the brunette's body, maintaining her ever-so-light teasing.
"P-pl-lease, Red!! N-need you to, now! S-s-so close!"
'Ready?' Willow thinks to Kennedy and smiles at the laugh that echoes back through the link.
Faith's eyes fly open and she screams incoherently as Willow slides two fingers deep inside, her thumb tracing a circle around and across the Slayer's distended clit. Kennedy takes a swollen nubbin between her lips, suckling hard, tweaking the other hard peak as she does.
Faith's eyes slam open, wide and staring, as she gets lost in the sensations running wildfire through her body. She's not really sure who's doing what, but doesn't really care as long as it doesn't stop yet. "W-Willow! Kennedy! Som-somebody, faster! Please!!" she is able to say, panting each word.
Willow smiles and increases the speed of her stroking fingers, while Kennedy kisses her way down to her. The small brunette plants little kisses down the other Slayer's stomach, stopping when she reaches her navel. Wiggling her tongue ring at Willow, Kennedy flicks the metal stud in and out of Faith's navel three times in rapid succession.
"Shit YES!!" Faith screams, her body writhing with a mind of it's own. Her head whips wildly, throwing droplets of sweat everywhere.
Kennedy smiles at the sound, then resumes her path, kissing her way down the older girl's body. When her nose bumps Willows teasing thumb, the witch repositions her hand.
Never slowing the speed of her strokes, Willow unexpectedly adds a third finger as Kennedy places her lips over the swollen button at the top. The warm metal of the young woman's piercing dances swiftly across the nub of hardened flesh.
Back arched so hard, she's sure she can hear her spine cracking, Faith explodes into her orgasm, her mind too far gone to even attempt words. It's over a minute before she starts to sag back onto the bed.
As she does, Willow slows, then stops her plunging digits and Kennedy draws back with a grin. Closing the distance, Willow kisses Kennedy hard, their lips moving against each other, tongues dueling for dominance.
Breaking apart, they smile at each other, panting lightly, then crawl back up to hold their lover as she lies there, sucking in huge lungs full of air, aftershocks quivering through her. They spoon around her, lightly stroking her arms and face as she recovers.
Kennedy suddenly smirks. "So, about the race back to the bike. We're even, right?"
Faith stares up at her Slayer for a moment, trying to make sense of the words. Her mind is only now beginning to function again, so there's a pause while she tries to think of what the brunette is talking about. Then she grins and shakes her head, pulling the other girl closer. "Not quite yet, Junior!"
Willow stirs fitfully, groaning as her internal clock wakes her up hours before her body wants. Her eyes flutter open reluctantly, looking at the clock on the nightstand, sees that's a few minutes after eleven. She whines as she realizes she's only been asleep for five hours.
Trying to think of why her mind woke her up, the witch stares at a point on the wall, not really seeing it, as she attempts to force her memory to work. After a few seconds, she comes up blank, so she buries herself into Faith's back and closes her eyes, trying to crash out again. An image of Vi in the hospital bed flashes before her mind's eye and she groans again, this time in resignation.
Willow moves slowly as she disentangles herself and crawls toward the foot of the bed, hoping to get up without waking her Slayers, but both are light sleepers and four eyes immediately open. Looking toward her, both brunettes stretch and smile.
"Morning baby." Kennedy yawns.
"Morning Red" Faith echoes, then she frowns when she sees the time. "Only been asleep a little while, Red. What's with the awake?"
The redhead stops going down the bed and heads back up, moving between the two women again. Reaching Kennedy first, she leans in for a slow, soft kiss. After a moment, she pulls back and smiles at her sleepy young Slayer. "Good morning, sweetie."
Half turning, she repeats the kiss with Faith. "Good morning to you too, baby. I'm only awake because someone has to go get Vi."
Both girls sit up, though it's Kennedy who speaks. "Want us to go with? Take a minute to get ready." Faith nods agreement and they start to get up.
Willow grabs an arm on each side and pulls them both back into bed. "No, it's ok. I have something else I want you guys to do for me, please? Can you stay here and keep Buffy from seeing Dawnie til I get back? She won't be so much with the grrr or the no more if Vi's there."
"Well, not as much, but still crazy. B's just too protective about Little D. Girl's all grown up, now, Will."
Kennedy nods, agreeing with their lover. "Yeah, she can get a little nuts when it comes to Dawn, and she can take care of herself. Especially when she's out with a Slayer!"
Kennedy's words trigger a memory for Willow, a memory of the way Vi kept glancing at Dawn while telling them about the attack. She starts to ask her girls if they noticed anything, but decides to wait and talk to Vi first.
Faith thinks about what Dawn told her on the way home, about how happy Vi was to see Dawn was alive and safe. Adding that with Kennedy's 'out with a Slayer' remark, she thinks maybe she should talk with the youngest Slayer. See if she's right. The brunette looks at her lovers and wonders if she should mention her suspicions, but, ultimately, she chooses to wait until she has more facts.
Willow looks at the clock again. "Ok, I gotta go. The doctor said our overly punchy Slayer could come home about lunchtime, so I better be making with the shower thing." She kisses each Slayer quickly, then climbs over Faith and out of bed, swatting at her when she tries to grab her butt.
When Willow comes back into their bedroom, towels around her head and body. She smiles and chuckles softly when she sees her Slayers asleep again. They're laying, almost spooned together, but slightly separated. They seem to be holding themselves a little apart, like they're not sure if they should hold anyone but her.
The redhead smiles again before heading for the closet to get dressed. As she sits down to put her shoes on, movement makes her look over at the bed in time to see Kennedy roll over and toward Faith. She automatically snuggles into the other girl and Faith, whatever their conscious objections, just as thoughtlessly wrapped her arms around her Slayer.
Willow's heart soars at the sight and she takes a quick picture before finishing with her shoes. Leaving her room, she checks the other bedrooms quickly, starting with Xander's
She knocks quietly, then cracks the door. "Xander? Are you awake?"
"Yeah, I think so. C'mon in."
Willow enters his room, finding the man sitting on the side of the bed in shorts and tshirt, hair rumpled, looking very much like he just woke up. "Hey. What time did you get to bed last night?"
"About two or so. Since everyone was out, Buffy and I decided an ice cream and mini movie night. What about you?"
The wicca grins wickedly and blushes lightly. "Do you mean in bed or asleep?"
Xander returns her grin. "Never mind. Unless you're gonna give details, that is?" he teases, leering playfully.
"Have you ever given me details? Not that I've ever wanted them, and, I never asked. An-and then, of course, Anya was always willing -" Willow stops talking instantly as Xander's eye drops. She immediately crosses the room to sit beside her friend and enfold him in a tight hug. "Oh! I'm so sorry Xander!"
Xander sighs deeply, then releases the witch, sitting back. "It's ok, Will. Really. God knows I still miss her, but I'm doing better." He smiles gratefully at her. "Couple friends helped me get through the worst."
The redhead smiles and presses a light kiss onto the man's cheek. "You're welcome. Hey, you helped me when Tara died. It's what friends do." She sighs and stands again. "Speaking of the other friend, I need a favor. Can you keep Buffy away from Dawnie until Faith and Kennedy get up? Or until I get back from the hospital, whichever is first."
"Whoa, wait! Hospital? Who's in the hospital?"
Willow grimaces. She hadn't meant to say anything about that. "Oh, uh... Vi. Her and Dawnie had a vampire attack them on the way home last night. Dawnie was bitten and Vi broke nearly every bone in her hands. We had to leave her there, so now I'm all with the taxi service."
Xander looks amazed and concerned. "Dawnie was bitten? Is she ok? And how did Vi break her hands?"
Willow glances at her watch before replying. "Dawn's fine. Xander, I gotta go. Vi's like every other Slayer when it comes to hospitals, hates them with a fiery passion. Still gotta tell Buffy what happened and I was thinking it might be better with both our party girls there. Just keep Buffy from seeing the bandage on Dawnie's neck for me, ok?"
"Why do you want Buffy and Dawn separate? Oh. Right. Not awake yet. Is Dawn up yet?"
"Next on my list to check. Oh, and Faith had an idea for the rebuild here. It could help with the space distribution thing here. Talk to her, ok?"
Xander yawns his assent as she leaves. Going two doors down, Willow knocks again and asks, "Dawnie?" Cracking the door, she looks into the room. "Awake yet?"
The teen comes out of her closet, clothes in hand. "Yeah. Morning, Will."
"Just wanted to remind you, avoid Buffy until I get back, ok?"
Dawn smirks. "Stress much? You think I want to be yelled at? Hey, maybe I should go with you to get Vi!"
Willow shakes her head, already easing back out the door. "I'm already running late, so just be all avoidy. Everyone's gonna help, including Xander. Though, I think he's going to want to know what happened. Faith and Kennedy will be up soon and they'll help, too. Back soon!"
Heading downstairs, she makes a detour through the kitchen, she grabs a bottle of juice, then heads for the car. Getting to the hospital, the witch gets the room number from the information desk and goes up the third floor.
As she starts into the room, Willow sees Vi dozing in bed, her right arm propped up, a mitten-like cast on her hand and gasps as a dagger stabs straight through her heart. Memories of caring for Tara when Glory shattered her hand flit through Willow's mind. Her eyes fill with tears as she remembers the blonde witch, her mind adrift after the hellgod's attack.
The witch sags against the doorway as she thinks of her former girlfriend. About watching over her when she was so confused and had a broken hand. She remembers afterwards, when she attacked Glory and ripped the sanity she'd stolen from the god's mind and put it back into Tara, where it belonged.
She thinks about the crazy months after that, researching how to, then resurrecting Buffy. Her addiction to the magics and Tara leaving her, then returning to her when she'd conquered her addiction, just in time to be murdered. She remembers the insanity of the consequences of that act and the healing, but mostly, the loneliness of the six months after that.
She smiles as he memories continue and she 'sees' Giles arriving with potentials in tow, and that brings an image of Kennedy to her mind's eye. Willow straightens as she thinks of her everything, so different from Tara, but so exactly what she needed then and will always need.
A soft voice snaps her out of her reverie. "Uh, Willow? You ok?"
Willow's eyes focus on the teenager and her smile is now for her. "Yeah, I'm fine, sweetie. How do you feel today? Has the doctor been by yet?"
Vi shakes her head. "I'm ok, I guess. Little out of it because of the pain medication and they tried to give me a sedative. I think I made them crazy because of how fast it kept wearing off. Still waiting on the doctor, though." She hesitates, then continues, "I-is Dawn all right? Did Buffy yell much?"
"Dawn's fine, though she says she's about a pint low." Both girls grin at the description. "Buffy was already asleep when we got home, so she doesn't know, yet. I hope. The others are supposed to keep them separated until we get home." The wicca looks apologetically at the young Slayer. "Then, we kinda have to tell her and she's gonna get all doom and gloom and 'Grrrr' and you guys are going to have a hard time getting out of the house again. Especially Dawnie."
"But, it wasn't her fault, it was mine!" Vi wails. "I'm a Slayer! I should've been able to sense him, like I have before. She wouldn't have gotten hurt if I hadn't been so distracted by being happy she went... with me to where we could finally make some friends." she finishes, lamely, looking down at the blanket covering her legs.
Willow sits in the chair beside the bed and put a hand on the teenagers arm. "Vi, you like Dawn, don't you? Is that why you were all with the crazy last night?"
The girl looks up for a second, panic etched in her face, then her eyes return to the bed. "S-sure I like Dawn! She's my best friend a-and she helps me with my homework, she listens to me when no one else will. And she's a really great friend!"
"Yes, she is, but that's not what I asked you. Vi, I understand if you're uncomfortable. I was when I realized I was falling in love with another girl. It took a very traumatic thing to happen to make me accept it." Willow gently raises the girl face until they're looking eye to eye. "Are you in love with Dawn?"
Tears begin to appear at the corners of the Slayer's eyes, as she stalls, "Why do you think that?"
The witch sighs, but releases her hold on the girl's chin. Vi keeps looking at her without the prompt. "Lots of reasons. First, you kept looking at Dawnie last night when you were telling what happened. You were really fast with the evasive just now and, really, because I've seen something like this before and I know what caused that." she says, pointing at the girl's cast laden hands.
Vi's expression is now a mixture of curiosity, confusion, and not a little panic still there. Willow sighs again. "About two weeks before you got here, I was out with Kennedy, Faith and Buffy on patrol. We were jumped by a bunch of vampires and demons and one of the demons got behind me and hit me. Didn't knock me out or, really obvious here, kill me, but Kennedy saw it. When I looked at where the demon had been, I saw Kenn on top of it, beating the shit out it. Buffy tackled her out of the way and Faith killed it, but Kenn's hands were almost as messed up as yours. That demon hurt me and she went all postal on it.
"So, see? Once I watched and listened to you for a few minutes, I was pretty sure that you're going to be playing 'The Kitten in Mittens' for a little while for the same reason. That vampire hurt Dawn and you beat the unliving hell out of him for it. Am I right?"
Vi drops her eyes again and is quiet for a moment, before nearly inaudible, she answers, "Yes."
The girl looks back up, desperation on her face. "But, you can't tell her, ok? I-I mean, she never talks about wanting a girlfriend, just boys! I know it would freak her out if she knew and I want her for a friend if I can't have her for anything else. Besides, if she knew, it would change everything and she wouldn't want to be around me anymore. I couldn't live with that. I'd have to leave and I have to be here. I just *have* to! Please, Willow! Don't tell her, don't tell anybody!" the frantic girl pleads.
Willow smiles sadly. "I won't, but you're setting yourself up for more hurt this way, you know. And you're going to have to lie to Dawnie on a fairly frequent basis. I know this for a fact, so trust me when I say, it's better to get things out in the open as soon as possible." The witch pauses as a memory surfaces. "You might want to talk to Xander, though, if you really want to go the noble, suffer in silence route. He was in love with Buffy all through high school, but she wasn't with him, and he might know how to help it hurt less. Cause, it's gonna hurt, no way around that."
Vi swallows nervously. "Will... will he tell Dawn?"
"He'll tell you you should, but he won't if you ask him not to. I'm going to tell you the same thing; You should tell her. It's only going to drive you crazy if you don't."
Seeing the girl's distraught expression, Willow decides that that's enough for now. "I think we've talked about this enough, for now, so let's find a doctor and get you home, ok? Never known a Slayer who wanted to be in a hospital longer than they had to!"
Vi smiles tremulously, grateful for the change of subject, and nods eagerly.
Willow goes back out to the nurse's station and asks if the Slayer can go home yet, but, as expected, is told the doctor wants to check on her one more time. Telling the nurse that Vi really wants to go home, she asks that the doctor be paged to come as soon as possible. The nurse does as requested and, soon, pain medication in hand, the two leave the hospital.
Xander comes into the kitchen looking for a little breakfast and hoping that the gang hasn't rearranged things too much for him to find. He sets a bowl and the milk on the bartop, Dawn watching from her own stool as he gathers the makings of cereal. She tries to hide the side of her neck with the bandage, but Xanders words cause her stop and face him.
"Too late, Dawnie. Will already told me about the attempt to be a late night snack. You feel ok?"
The teen shrugs. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just trying to avoid Buffy, you know?"
The man smiles at her, as he asks, "And just how long do you think that's gonna work?"
""Til it heals?" She takes in the look her friend gives her. "Hey, if you help, it could happen! You know she didn't really see me for days at a time in Sunnydale. This could be just like then!"
Xander shakes his head, resignedly. "No, it won't be. Even if Buff somehow misses the big gauze-y whiteness on you, she kinda can't miss the plaster gloves Vi's gonna be modeling. When she asks about that, she find out about you, so..."
"It's best to tell her myself." she finishes for him. "I know, but Willow said I should wait til she and Vi get home, so I need to get back to my room or something. Maybe I can go out somewhere!"
The carpenter shakes his head. "Not by yourself." He waves down her protests. "I know you can take care of yourself, but you going out alone after last night, even in the daytime, is just gonna make Buffy crazier, and you know it!"
Dawn looks at the countertop before answering. "Yeah, I guess so."
She sits, despondent, for a few more minutes, long enough for Xander to finish and for him to think of a plan. "Got an idea. I need some longer measuring tapes to get the stats on this place to start the redesign, but I don't remember where the nearest hardware store is. Wanna play 'faithful native guide'?"
Dawn smirks at him. "Xander, lie much? No, you don't, because that was terrible! You know everywhere you can buy a nail or board for twenty miles in any direction and you also know that they didn't move while you were England."
He smiles at the teen, holding a hand over his heart, like he's been shot. "You calling me a liar? I have a lousy memory, just ask the redhead, what's her name!" Dawn giggles and Xander chuckles, happy to get the girl out of her bad mood. "Ok, yeah, I do know, but if you're with me on a completely real errand, Buffy can't complain too much and she won't see you, right?"
"You're right, it's perfect!" She smiles and comes around the bar to link her arm through his. "It's a date!" she bubbles.
Xander grins ruefully at her. "What is this obsession of yours to get me on a date? This is twice now, you've said that. I'm beginning to think you like me!"
Dawn glares at him. "Stop that! We both know I'm just playing and besides, I haven't been on a real date since we left Sunnydale." She smiles again. "And hey, a girl can pretend, can't she?"
Xander laughs and shakes a finger at her. "I knew you still had a crush on me!" he replies, writing a note telling where they went and leaving on the counter.
"That was ages ago, and, 'eww!', you're so old!" she retorts as they head into the garage.
Kennedy's eyes slowly open as she begins to take in her surroundings. She can feel arms around her and legs twined with hers, but is confused for a moment, because the scent is not quite right. It's a little too musky to be her witch, then her eyes focus and she realizes she's cuddled into Faith's chest, the older girl holding her close as she sleeps.
Kennedy smiles as she remembers them lying back down for after Willow went to shower. She had wanted to spoon with her Slayer, and it looked like she wanted the same, but neither seemed sure what to do without the redhead between them. The raven haired woman chuckles softly when she thinks, [All that making out and we couldn't figure out how to just sleep together. Well, not when we're awake.] she adds as she burrows into the other woman and kisses her shoulder.
Faith is nearly awake when she feels Kennedy move, then kiss her. She smiles sleepily, then realizes she's holding the smaller girl. She starts to pull away, but Kennedy just keeps their legs together and burrows an arm under the brunette to hold her too. Faith stops struggling and pulls her girl tighter. Opening her eyes, she looks down slightly, into the other woman's face and murmurs, "Morning, again."
Kennedy's smile turns impish and she presses her lips to Faith's in a kiss that quickly grows heated for a moment, before the young Slayer draws back and replies. "Morning to you too. Looks like we worked out the whole 'What if Willow's not here' thing, doesn't it?"
"Wicked obvious, K." She kisses her girl again, softly but quickly. "What time is it, anyway?"
Kennedy leans up to see around the dark Slayer and glances at the glowing red numbers on the dresser. "About 12:30. We should probably get up and start Dawn sitting like Will wanted us too."
Faith shakes her head. "Nope. If Red really wanted us to do that, she woulda woke us up before she left." Kennedy gives her a look that makes the Slayer smile wryly and chuckle. "Damn, Junior! You been with Red, what? Seven months? Eight? You can already copy the resolve face?"
The small Slayer manages to hold the expression for a few more seconds before smiling. "Yep. Means the same thing with either of us, so," She kisses her girl once more, teasingly licking Faith's lip before pulling back. "we get up now and do what Will asked. Unless you want to make her cranky and sleep alone?" Faith laughingly agrees that she doesn't want that and the two Slayers pull apart and get up.
Kennedy stops and looks at her girlfriend. "You wanna shower first?"
Faith just leers at Kennedy's nude form. "Could always save water and shower together!" The other girl appears tempted, but then a fleeting look of worry crosses her face. "Still not sure about the without Red, thing?"
Kennedy looks at the floor, frowning. "I'm sorry, Faith, but yeah, I think so. I wish I could, but it's only been a couple days. It sounds so tempting though." She adds, trying to console, though she isn't sure for which of them.
Faith smiles easily. "S'ok Kennedy." She uses the girl's full name, as a show a respect for her Slayer's feelings. "Can't say I'm not disappointed, but I can wait. Just more incentive to get Patch to build us a three person shower, right?" she adds, grinning wickedly.
Kennedy laughs and agrees. Tossing the older Slayer her clothes from last night, she orders, "Go shower! You smell like sweat and old sex, you know."
"And just whose fault is that, Junior?"
"Go!"
As soon as Faith leaves, Kennedy pulls on a set of shorts and a tanktop, then goes down to check and see if Dawn's still in her room. After finding out she's not, the brunette also checks Xander's room and Buffy's. Discovering that she and Faith are the last to get up, she worries for a second that Buffy may have already seen her sister's wound and that the two of them have let Willow down.
She quickly dismisses the idea, confident that Buffy's explosion would've woke them up. As she passes the door to the bathroom she, Willow and Faith share, her Slayer hearing can hear the water start, the stutter as Faith steps under the spray. It bothers the woman that she still can't get passed the issue of being with Faith without Willow, even though she knows Willow won't mind. Would most likely encourage her, if she were to ask her witch.
Deciding the only way she's going to get passed this is to just try it, Kennedy opens the bathroom door and quickly enters. Shedding the few clothes she's wearing, she opens the shower door and climbs into the stall.
Faith hears what she thinks is the door opening, but, pulling her head out from under the spray of water, dismisses it. She's startled as the shower door opens and a nude Kennedy enters. "Thought you wasn't ready for this?"
A smirk. "You mean a shower? Such a beautiful nose and it doesn't work!"
Faith swats at her, deliberately missing. "You know what I mean, Kenn. I don't want you to do anything you're not ready for."
"Hey, tough girl. I'm a brat, remember? I don't do anything I don't want to." She steps forward into the fall of water. "Now, come'ere." she says, drawing the taller woman down for a searing kiss.
Buffy re-reads Xanders note and shrugs, placing it back on the counter. She'd been looking for him to see if he wanted to grab some lunch before he started doing his contractor-y things, but it looks like she'd missed him. The note said they'd been gone less than an hour and she had past experience in trying to get the carpenter out of a lumber store, so she figures they'd be gone another hour at least.
Thinking back over her mental to-do list, the blonde nodded to herself as she realizes there are a few things she need from the store and now seems the perfect time, so she heads for her bedroom to get shoes and her bag.
As she nears the left-hand bathroom, her Slayer hearing easily picks up the sound of Kennedy's voice groaning "God, yes, Faith! Faster, please!". Buffy shakes her head and moves faster.
Even though she had promised Willow she could accept the three women being a, what was the word Dawn had used? Right, a 'triple'. She'd promised she'd try to accept that, and she had. She was trying hard, but it was still so new and her anger with Faith was so old and entrenched. Hearing things like that just didn't help, cause, in the blonde's mind, they were still cheating on her best friend. She knew that perception was all in her mind, but still couldn't shake it. It made her feel bad that she couldn't do what Willow asked, but it was so hard.
Suddenly Buffy laughs at herself, thinking, [It's only been about twelve hours since I found all this out. Maybe I should wait a day or two before I start with the feeling like I failed.]
Resolving to do that, she grabs her shoes and bag and heads back downstairs, humming to herself as she passes the bathroom door.
Faith comes into her new bedroom from getting dressed in her old one as Kennedy is pulling on a pair of running shorts. She watches the girl as she moves and stretches and feels herself starting to get excited again. She smiles at the feeling, but doesn't move toward her Slayer.
"Feelin any guilt, there Brat?" she asks.
Kennedy looks up from putting on a pair of house socks, then stands, thinking about it for a moment. "A little, yeah." She grins at her lover. "Mostly just feelin jello legs!" Faith laughs and bows. "I want to tell Will what happened and see what she says. Then I'll know what I really feel."
Faith nods, totally understanding. "I kinda want to know what Red'll say too. Hope it'll be ok, though. That was a lot of fun! Felt pretty good too." she adds chuckling lustfully.
Kennedy agrees, then suggests they go find out where everyone else is, so the Slayers head for the first floor. After checking around, they find Xander's note, as well as Buffy's telling about her shopping spree.
The pair talk it over and decide to wait there til everyone comes home, so fixing a few sandwiches and getting a couple soft drinks, they head for the tv room.
They both sit on the couch as Faith thumbs on the tv and quickly changes it to the Cartoon Network. Kennedy looks at the older girl, a half-smile on her lips, "Cartoons?"
"Aw, come on! You know they're my favorite!" she wheedles.
Kennedy just laughs and nods, picking up her first sandwich. After the food is all gone, the two just sit watching whatever comes on, mostly action adventure, superhero stuff. Kennedy suddenly spins and lies down, her head pillowed on Faith's leg. After a second, she looks up and silently asks if it's ok, and, on the older girl's nod and smile, puts her head back down and starts watching tv again. A few minutes later, Faith absently starts stroking and playing with the raven locks of the other girl's hair.
They miss the back door opening, but hear Dawn's cheery "We're back!" Neither girl makes any effort to move, but Faith calls out, "In the tv room, D!" and they return their attention to the show.
Xander and Dawn enter a moment later, both smiling as they see the snuggly pair. Before either can comment, though, they're interrupted by Willow's voice.
"Where is everyone? Anybody down here?"
Again, Faith is the one who answers. "Watchin tv, Red."
Willow and Vi walk in after a few seconds, the witch smiling as she spies her lovers in the pose of such casual intimacy. She crosses the room and, picking up Kennedy feet, sits down with them in her lap. "What are we watching?" Then she remembers the talk with Buffy that needs to happen and looks around apprehensively. "Where's Buffy?"
Kennedy shifts her gaze from the tv to her girl. "Note said she went shopping. Should be back soon, though."
Dawn smiles at the news, glad of the temporary reprieve. Vi isn't sure how she feels about confronting Buffy, but seeing the square of white on Dawn's neck makes her so anxious, she has to sit down. All she can think is [If I'd just been a little faster, she's be ok. God, I'm the worst Slayer ever!] The thought that if she'd been slower, the other teen would be dead never enters her mind.
Willow looks back at the tv, then frowns. "Do we have to watch cartoons?" she asks plaintively.
Faith whines, "I like'em, Red. Please?"
Willow rolls her eyes at the childlike tone, but looks over at Xander. "What about you guys?"
The man shrugs. "You know me, Will. Love cartoons. Gotta side with Faith on this one. Dawnie?"
"Beats some lame Saturday afternoon movie! Vi? You're the injured one, you pick."
The youngest Slayer just closes her eyes, wincing at Dawn's description of her being the only one wounded when it just isn't true. On the other hand, if Dawn wants to watch cartoons, it fine with her. "Whatever you guys want. Pain medicine's got me a little loopy anyway."
Faith cheers and thrusts a fist in the air. "Yes! Sorry, Will!"
Willow just smiles and shakes her head at her girl. "You can make it up to me later." she assures the dark Slayer.
Xander gets up and, after seeing what everyone else wants, heads for the kitchen, returning moments later with drinks and snacks. The group sits, enjoying each others company, for a couple hours, before they hear the front door opening.
Everyone looks at the doorway as Buffy enters, arms laden with shopping bags. She smiles as she sees her family having a lazy day, until she spots a scrap of white on Dawn's throat. The bags all crash to the ground as she drops them and stalks forward, taking in the sight of Vi's casts as well.
Buffy glares around at everyone for a moment, then asks, in a far too quiet voice, "Anyone want to tell me why Vi has casts on her hands and how my sister was bitten by a vampire?"
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